Would you trust someone with these convictions?

[goodbyeyellowbrick]

Would you trust a female who at age 17 got these two convictions -

• breach of the peace domestic
• assault to injury domestic

And then at 19 got these two convictions -

• communications act domestic
• drink driving

Would you trust her? She is 30 now and has had no issues with the law since and has seemed to turn her life around. Would you still think she was the same person though inherently?

I notice that the convictions are all in a little cluster around 2 years of her life and mainly domestic and that would suggest to me that she was living in some difficult circumstances that had contributed to the convictions. I wouldn’t employ her as a babysitter or driver, but I would happily give her a job in an office.

I'd hire her in my professional capacity assuming she was qualified, but I'd never, ever have her look after my DC unsupervised.

If I didn't know them well enough to know if they had changed and I was considering employing them for a job, I wouldn't write them off completely but would expect to discuss it to reassure me they were trustworthy now.

I would probably think that at 17 and 19 she was a troubled youngster with a difficult home life which influenced what she did, and that she needed support rather than convictions.

I'd expect someone of 30 to be a different person to the one they were as a teenager.

I wouldn’t judge her.

If it’s not you is it someone that you are concerned that they shouldn’t qualify?
The university would have had a full dbs and likely she would have been questioned about the charges.

She will have to have DBS check to be employed as social worker. Likely that these convictions will come up but if that happened she would have opportunity to explain her case.

It's possible she may have had to do this prior to the training anyway .

Therefore her employer should be satisfied there is no risk .

Is this a friend / relative of yours that you think shouldn't be going down this route professionally?

In most situations convictions gained as a teenager , eg for public order offences , possession of cannabis probably have no relevance on their adult life but where there may be a concern that's why there's the DBS process .

Also maybe her history is what made her choose social work as a career? Maybe she’s been on the receiving end and wants to help others in the situation that she was in.

@Reinventinganna

Also maybe her history is what made her choose social work as a career? Maybe she’s been on the receiving end and wants to help others in the situation that she was in.

That would make perfect sense.

Probably, if she was older when she committed the offences probably not but we are very different as adults to how we were at nineteen. Also most people don’t disclose stuff like that after a few years as it is water under the bridge so how would I know. Op it does sound a little like you don’t trust her and think her being a social worker is a mistake. Full disclosure, I behaved in unbecoming way’s all through my late teens and twenties, the people who knew me then still see me as the same disordered person, new people see me as I am now. Have you known this person a long time?

Yes I would. That's over a decade with no convictions. Might be looking more carefully at character references etc. as a precaution but of course somebody can change in ten years. 19 to 30 is a huge leap in terms of development and maturity.

She will have had her DBS checks for placement.
She will have had vetting and past convictions discussed by Uni.
They wouldn’t have let her do the course if she would not have been able to pass registration bodies requirements.

What exactly is your issue OP?
She’s likely to be an excellent social worker too as she’s developed herself and shown committed behaviour to change.

Depends, trust her to work behind a bar, office etc, probably, look after my newborn, probably not.

Given the ages involved, I would trust her as much as any member of the public I didn't know. I do think it would probably actually be an asset in some ways in being a social worker. Not that others without that experience wouldn't necessarily bring something something different, but I think her past experience could be helpful also.

As a social worker, more so, she's lived and knows how shit life can be, probably make her a better social worker than a star pupil, pearl clutcher

What's it to you?

I agree she would likely be an asset to social work. In many ways, the best people are usually those who've lived in similar situations as they'll be encountering. Not those who can't relate or empathise at all.

A DBS only flags up those who have been caught.
If she has told the truth about the convictions and otherwise has good references yes I would trust her x

She would have had to have a DBS while studying - to do her placements. The next step will be to apply to be professionally registered as a Social Worker.

Would I trust her? Possibly. I have just interviewed someone for a Social Care role with a criminal record but they were under 17 at the time and therefore under 18. Over 18 it becomes a bit more difficult.

@TheQueef

It could be useful insight for a SW.

I agree. A 19 YO who's been in trouble, especially when it's very likely to have been due to the relationship they were in, because lets face it, a very large proportion of women who have been in trouble with the law have only really been in that position due to influence/coercion of a man, is a very different person once they're a decade older and appeared to have 'gone straight'.

Plus those convictions are very much of the 'argument that has got out of hand' variety rather than a person who sets out to break the law and attack/rob/hurt other people.

Many of us make mistakes when we're young. Not all of us get caught.

Yes. The circumstances which led to her convictions have altered, she hasn't had any more convictions and she's about to graduate as a SW. She's turned her life around and will have some valuable experience in the CJS, self development, abusive relationships, alcohol and substance misuse.

@hazeleyedlady

no

and all the posters making excuses "oh she was soo young"

I was married with a baby at age 19. Its an adult. A person does not change THAT much in personality over the years.

Being married with a kid at 29 doesn't make you a responsible adult or a trust worthy person. Anyone can get married, anyone can have a baby. It's nothing special.

19 sorry, not 29.

It could make her a better social worker IMO.

if she was a good person too me and nothing red flag-y about her (so not racist etc...) then I would be friends with her

would I 'trust' her, really depends on your definition of trust... like Im not putting my kids in a car with anyone I know is capible of drink driving no matter when it was but to me that is a SERIOUS crime (unfortunately had personal tradgity due to a drink driver, its not something I would ever trust or take lightly) but would I trust her to file important paperwork on time at work or something, yeah sure why not if shes never given me reason to think she wouldnt.

I wouldn't trust them, but then I trust virtually no one.

Would I employ them? No.