To think I've got any chance of getting this job with a criminal record?

[Ravenalasia]

Hi, I applied for a Teaching Assistant job recently and the school phoned today to offer me an interview on Wednesday.

They then emailed me the self disclosure form which I've returned with the convictions on that the accompanying flow chart said I had to disclose... am I going to be laughed out of the interview?

Convictions: harassment charge which resulted in me getting a restraining order and having to pay costs to the victim (my ex) plus a caution (basically phoned him too much, was cautioned then kept ringing out of desperation and he went to the court to do an ex parte affidavit thing and I ended up with the harassment charge. Pleaded guilty obviously. This was 9 years ago. Also a caution for battery as we got into a fight the previous day (it was an abusive relationship)

I also had another incident of criminal damage with another abusive ex; he locked me out of his house at 3am whilst pregnant and I basically kicked at the cat flap to get his attention as he still had my purse in the house, damaging the door in the process.

So. I deeply regret all incidents obviously and have since been diagnosed and medicated for generalised anxiety disorder but are these incidents 'too' bad for me to be able to explain away?

How do I even explain them, as I'm worried if I say it the way I have done above, it sounds like I'm victim blaming?

Thanks in advance for any and all advice!

@Comedycook there's a difference between something like travelling without a ticket or vandalism and a violent crime

Indeed...I was responding to the poster who said any criminal record should mean you're not allowed to work with children. That's nonsense. Non payment of a tv licence and council tax or driving without an mot could land you with a criminal record.

I can’t imagine they’ll want to give you an interview. It’s not like you shoplifted a Mars bar, these are serious crimes.

Serious, yes, but I think anyone could understand why if OP explained. If she hasn't committed a crime since, that would also be taken into consideration.
It does hinder her chances, a lot, and some LAs may say "no" outright. However, some won't. It's ridiculous to say OP shouldn't be around children based on her posts (and measured responses) IMO. Plus, a DBS check only shows crimes people have been convicted for, it doesn't mean they're definitely an upstanding member of society.

I wouldn't want you working with children. What happens if something really upsets you and you get angry? You sound like someone who loses control and who makes poor choices in life. Schools can be very stressful places.

This will be useful www.nacro.org.uk/nacro-services/advice/advice-for-individuals/applying-for-jobs/

I think a letter explaining why it all happened and how you've moved away from that behaviour could help swing it.

Hmm, if it was one I'd feel more positive but you've had more than one conviction. It seems unlikely.

These are serious charges. Both similar. How do you explain why they are not relevant?

You have done a nice job of minimizing but if you came and saw me for a job I would assume you were rather volatile. And it would be no.

I did make poor choices. I had a lot of sexual abuse during my childhood and it left me with trauma which I never addressed - the incidents both times were, I believe, based on a fear of abandonment.

I've done a lot of work on that over the last 9 years, am now 40 with three children and have been in a stable relationship for the past 8 years.

As well as being medicated for my anxiety, I now have better coping mechanisms in place and fyi; I never got 'angry', I got scared and desperate. Doesn't excuse the crime but I'm just trying to explain that I didn't batter someone because I got angry...the 'battery' thing was basically pushing someone off me and slapping them, but, I was sofa surfing at the time and I assume court papers went to my old address so the first I heard of it was someone turning up at the door of the person I was staying with from my church, with a restraining order. Would have challenged that particular incident, otherwise.

With multiple convictions of the nature you have described, whatever the mitigating circumstances of being within abusive relationships, I would - as a parent of ND DC (one of whom will, hopefully, secure a place within a specialist SEN setting within the next 18 months), I would like to think someone with your record and past would be able to demonstrate one hell of a lot more than GAD, medication and the Freedom course in evidencing how they have moved away from and worked through the issues that led to behaviours resulting in such a record.

I'm not judging you, per se. The person I was 10 years ago? I wouldn't want who I was then around my children, let alone supporting them within specialist provision.

I systematically worked upon myself and still do to this day to ensure I am as good as I can be for them AND for children and young people I support (albeit on a voluntary basis at present, as am gaining the experience I need to apply for Secondary English PGCE, as a route into working with young people with complex needs within Specialist provision).

Feels as though you're minimising your offences and absolving yourself of responsibility by shifting the blame onto your exes. And the not having an anger problem? Sure...

Think long and hard whether you are suitable for a specialist setting.

