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!

I think there are two different things being confused here. People are certainly entitled to second chances, and having a criminal record, with a few exceptions, is no barrier in and of itself to almost all employments. Even having multiple offences is not a barrier, although clearly it doesn't help. But the way that it is explained, the route that has been taken to rehabilitation, a self- awareness of one's journey to commit a crime, and taking responsibility is the test of the degree of risk an employer takes. So if the OP goes into an interview explaining, as they did here, how none of it was their fault and they are really the victim, then their chances go through the floor.

It is not being a "hyena" by pointing that out, and many people on this thread have made the point that it isn't the offences in themselves that are the problem, but the fact that the OPs explanations lack an awareness of their own responsibilities in the offences.

How do you know what Jimmy Saville had, or didn't have, on his record from past years?

It would be interesting to see how many people here who are telling everyone else they are being 'judgmental' would be equally 'judgmental'(?) if they discovered a TA with a record like this was at their child's school? My guess is rarer than hen's teeth, but nothing unusual there..it's the 'do as I say, not as I would do in real life' syndrome again. As someone has rightly said upthread, there are very poor relationship choices indicated here - and what would happen if a domestic argument spilled into confronting the partner outside the school gates - or inside? Cross your fingers and hope nobody else gets damaged?

If you don’t trust your DC’s school to get their employment risk assessments right, you should probably pick another school.

I don't know for sure. Was he ever arrested? I'm pretty sure he was never convicted...if he was I'm fairly sure we'd know about it. But regardless, I'm just pointing out that there are probably plenty of people who have clear DBs checks simply because they've never been caught. It's not a perfect system but it's better to have it in place than no checks at all.

And I do feel some sympathy for the op...but I'd be pretty horrified if she was employed at my dcs school and if I was a recruiter I would not hire her.

There's no way you'd get a job in school. That would come up on the DBS check and domestic violence is a major safeguarding concern.

Anything under 18 pretty much is wiped after 11 years.

Think of how many current teacher could have massive teenage records your never know about. Unless they involved sex/children/terrorism.

Should a was silly 14/15/16/17 year old never be allowed to work near a child ever because they were a twat as a teenager?

Now it ops case she was an adult and she’s sought help, it’s nearly been her time limit with nothing again since the last one. She never did anything to a child etc already volunteered there too.

Don’t make shit up! You’d tell your kids off for lying. Set an example.

I am all for second chances and rehabilitation just not in close proximity to vulnerable people. Maybe choose a career where this doesn't matter so much.

Actually some of the best people to be around "vulnerable people" are those who've been there. But that is why it is critical to make informed decisions based on clear evidence. Some of the most inspiring people I've ever met have criminal records that would make your toes curl....

The reason they wont be filtered is because theres more than one, therefore ineligible

Go to the interview @Ravenalasia. I can't comment on whether these convictions make you ineligible for a TA role but it sounds like you will need to practise disclosing them in this kind of setting anyway, so you may as well see how it goes this week.

I don't think anyone on the thread can answer the specific q but I would echo the PP who have suggested getting touch with charities who support people getting back into work.

Do agree with others that the explanations - rightly or wrongly - would make me a little bit concerned as it sounds like you feel you have two convictions that were not your fault from two different people. Would be good to chat to someone who knows more about whether it is better to take more responsibility - however completely appreciate that may not be appropriate and people do unfairly end up in these situations. Good luck

I know a social worker who had a conviction for assaulting a police officer. She was a teenager and it was accidental but it was never 'spent' so she always had to declare it. She was in her 60s and had clearly got on ok in life as she was able to work as a social worker. She was one of the best social workers I've ever met.

If you haven't cancelled then don't. Go to the interview and get interview experience at least for when you don't have to declare your convictions.

@Wrongsideofpennines i totally agree. OP you’d be surprised those working in the social care world, probation and youth justice service world who have criminal convictions. I know people who’ve been to prison and working in the youth justice world….

That's not a fact, just your opinion and a bitchy one at that.

Schools and educating settings are in the top 10 employers in the uk that recruit rehabilitated offenders.

Both my mother and stepfather have pgces and have worked in schools, colleges and universities for over 30 years and both have criminal records, and also know numerous teachers with criminal records, including one with a previous 18 month prison sentence for punching a flight attendant on a plane. It's more than obvious that you dont really understand the recruitment process and how many ex offenders are employed in schools.

