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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?

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Blogswife · 02/04/2026 18:01

No . She’s lied to you and covered up a serious offence . I wouldn’t employ her

Onadark · 02/04/2026 17:56

I wouldn't employ as a nanny anyone with a crimial conviction of any kind. You'd have to be whiter than white to be in sole charge of my children.

iPreferBooks · 02/04/2026 17:53

Babyboomtastic · 02/04/2026 15:47

So if, hypothetically, she'd experienced a massive trauma - perhaps leaving an abusive relationship, death of a child etc, and turned to drink and made some very bad decisions, before pulling herself together and getting therapy, that would be a no to you?

Show quote history

Two of my grandparents got killed in car accidents (one by a drunk driver), so no I wouldn't hire them based on that if it was me being the hirer in this scenario.

However, someone else might be obliged to give this person another chance.

Tacohill · 02/04/2026 17:41

How would she get to yours?

Is public transport reliable?

Even if she didn’t have this, I would be concerned that she’d be unreliable due to transport issues (unless you live in London or something).

bugalugs45 · 02/04/2026 17:26

Yes I would , because I worked with someone who was caught DD, the morning after a night out , she genuinely felt fine and was an error of judgement on her part, she’s never drunk since unless she isn’t driving the next day ,
so I believe you can make a mistake and learn from it . That is of course assuming that the public transport links around you lend themselves to being able to support
your kids attending their clubs etc , bur the conviction wouldn’t solely put me off .

BeMellowAquaSquid · 02/04/2026 17:16

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?

That’s not true. Drink driving offences do not prohibit a career in teaching.

IAmKerplunk · 02/04/2026 17:16

The messaging at those hours hours would raise alarm bells for me. Even if she is an insomniac she would wait till ‘normal’ hours

Alwayswonderedwhy · 02/04/2026 17:13

No chance. People who drink and drive are the lowest of the low. I wouldn't even consider letting them look after my children regardless of if they'll be driving or not.

Original poster
littlelongstockings · 02/04/2026 17:06

@BabyboomtasticThank you, It says on DBS she was fined £755 and it says she was disqualified from driving for 18 months but it could be reduced if course was completed.

OP posts:
mumofoneAloneandwell · 02/04/2026 17:05

littlelongstockings · 02/04/2026 16:54

She would have been 34/35 when she got caught drink driving. She was also messaging me at 2.40am on a Monday evening which I found slightly odd! If it wasn’t for the DUI I wouldn’t think much about her being up at 2.40am on a Monday but putting two and two together makes me think again.

Yeah

Its not the dui but

Not mentioning it at the interview and explaining
Claiming not to want to drive, which suggests she's banned
Messaging at 2.30am, truly unprofessional

We all make mistakes, its how you handle it that matters - i wouldn't hire her but would be kind about it x

TigTails · 02/04/2026 17:02

Babyboomtastic · 02/04/2026 15:47

So if, hypothetically, she'd experienced a massive trauma - perhaps leaving an abusive relationship, death of a child etc, and turned to drink and made some very bad decisions, before pulling herself together and getting therapy, that would be a no to you?

Show quote history

It would for me. Those situations would be very sad for her, but my child is still more important in this situation.

PixelDustMom · 02/04/2026 17:02

Absolutely not for me. I’m all for second chances and not judging people from their past mistakes but when it comes to my child, I wouldn’t risk it.

TigTails · 02/04/2026 17:00

Nope, plenty of other potential nannies without DUIs.

Babyboomtastic · 02/04/2026 16:58

TinyCottageGirl · 02/04/2026 16:12

She might not have a problem with alcohol, I work with someone who also got a driving ban for sleeping in their car after a night out. Had a driving ban for 2 years as he had the keys in his hand. Wasn't a good decision but doesn't mean he has a drinking problem by any means, he thought he was doing the right thing.

They were lying to you

If there's no evidence of driving, it would have been a charge of being in charge, not driving.

Here are the sentencing guidelines for this
https://sentencingcouncil.org.uk/guidelines/excess-alcohol-in-charge-revised-2017/

Even with the highest blood alcohol level, you'd be looking at a 6-12 month ban, not 2 years. Less v with the drunk driving awareness course.

His story was fabricated I'm afraid. As I said, people make excuses, which is why the potential nanny needs to provide evidence of any factual background.

Excess Alcohol (in charge) (Revised 2017)

https://sentencingcouncil.org.uk/guidelines/excess-alcohol-in-charge-revised-2017

Listlostlast · 02/04/2026 16:56

If it was when she was 19 and she was now in her forties, probably, if she was great in all other ways but not given she was prosecuted while she was in her thirties, well old enough to know, and do, better!

Shinyhappyapple · 02/04/2026 16:56

Fable2024 · 02/04/2026 15:17

Sounds to me like she’s lost her license

It was 9 years ago. Bans aren’t for that long.

FKAT · 02/04/2026 16:54

So she's has no work record in the country but she does have a DUI offence. Even more of a red flag imo.

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?

CinnamonJellyBeans · 02/04/2026 16:54

isthesolution · 02/04/2026 15:29

Possibly. I’d have asked her to explain it to me in interview and decided how I felt then.

I got in the car after half a bottle of vodka cos I’d had a bad day is very different to I was pulled over on New Years Day having had a good few drinks the night before. I had no idea I’d still be over the limit and I felt terrible for it and for not knowing.

I actually the second situation you describe is worse. Everyone knows that your liver takes time to break down alcohol and wilfully driving drunk just because you have slept for a few hours and had a coffee is never an excuse.

Original poster
littlelongstockings · 02/04/2026 16:54

She would have been 34/35 when she got caught drink driving. She was also messaging me at 2.40am on a Monday evening which I found slightly odd! If it wasn’t for the DUI I wouldn’t think much about her being up at 2.40am on a Monday but putting two and two together makes me think again.

OP posts:
ObligateAerobe · 02/04/2026 16:51

9 years ago with no driving in her role? Maybe.

However, she withheld the information and you had to find out via DBS disclosure. So that would be an immediate no because of the dishonesty.

TinyMouseTheatre · 02/04/2026 16:50

No and from experience the “wouldn’t be open to using our cars” has a story behind it too. The Drunk Driving charge would be enough for me but not being open with you about it and then having some reason that she can’t drive now, I think you’d be mad personally.

WheretheFishesareFrightening · 02/04/2026 16:48

Pteradon · 02/04/2026 16:45

Probably, tbh.

I mean, should someone with this offence on their DBS never work again?

Things I’d be happy to employ with someone with a DUI doing:

  • cleaning
  • admin work
  • shop work
  • gardening
  • my nails
  • hairdresser
  • plumber/electrician/other tradesperson
  • accountant

Things I wouldn’t be happy to employ someone with a DUI doing:

  • a driving job
  • looking after the most important, cherished, precious and irreplaceable thing in my life
AlphaApple · 02/04/2026 16:47

ShetlandishMum · 02/04/2026 15:19

9 years ago? Yes. I would consider it.

Ditto. Ask her about it.

There could equally be candidates without a DUI that just haven’t been caught yet…

ahemrepeat · 02/04/2026 16:47

And she is either an idiot who doesn't realise it would show on a DBS or thinks you won't have actually read the DBS.