Some people are answering based on what they want to be true, not out of knowledge. Haven’t rtft, so don’t know if anyone has already recommended Unlock as a resource and place for advice. I imagine it is very variable across areas/settings. I have a public disorder offence which has not been a problem in various enhanced dbs requiring jobs - however mine was a one off and easier to explain than yours I think. But if you can authentically explain why you and your situation are different to the you who had the convictions, then I think you should apply. I have a friend who had multiple convictions from a misspent youth, now working in the nhs. His convictions sound far worse than yours, but he explained how he had changed and could prove that with years of volunteer work and glowing character references. I think the dbs always/usually? happens after the selection process, so don’t bring it up before then. If you reach that stage give a matter of fact statement about the convictions, a short statement that you were in a pattern of abusive relationships, sought treatment after recognising that pattern and now have a different approach, and that you have navigated various stressful situations in a healthy way since then - don’t overexplain the incidents as that does make it sound like you’re making excuses. Proactively offer to provide character references with this statement. Good luck.

Anyway, thanks all but I think the response on here has galvanised my own thoughts that I just wouldn't be able to sit across from someone and expect them to make allowances for my poor behaviour in the past.

I posted because I suddenly started to feel guilty and worried about going to the interview which is a shame, as this is the most excited I'd been about a job interview!

I'll stick with retail.

Thanks again :)

OP there are employers who welcome people with previous convictions/ex-offenders and charities that can support you in finding a job if you have a conviction.

I would be honest with the school and disclose your history and even if this job does not work out, another one will.

I would ignore of the self-righteous comments trying to make you feel even worse about it.

It happened, you were in a bad place, people make mistakes.

Thanks for the advice, that's really useful.

I'm sorry, because I actually do believe in second chances... but I wouldn't employ you. It doesn't look like you are victim blaming. You are victim blaming. None of this is your fault. It's everyone else's. I can understand and appreciate that sometimes situations get out of control and there can be blame on both sides. But you have an disconcerting habit of that happening and yet it's always someone else's fault yet you are the one with multiple convictions. This sounds like denial, and if hearing the story as an employing manager, I'd have to be honest and say that I do not find it convincing enough to take a risk on you.

Just wanted to add; not that it makes any difference now but people keep talking about me disclosing or not disclosing the convictions - I have disclosed them on the self-disclosure form that I was sent after I was offered the interview today, I emailed it back immediately as my interview was Weds and the form needs to be in 24 hours before the interview.

I'll email tomorrow and withdraw my application.

Thanks again everyone.

Why not just go ahead and see how your interview goes? if you're convinced you are capable of doing the job and dealing with the stress press your case and convince them

OP maybe stop reading as people are being very hard on you! To me you don't sound like you're victim blaming, it sounds like you've had a very tough time and you're insightful about the offences and not a risk to children in the slightest

I cross posted with your reply. I hope you do apply, there’s nothing to feel guilty or embarrassed about in letting them make the decision as part of their process. If you don’t, or if you don’t get the job, have you considered looking for jobs in support for women in abusive situations, or if that hits too close to home then other adult settings which traumatised people need, like addiction support - if you want to work with people and not in retail then it might be a setting where your past would be understood and would in some ways be a real advantage as you’d have understanding and compassion for people who might be getting judged elsewhere?

You should go to the interview. We are only seeing what you write. I have interviewed people for teaching and SSA jobs and seen some criminal records on DBS that I have needed to ask them about. Some are not appointable but there have been some where it has been very clear that the conviction is no longer relevant to who they are and I have been happy to appoint them- they have never let me down.
I do think it's a big ask because of the nature of the convictions and what they imply about your choices but I don't think it is a done deal.

You may as well do the interview. You have nothing to lose.

You will be asked about them and expected to discuss them with the person leading the recruitment- probably Head or Deputy Head. You'll be expected to be open, honest, not make excuses, show insight into who you were and how you have changed.

Thanks, when I mentioned the abuse I was trying to get across how much my circumstances have changed and how I understand why I did the things I did.
Not trying to place blame on anyone but myself.

I'll sleep on it and see, I just think putting someone in the position of interviewing me when they know I don't have much of a hope in getting the job, and then putting someone in the position of having to look through my details and turn me down, seems wrong somehow.

The silly thing is, in 2025 - according to the flow chart for offence filtering - I won't need to disclose the convictions anyway as they wouldn't show (except perhaps one of them).

If you've been doing voluntary work at a school you should have been DBS checked for that, and presumably that went okay or they wouldn't have let you do it. I agree it doesn't look good, but unless you try you'll never know. Be completely open and honest about it and see what they say. If they decide it's a deal breaker you haven't actually lost anything. You've done quite a lot since the convictions to prove yourself. Maybe it's too recent at the moment, but who knows what may change in the future. Well done for turning your life around.

Wait till 2025 I had to wait till after 2020 and it’s so worth it not having to worry