You mention schools and reputations, and you are right, schools are concerned about reputations, and having a blanket ban on applicants with previous criminal convictions breaks rehabilitation of offenders act and employment law.

What employers value and respect is honesty, which the op has demonstrated already, simply by making this post. I really hope she continues with her application and isnt put off by bigoted responses.

Your post just screams pure ignorance and you come across as not just judgemental but completely out of touch.

Sorry, but I don't think you'll be considered for the role.

Your stories all sound wild! Would the police really press charges against a pregnant woman for merely kicking at a cat flap while locked out at 3am? And how likely is it that the other guy automatically rolled off you and smashed his own head on the floor like a self destructing robot? Then in the next post it turns into a little push and slap from you?

Domestic abuse (and separately, police sexism) is still a HUGE problem but generally once there's any physical altercation between a man and woman, the police tend to be hyper alert for signs of the woman being abused. You had no bruises, marks or even anything to verbally tell the police?

I've no doubt those were unhealthy relationships (and probably mutually abusive IMO), and yes men will always end up physically overpowering women if both get into a physical fight. But you sound like you were/are provocative, violent and unstable, not just acting in self-defense.

I do wish you the best, provided you know/feel you are ready to keep your temper around children. I'm not just saying all of the above as a pile on. To give constructive advice, I think you should just speak in general terms and sound remorseful.

Don't go into convoluted stories like the above. Even on the vvvv off chance it's 100% true, it won't sound true to them. Plus the longer you talk, the more inconsistent your story gets.

Simply say it was abusive or unhealthy relationships (do not elaborate like claim you were a battered woman etc), you had a poor childhood and you have since done a lot of work.

No that was changed recently, offences eligible for filtering will now be filtered regardless of how many.

Really sorry to say this as well but as they will only have your side of the story and they will expect you (as in anyone, general you) as a job applicant to paint yourself in the best light to get the job.

If the only “fact” they have is your conviction record which shows multiple convictions of domestic violence related incidents that occurred in adulthood, then I’m not sure you would be considered as the optimal applicant without them knowing you.

Any mitigating factors you provide will be open to subjective interpretation, you might get a lady interviewer who has been in a similar position as yourself or you might get someone who reads your account of events as poor excuses and who would think the pattern shows you in a certain way.

I think that if you believe you have the skills for the job then you should absolutely go for it with all your heart. it’s easy to judge people off one aspect but I believe that people can change and I also believe tbh that even without change as such, people are capable of having difficulties in some contexts but not others.

Well, you're not who I'd like teaching my grandchildren.
Once, forgivable, more than that, not acceptable.
I hope they turn you down.

I have to be honest, it’s a major point against you. If you are known to the staff already as a person of good character, and if they are desperate to hire, they may give you a chance, but it’s by no means a given.

@beeswaxinc I think many people want to believe and give second chances. I believe people are simply a product of their upbringing and environment, and have volunteered with both current inmates and ex-offenders. But it's impossible to believe when all the explanations are so convenient (just a tiny kick here, merely a light slap there) plus inconsistent. OP also hints that there are more convictions she hasn't mentioned.

Yes, of course there are always unfortunate circumstances and trigger points that push one to violence. The problem is that in school, there will be plenty of these trigger points. Children behaving like animals, bitchy or snappy colleagues, unreasonable parents, stressful salary issues, etc.

I think the crux is OP's stories all come across as "I had no choice" or "it was reasonable in that situation". Will she say that after a potential incident in school too? As an interviewer, that's what I would worry about. Hence my earlier advice to her to just cut out the convoluted justification and speak in general terms at the interview.

For what it's worth, I would employ the op , having been pushed to my limits by an abusive partner and behaving in a way that was not how I would normally behave and have never behaved like it since, I understand that people can act out of character when under extreme emotional and physical abuse.
Having said this, I don't work in education so I guess it's easy for me to say when I don't actually have to make the decision and take the risk.

Just genuinely curious – would that not be classed as self defense? Generally the police and the law are very generous with the remit of self defense by women in cases of abusive men. Afaik prosecutions are mostly limited to murder by the woman.

Honestly no I would t give you a role in a school with multiple convictions. One maybe bit more than one. I'm also unconvinced of your excuses re it all being your two ex's fault and you really being a victim of abuse. A judge obviously felt differently. I'd have a lot more sympathy for you if I felt you were more honest about your history instead of it being everyone else's fault.