Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Paid childcare

Discuss everything related to paid childcare here, including childminders, nannies, nurseries and au pairs.

Original poster

Hiring a nanny with a drink driving offence

190 replies

littlelongstockings · 02/04/2026 15:15

I interviewed a lovely nanny yesterday who I liked overall, however she has a DUI on her criminal record from 9 years ago, she is in her 40s so not young.
the position will not include driving my child around as she doesn’t currently have a car and isn’t open to using one of our cars, she will transport my child by bus or train.
would you employ a nanny with a background offence of DUI?

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
igelkott2026 · 03/04/2026 11:37

Moellen54 · 03/04/2026 11:27

Any other candidates could have done exactly the same They just didnt get caught. Cast the first stone comes to mind

Exactly this.

igelkott2026 · 03/04/2026 11:37

Bombombomtralala · 03/04/2026 11:32

The fact that she didn’t tell you this information would worry me.

It was on the DBS check, it was on the OP to ask about it.

igelkott2026 · 03/04/2026 11:36

It was 9 years ago. If the conviction is spent, and you still like her, employ her. You're not stuck with her forever, if you feel she's not suitable, you can dismiss her and look for someone else.

I also agree with the post above about getting done the morning after the night before. I bet every single person reading this thread has got up one morning and been over the limit and not realised - whether they drove or not.

I don't actually agree this sort of conviction should even come up on a DBS check that is carried out for childcare reasons, the only ones that should show up should be those that are relevant - eg violence or sexual crimes.

Bombombomtralala · 03/04/2026 11:32

The fact that she didn’t tell you this information would worry me.

Moellen54 · 03/04/2026 11:27

Any other candidates could have done exactly the same They just didnt get caught. Cast the first stone comes to mind

Moanyoldmoan · 03/04/2026 11:09

I would simply because ashamedly I have been here myself and there’s no excuse for it.
I have been completely sober 5 years now and am
a completely different person to who I was 10 years ago. There is no excuse but you may be ruling out someone who would be a great employee

Abricot1983 · 03/04/2026 11:05

No. Do not risk it

Ilovelurchers · 03/04/2026 09:34

There's a common misconception on Mumsnet that anybody who misuses a substance will continue to do so for the rest of their lives. You hear it a lot.

Of course, in reality that is often not the case.

I would speak to her, OP. There must be a reason why you are still thinking about it a e starting a thread about it. Presumably, she seemed better in many ways than anyone else you interviewed for the role.

You owe it to your child to try your best to select the person who will care for them best, and not being swayed by prejudice.

LlynTegid · 03/04/2026 07:59

Not a chance.

Hardwick · 03/04/2026 07:57

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines.

AlphaApple · 03/04/2026 07:57

Happyhettie · 02/04/2026 21:43

That might be in your experience but mine is very different.
I know of teachers who have lost their jobs and been unable to work as a teacher again due to drink driving. It is inexcusable.

Show quote history

It’s not about my “experience”. Your post is factually incorrect. Having a conviction for drink driving is not a barring offence for a teacher. Your moral outrage is not a legal standard.

Squidwardthesnail · 02/04/2026 23:40

No probably not. I'd be concerned that like many many others, the charge was due to driving the next morning thinking she was under limit. So I'd be too concerned that even if not driving that there could be a risk. One thing if she'd been 18 when we're all stupid, but in her 30s she should have known better.

TrashHeap · 02/04/2026 23:01

No.

StarryStaryNight · 02/04/2026 22:47

No

Itsmetheflamingo · 02/04/2026 22:44

MyJollyMentor · 02/04/2026 22:38

I agree, if she was the perfect candidate apart from the DUI and wouldn't even be driving for the role.
But there are other issues as well and it's reasonable to take it all into account to judge if they should have sole charge of a child.

If Op wasn’t asking to discriminate for the conviction but simply dismissed her application on lack of experience or reference, we wouldn’t have this thread. It’s obviously a discrimination question.

1000StrawberryLollies · 02/04/2026 22:39

Kosenrufugirl · 02/04/2026 15:27

She got in the car drunk and THIS was lack of judgement. It happened 9 years ago. The real issue to decide is what her character and judgement are now

Show quote history

But the OP can't possibly know for a fact what her character and judgement are like now. What she does know is that this woman has a DUI.

MyJollyMentor · 02/04/2026 22:38

I agree, if she was the perfect candidate apart from the DUI and wouldn't even be driving for the role.
But there are other issues as well and it's reasonable to take it all into account to judge if they should have sole charge of a child.

Itsmetheflamingo · 02/04/2026 22:33

MyJollyMentor · 02/04/2026 22:30

This doesn't apply to excepted jobs including Working with Vulnerable People: Roles involving children, elderly care, or working in schools/hospitals.

Thankfully.
Otherwise a convicted paedophile could be hired as a nanny.

Show quote history

For that exemption the conviction has to be relevant to the role and that doesn't apply when there is no connection between conviction and the role.
Drunk driving and she’s not expected to drive in the role.
it’s not the case that you can discriminate against any spent conviction as long as there is a vulnerable person involved.

MyJollyMentor · 02/04/2026 22:32

It's also not the dui on its own. It's the lack of employment record, messaging in the middle of the night, not wanting to drive...

MyJollyMentor · 02/04/2026 22:30

Itsmetheflamingo · 02/04/2026 22:27

I’m not sure of a lot of the outraged posters realise, but it’s illegal to discriminate against someone with a spent conviction.

This doesn't apply to excepted jobs including Working with Vulnerable People: Roles involving children, elderly care, or working in schools/hospitals.

Thankfully.
Otherwise a convicted paedophile could be hired as a nanny.

Itsmetheflamingo · 02/04/2026 22:27

I’m not sure of a lot of the outraged posters realise, but it’s illegal to discriminate against someone with a spent conviction.

Kosenrufugirl · 02/04/2026 22:13

Happyhettie · 02/04/2026 16:54

She won’t be able to get a job as a teacher. I wouldn’t touch her with a barge pole.

I taught a child whose 7 year old brother died when hit by a drunk driver. There is absolutely no excuse to get behind the wheel of a car when you have had a drink. Disgusting behaviour. Would you really trust her with your child?

You seem to be very certain she won't get a job as as a teacher. Out of curiosity, what makes you so certain?

monday1983 · 02/04/2026 22:02

littlelongstockings · 02/04/2026 15:25

@Fable2024 She has worked as a teacher in a couple of schools abroad but no teaching or nannying here in the UK.

She has no nanny experience in the UK and you want to hire her? There are plenty of nannies in wirh over 20 years experience in this country looking for work with clean Dbs why not hire of them?

MyJollyMentor · 02/04/2026 21:59

No, because of all the other stuff. Too many questions/ red flags. Definitely not.

Happyhettie · 02/04/2026 21:43

AlphaApple · 02/04/2026 18:22

Incorrect. I know teachers with DUIs and court ordered rehab.

Show quote history

That might be in your experience but mine is very different.
I know of teachers who have lost their jobs and been unable to work as a teacher again due to drink driving. It is inexcusable.