A Nanny with a CRB caution?! Ofsted registration?

[JennyNanny]

Hi all, thanks for reading.
My name is Jen, (hello!), I am 21 years old and I have 6 years of solid childcare experience (youth worker, volunteer teacher in South Africa, child minder, baby sitter, party planner, tutor etc) and I am so very desperate to get a job as a live in Nanny for a lovely family. It's my dream really. I currently studying a distance learning Psychology Degree with the Open University and looking to do a Child Psychology Doctorate in a few years time.
I am soon to have a paediatric first aid certificate and a CACHE childcare qualification.
I love children. Love working with them, am fascinated in child development (thus the doctorate!), get a lot of inner joy from the prospect of making childcare my full time job.
(I hope i've sold myself enough to make up for the next bit...)

BUT...

When I was 13 years old, I stole some sweeties. And got caught. I couldn't have been more distraught at the time (I was a genuinely good kid, but my mum had just remarried and, well, etc etc) but they told me the warning they gave me would be removed in 3 years.

Lo' and behold, the law changed and i am forever branded with a warning for theft on my CRB.

NOW, the question I have to ask is; am I right in tearing my hair out because a) no nanny agency will touch me and b) no parents would touch me?

I understand that Ofsted would not be too concerned however would being Ofsted registered mean that agencies would not find out about the caution?

Let's face it, who wants a live in nanny with a history of theft?

Kind regards,
A very distraught wanna-be Nanny!

Haha! What's a Scandis? Sounds like a skin disease to me :o

Whilst I do want children and other vunerables to be protected - this law seems to be taking it a little far to be sure. One boy appealed to the supreme court because he wanted to become a teacher but had stolen 2 bikes when he was 11.

A bloke at work has criminal damage for kicking a taxi when he was drunk. I laughed sympathised when he told me that.

yes sorry I meant the Scandinavians with their generally more enlightened approach to everything. Perhaps we need to eat more herring.

I really think this is wrong - surely there should be some offences that should be wiped from the record after a certain number of years. Sexual offences, no. Petty stealing as a child, yes.

treefumaster: I agree. A sexual offense should be for life - but then a sexual offense shouldn't be down as a caution.

With everyone's kind words and encouragement, I have kept on my CACHE course (My mindset before was not to waste the time and money if no one would have me!) and should have the qualification within two months :)

I'm glad my record isn't seen as serious and I will try to get it removed, though it is unlikely

good luck JennyNanny.

This in itself wouldn't bother me as long as you were upfront about it.

I would think it should be something to come out during interview - if you made too much of a big thing about it either then or upfront it would make me uncomfortable. Just a casual mention like - "oh and I feel I should mention that I did something I'm very ashamed of when I was 13, I stole some sweets - this is mentioned on my CRB....I understand as a nanny trust is essential and I'm happy to discuss it"

AwesomeMrsFox - I like the way you have worded it there. I didn't think about going the other way and making too much of a point of it, good tip.

It wouldn't bother me at all so long as you were upfront and mentioned that it would show up. But a minor offence at 13 isnt something that would have any bearing on my perception of you as a adult. Best of luck

mate of mine is a GP. She has a caution aged 18 for underage drinking (caught having a drink to celebrate a level results before her 18th birthday as her birthday is late august)

she has to declare it for CRB and other things and it's never caused a problem, usually creates much hilarity (she needed a new CRB every 6 months during her junior doctor years)

Everybody in my current workplace thinks its really funny.
My boss makes a real show of hiding his wallet everytime i go into his office!

Why don'y you apply for a CRB check now and see what it says on it. At least you can stop worrying if it isn't mentioned and will have a document to show at interviews if it is, to get it over and done with.

If it was a caution before you were aghed 18 it won't show on a standard CRB but will do on an enhanced one. NOt sure what you need as a nanny (assume probably enhanced though) in the NHS anyone having clinical contact (ie Drs, nurses, physios etc) needs an enhanced one

Definitely need an enhanced disclosure - I got one when I was 17 as apart of my Visa application to live in South Africa (I was a volunteer primary school teacher for a while in a VERY poor area). It came up then, that was about 2 months before the law changed.

Waves over to you sleeplessinderbyshire I'm just across the border in Leicestershire. Used to go to school in Ilkeston and lived in Melbourne for a bit. Oo-oo!

Agree with just being upfront about it. It isn't going to put off any rational families/agency's if it is counteracted with recent good references.

Everyone makes mistakes at 13, you were just unlucky in getting caught! (or lucky if it saved you from a life of crime I suppose )

Haha! A good point! I don't think i was ever the type to become public enemy #1 though!

I am horrified that something so trivial that you do as a child is stuck with you for ever more. Where is the sense in that?

(Jen - I have employed nannies in the past and this would not have bothered me one jot if I liked you and felt you would fit in with the family.)

I'm surprised that a conviction or warning before age 18 that was not a sexual offence should end up on your record- are you sure? It was my understanding that childhood and teenager offences were removed at 18 and you start with a "clean slate" so to speak. Maybe it's not the same for CRB. If you had a DNA swab in the police station when you were arrested they will probably have kept that on record as well.

Seriously though, one offence at age 13 for pinching sweets certainly wouldn't put me off. How many teenagers experiment with pinching things just to push the boundaries? Loads I should think. There must be plenty of families who wouldn't mind about it. Try not to worry too much about it but do be upfront about it as if the laws have changed then they will know about it no matter what.

I really feel for you, I did something stupid as an 18 year old, none of my jobs have required a CRB and the offence is long spent but a few years ago I applied for a CRB to help out at a few outings at dd1s nursery school - it showed up, I was so hurt, embarrased, guilty etc. I have never taken part in anything that required a CRB since. Whilst I do understand the need for checks, this one size fits all policy imo doesn't work and in my circumstances has stopped me joining in with lots of activities that I would have loved to have done.

I know it must feel horrible but don't forget the purpose of the CRB, you don't need a clean one to work. You need one that doesn't show you as a risk to the employer/vulnerable people.

Since the law has changed it must affect 1000s of people, just be upfront and get on with doing what you want. One awkward 10minutes explaining, potentially years of happy working.

Going back to getting a ref of a teacher, you left school what, 6 yrs ago?
Im pretty sure there would still be a senior teacher still there, that could give you a ref, it wasnt that long ago

That's true. I went to a catholic school too and it's pretty close knit. I may have a go. Would be awesome to visit anyway. They always remember you!