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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to tell DC's school one of their staff has DV convictions?

188 replies

onemorenamechanger · 04/04/2014 13:07

The convictions happened after they started working there, this person doesn't have contact with children. I have never even met this person and found out about this by complete fluke last night. The school may already know and be happy for him to continue to work there but should I mention it to the Head anyway? If the school didn't know already would he lose his job? I was going to ask to see the Head at drop off this morning then changed my mind but I'm starting to think I should say something. Any advice gratefully received please!

OP posts:
Kemmo · 04/04/2014 14:07

The bottom line is that you are not the appropriate person to make a decision about whether this information is relevant/important.

The HT is the appropriate person. So tell her.

TheHouseCleaner · 04/04/2014 14:08

"I should have added - you probably need to know more about the facts as DV can cover an enormous range of offences - a common assault can be very minor (eg grabbing a wrist and not causing any injury at all) compared with a GBH type offence where serious harm is cause"

sazzlesb, the OP doesn't need to know more about the facts. The school does, so they can make any necessary decisions.

Yes, DV can cover an enormous range of offences but it should be remembered that the reality is that very many pretty serious attacks are downgraded to common assault by the time they reach the courts. It should not ever be assumed that the offence was minor and didn't cause injury just because the offender got away with common assault.

Fluffalump · 04/04/2014 14:08

Very tricky, I wouldn't want to come across as a gossip to the school but if you are absolutely sure of the facts perhaps its best to say something however they probably know already but can't dismiss him due to employment law.

drivenfromdistraction · 04/04/2014 14:11

I would certainly tell the school. And tbh, I wouldn't want my DC at a school where any member of staff had a DV conviction. People who commit DV are dangerous.

EvaBeaversProtege · 04/04/2014 14:12

Op can you say how you know for certain it is the same man?

I know when I covered court cases previously we have yo report their address & age incase there are 2 Billy Bunters living in South Street.

So, "Billy Bunting, 52, of South Street, Swansea..."

Just be careful.

littlewhitebag · 04/04/2014 14:12

DV is obviously an emotive subject but any employer being told of this will have to go with the charges which a person is convicted of. If it is a 'minor' charge then that is what they would have to consider, nothing else.

LokiDokey · 04/04/2014 14:12

Caretakers mix with pupils, cleaners don't

Can't speak for OP's school, but in mine they certainly do. There are cleaners on site throughout the school day and they do actually mooch around the corridors polishing (and generally bemoaning whoever designed a brand new academy with white walls).

The after school staff arrive just before the last bell, however, there are always after school clubs, revision classes etc so many many opportunities to mix with pupils.

It's not just about children though, staff stay late, it's not unusual for a female staff member to be alone in one part of a large school with a cleaner. I'd be uncomfortable thinking I was that staff member left alone with someone with a DV conviction tbh.

TheHouseCleaner · 04/04/2014 14:13

onemorenamechanger, with all respect to talkin I worry that you might need to be more specific than just to ask about the policy of keeping checks up to date. I think the hint is too subtle.

If you don't want to be involved by name, set up a disposable email account and inform the headteacher anonymously.

BreakingDad77 · 04/04/2014 14:16

Ask the school to redo its CRB's or pressure the governers to have regular checks.

ThatBloodyWoman · 04/04/2014 14:17

Cleaners are around children in my dc's school.

Look someone with a recent conviction for violence has issues with controlling their anger.

Not a good thing in an environment with children.

StealthPolarBear · 04/04/2014 14:18

No! THere's nothing wrong wuth telling the head that this is what you've heard and getting assurance she will investigate thoroughly for his sake as much as anyone's

overthemill · 04/04/2014 14:19

Write to school saying that you have learned that x has recently been convicted of y offence and that you wanted to ensure they were aware . I would personally add I felt uncomfortable telling them and had thought very hard about it . But ultimately thought they should know in case it had not been brought to their attention.

It's a really tricky situation but I think you should tell them if you are 100% certain of your facts

Original poster
onemorenamechanger · 04/04/2014 14:25

I have phoned the school and asked to see the Head for a couple of minutes at pick-up time. At the end of the day she is not going to sack him on what I tell her, she either already knows or she will do another DBS and decide what to do with the results. She is going to love me dropping this on her lap a 3.20 on the last day of term!

OP posts:
Original poster
onemorenamechanger · 04/04/2014 14:26

sorry.. sack him based on what I tell her

OP posts:
TalkinPeace · 04/04/2014 14:26

OP
You have to be REALLY REALLY careful.
If you were to write to the school regarding what you had heard about somebody's conviction
and it turned out that what you heard was incorrect, they could sue you for slander.

( speaking as one of the people who got on the wrong side of QE school earlier in the year and so read the legislation )

Unless you have read the actual court papers (which are admittedly freely searchable online, and are certain that the particular instance is covered by the DBS, you could be on very, very shaky ground.

StealthPolarBear · 04/04/2014 14:26

Well I think you're doing the right thing. I hope she is sensible and thorough.

RedRoom · 04/04/2014 14:29

The school should be told in case they don't already know, and then it's up to them to look into the details and decide whether or not they view him as a risk.

For all those criticising the OP about trying to make him lose his job/ him 'only' being a cleaner: anyone working in a school needs a CRB check and must inform the school should changes to that record occur. The police do not always automatically inform employers, and in a small case with no press coverage or time needed off work to attend a trial, there is every chance that this man has a record for violence that he has failed to disclose.

Maybe he has told them, and the school have weighed it all up and chosen to continue to employ him. That's fine. However, at the moment, it is a vague charge of DV: if you knew he specific circumstances were, for example, battering his wife in front of their child, do you really think that working in any place with children or vulnerable adults is suitable employment? I don't. There are plenty of places to clean that don't involve children.

OPI, as an ex-teacher, I urge you to report this.

Goblinchild · 04/04/2014 14:30

'She is going to love me dropping this on her lap a 3.20 on the last day of term!'

It gives her a fortnight to check up and make decisions without the children in her school being impacted in any way.

StealthPolarBear · 04/04/2014 14:30

there are no CRB checks, they've been replacedby something else

RedRoom · 04/04/2014 14:31

OP, not opi

RedRoom · 04/04/2014 14:32

Stealth, it's now called a DBS, yes, but it serves the same purpose: a disclosure of past criminal activity.

Ra88 · 04/04/2014 14:33

I would tell , no doubt about it

yummumto3girls · 04/04/2014 14:46

I can't believe how many people are advising OP to do nothing, it's that sort of attitude which results in thousands of children being abused each year.

I absolutely support what everyone is saying about being sure of the facts but I absolutely would have a quiet word with the head and then the responsibility falls to them to deal with as appropriate. There are no criminal exceptions when it comes to working with children. If this man has not informed his employers then that is a breach of trust and confidence and could affect his employment. It is all down to what he did and the facts.
OP I would say something, if your facts are correct it is not gossiping, it's someone who cares about the safety of children.

drivenfromdistraction · 04/04/2014 14:49

It's not the OP's responsibility to be certain it's the same person either. OP can just tell the head what she has seen/heard about the conviction, and that she thinks it is the same person. The head is the one who will need to look into it.

Tbh, if the head does know and chose to keep the person employed, I would consider writing to the governors and asking them to look into it, as I don't think a school is an appropriate place for someone with a violent conviction to work.

Grennie · 04/04/2014 14:54

Don't tell anyone else. Tell the school. If they didn't know, they will be able to check out what actually happened anyway.

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