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AIBU?

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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:
Nerf · 04/04/2014 14:58

The cleaner only needs a DBS if he is considered to undertake a 'regulated activity' eg he has unsupervised with children. Depending in his employer (school or contract cleaners) he may or may not need one depending on what they put if they applied for one. If he holds one he has to tell them in between if anything changes.
Tbh I do think there is an element of hysteria on here, and I don't think I would share this information. But that's because for me it's a huge leap to imagine a situation where a child could be at risk because of this man.

Timetoask · 04/04/2014 15:01

If he is a cleaner and doesn't have any interaction with children then I wouldn't get involved. His offence is not against children.
I hope he doesn't lose his job, whatever he did was not right, but he the guy needs to live and eat.

TalkinPeace · 04/04/2014 15:02

The rules for DBS are much, much narrower than the insanity that was CRB.
DH works in schools over 100 days a year but no longer needs one.
The same applies to people like grounds staff, builders, maintenance people and all the other groups who were caught in the other net.

The VAST MAJORITY of child abuse is carried out by the families of the children

The evidence for CRBs reducing incidence is just not there

so, OP talks quietly to the head at the end of school
if the chap is still working next term then she has to accept the head's decision.

littlewhitebag · 04/04/2014 15:03

Nerf I agree about the hysteria. We have gone from the OP knowing that a man has some convictions for, as yet unknown (unspecified on here that is) crimes, to hundreds of children being abused. I work in child protection and i can tell you there are many men out there, working in all areas of life, with such convictions. It DOES NOT make them all a risk to children.

I have never said OP should do nothing, i have said she should make sure she knows her facts and proceed with extreme caution.

penguinplease · 04/04/2014 15:07

Tell them. Ian Huntley was a caretaker. He should have had no contact with children but he was familiar enough the holly and Jessica that they felt safe.

Why would you not.

penguinplease · 04/04/2014 15:07

That they felt safe.

StealthPolarBear · 04/04/2014 15:09

Talkin, glad to hear it has got less stupid. I work with data and until recently had to have a CRB. I've moved jobs now but am doing muh the same stuff and realised I don't need one - madness!

ThatBloodyWoman · 04/04/2014 15:17

I've never minded having a CRB, but it's of little value if I could go out and commit a violent crime the next day and not tell my employers -and rely on no one else telling them either.

I agree that we don't know what's what here which is why the op needs to mention it.

I don't think it's at all hysterical to not knowingly want my dc's nor myself around someone recently convicted of dv.

TalkinPeace · 04/04/2014 15:25

StealthPolarBear
Here is the Ofsted Guidance
www.ofsted.gov.uk/schools/for-schools/safeguarding-children
Its absolutely clear and overrules and extant policy held by a school

ThatBloodyWoman
DH carries a copy of an old CRB around with him and schools seem to take reassurance from seeing it rather than using their own common sense.
So glad the system has been changed.

I don't think it's at all hysterical to not knowingly want my dc's nor myself around someone recently convicted of dv.
But for all you know, parents in the playground are - every afternoon, week in week out ....

ThatBloodyWoman · 04/04/2014 15:31

But it's not knowingly that I'm exposing us to it if it's parents in the playground!

BurntPancake · 04/04/2014 15:35

I don't know OP. I know someone who got a caution for DV while teaching, he informed the head himself and I assume gave details. The police told him he'd have to tell his employer. He didn't lose his job as he wasn't judged to be a danger to the students. It probably comes down to the circumstances and severity of the incident as to whether a person would keep their job or not. I'd be surprised if the school didn't already know though, the police would have known he worked in a school and informed them surely?
Tell the school if you think you should but I think they'll already be aware.

littlewhitebag · 04/04/2014 15:36

thatbloodywoman If this cleaner was in your child's school and if the school knew about the convictions but it was decided that he posed no risk, therefore he could continue in his job, then you would still know nothing about it. They would hardly broadcast it in the school news sheet.

ThatBloodyWoman · 04/04/2014 15:39

Mmmm, see what you mean little.

Which is why I think that no one with violent convictions should work in schools.

We should know.

HedgeHogGroup · 04/04/2014 15:39

I'm a HT.
TELL THE HEAD!! They need to know. A DV conviction is right up there with assault etc and you can only be thanked for not gossiping about this & informing the school. Safeguarding is EVERYBODY'S responsibility

cansu · 04/04/2014 15:40

I would keep my nose out. There is no reason to suspect he is a danger to children. It is really just being a busybody.

boschy · 04/04/2014 15:41

like I said earlier on p.2, the school has a duty of care to EVERYONE - children and staff alike. I would simply tell the head what I knew (or had heard) and leave it with them. maybe its nothing, maybe its something - but if it was something and you didnt do anything how would you then feel?

StealthPolarBear · 04/04/2014 15:42

Talkin, I disagree with your last line. The known risk is higher if someone you know has a conviction of violence.

ThatBloodyWoman · 04/04/2014 15:42

If he has a conviction for violence he's potentially dangerous to anyone -man, woman, child, animal.

CaptainTripps · 04/04/2014 15:43

BrunoBrooks is spot on. This!

*Yes, I would love it if a person convicted of DV lost their job as a result.

Two women a week are killed in this way.

Maybe if some of the kind of men who commit acts of violence like this saw an example in action of how yes actually it MATTERS in the wider world if you do this, that there are CONSEQUENCES beyond those immediately connected to your crime, that the general public DON'T, for example, want someone with the capability to violently attack someone anywhere near their children... Well, maybe some of those future victims just might not end up dead.*

Put so beautifully. DV should come back and bite him on the bum. And boo hoo for him. Should have thought about that, love!

StealthPolarBear · 04/04/2014 15:43

Yes there is still a risk in the playground or on the bus but when someone is known to be violent you know the risk is higher.

StealthPolarBear · 04/04/2014 15:45

Agree with the last 2 posters totally. If he's only been violent towards his wife and has been like a gentle lamb with everyone else, he is still violent.
(that's a big IF - I do realise this is all assuming the OP is right. Which is why my advice is and always has been to tell the head and let her check up).

boschy · 04/04/2014 15:50

what Hedgehog said is what I absolutely know our HT would say.

Fusedog · 04/04/2014 15:51

That's the flaw with CRB once it's completed any crimes committed after well go unknown

GreatUncleEddie · 04/04/2014 15:56

I would tell the head. She can check it out and then decide. It's her decision and she is hardly likely to take it without checking the facts.

ThatBloodyWoman · 04/04/2014 16:51

How did it go with the HT onemore ?