I got my boss arrested

[HelpMe123]

I know this isn't the right board but I have no idea where to put it.
I'm nervous about sharing any details but the general gist is that I called the police on my boss after overhearing them beat one of their children.
Social services have called me asking for all details of them previous to this and they asked so many questions and didn't seem to believe me - asking why I hadn't reported before (boss has been bad before) etc.
I'm really worried that they don't believe me (even though I have evidence) and that I lost my job and part of my sanity for nothing.
If anyone on here is a social worker - or knows a social worker - could reassure or advise that would be great.
I'm sorry for the vagueness but I don't want to make things worse.

Please keep in contact with the SW. Don't let this be in vain. Well done OP, you are very brave and have done the right thing, his kids were lucky to have you

I just had to say how incredibly brave you have been.

Just read the thread, good luck tomorrow and well done for everything, you are a hero.

Do let us know how the interviews go and good luck.

18 months without a reference unfortunately

Thank you. I'll update I'm feeling very negative at the moment (I don't let that come across in interview of course!!) So i'm not holding my breath, especially as I was so positive about one of the previous interviews.

I have found out that several members of staff have also come forward to SS now.

Oh HelpMe that's great news - about other staff coming forward! Appreciate it doesn't help with your own current work situation though :(

Your agency doesn't seem to have any strategy to cope with this situation, presumably because thankfully it's rare, but still, they've left you in the lurch. Sorry if this was covered upthread, but have you talked to any other agencies?

arethereanyleftatall has phrased it beautifully. You can't really get around the lack of reference from your last job. Without explanation it does sound suspicious but hopefully one of the families tomorrow will realised that you've put young children's safety before your own comfort. I really hope one of the families wants to take you on and can appreciate what a great thing you've done. Good luck for tomorrow!

Did they have two nannies?

I was wondering if you'd be able to come back and update, so sorry to hear that the job hunt isn't going well. You will find something :)

Have you tried your local family information service for finding a job? They may be able to help liaising the issue of the last reference to families without it sounding like you are the one who got into trouble. Though I'm surprised that the agencies didn't deal with it very well!

Good luck, and well done, this is the kind of thing I dread as a nanny.

I also think that what arethereanyleftatall said is great, but instead of 'obviously I lost my job' I would say 'obviously I left my job'.

The first sounds passive, the second is active and makes it clear it was your choice.

Op. What you have done for the those children is great. I'm sorry you are now suffering the consequences of your boss's actions.

You really need to find a good way of phrasing what happened so you are painted in the best possible light. Is it worth trying to get some legal advice as to what you can and can't disclose?

Good luck with the interviews today x

Good luck today.

I agree with chasedbybees, and would make one more amendment to arethereanyleft's excellent explanation. Don't start with 'I'm ever so sorry' - you have nothing to apologise for, because what you did was absolutely the right thing.

You do need to explain, but you don't need to apologise.

" I'm ever so sorry, I do not have a reference from my last employer, because they were abusing their children, which I reported to ss. I obviously lost left my job over it, but that was a small price to pay for the safety of the children in my care. You are very welcome to hear from my previous 7 references"

Agree with don't apologise.

Good luck with the interviews.

Punkhedghog's explanation is perfect.

And have a stern word with your agency. 'A vague reference to a legal case' makes it sound as if you were sacked for stealing the silver.

Either they should tell the (brief) truth - not identifying the family, of course - or they should simply say that there is a good reason why you don't have a reference, they will leave you to explain it but they support the actions you took.

Best of luck - you've got a lot of people rooting for you!

PunkHedgehog - I totally agree the agency have been unhelpful here. They need to get their story straight so that OP doesn't come out as the unreasonable one.

Good luck with interview.

What you did was absolutely the right thing to do. I'm so glad that other staff are backing you up. Without that, I was concerned that boss could turn it around and say you had been stealing, or had assaulted the children yourself, and that was why you were making the report.

I agree with pumpkin's explanation. You obviously wouldn't be able to supply names & addresses on your CV, just something like 'family with X DC in London area' or some such.

Nothing useful to add, but very well done for being brave enough to 'do something about it' when so many others have let it go on unreported. You should be proud of yourself, possibly not just yet as you're still wobbly from it all, but in the future you'll realise how strong you were.

Thank you OP. We have children in our extended family who were adopted after being abused by their birth parents. I have never stopped being grateful to whoever it was blew the whistle and got those kids out of there. The abuse was so bad whoever they were gave them a chance of life and happiness. If I ever found them I think I would hug them.