CRB check and mh record

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My friend has a mh section 2 on her record from 7/8 years ago when she was 50 years old. She got it as she failed to go to appointments She does not really have a serious mh condition eg bipolar or suicide .She has been discharged from MH community suport for some time as well e.g appointments. Will this show up on her CRB check and what is the best way of dealing with it? She has only had 2 days off work with mh in the last 3 years and before that some time off for a bereavement so she will not be going off work for this reason .

I wish I could say no that won't happen, but a quick google has revealed that some police forces do mention it under 'any other relevant information' - which can be right if the person sectioned has been violent when having an episode, but which would really be an injustice in cases where there was no violence.

I must say though that not attending appointments in itself is not reason for sectioning, so more will have gone on. And not having a serious mental health problem 'like bipolar or suicide' also does not ring true (apart from suicide not being a MH condition of course). She will have been pretty seriously ill and a danger at least to herself if not to others.

Failing to go to appointments and being sectioned should not affect a CRB check. A CRB check is there to protect children from violence or sexual abuse. There is no why a history of mental health problems should stop someone working with children.

However I can understand the fear of discrimination.

I've had a more detailed look and it seems that police sections can show up but where the police has not been involved you should be ok.

no WAY is she a danger to youngsters: she is a caring and compasionate person I agree with Madmouse if anything she is too soft and more a danger to herself if that makes sense.She does not have "a history " of mental health problems eg in and out of hospital or seeing psychiatrists She was told, on this one-off, that she had been sectioned for not attending appointments and that was the only reason:non-compliance. She does however have a stressful job and had had some personal probs I have told her to be upfront on her application as she is not a danger to kids and she will not be off work with mh but how much detail is needed? The facts speak for themselves: she has a good work record re time off for sickness

OP you must accept though that your friend was sectioned for being a danger to herself not for non-compliance. One has the right to refuse medical treatment unless deemed incapable of making decisions which is where section comes in.

No she never refused treatment -she was told by the hospital quite categorically that she had not attended appointments and so they took this action That was that.

You're not getting it OP - but I'm not sure how else to explain it. She was not sectioned for failing to attend appointments in itself. The appointments will have been a last ditch attempt to keep her at home with which she was not able and or willing to co-operate. She must have been very ill. She will also by definition have seen psychiatrists if she was sectioned. So maybe you just only know the little bits that she has told you.

Yes MM got you. I see what you mean.Anyway she is ok now but should she be upfront on her application? I think she should

Only if it is relevant for what she wants to apply for. If the police was not involved in her section it likely will not show up anyway. If however the police was sent to bring her in because she failed to attend it may show up, but 8 years is a long time. Most criminal offences bar the very serious ones no longer need to be disclosed after that time so why would she have to declare a past illness? It all depends on circumstances.

Well not really similar but this might help. Friend of mine had a conviction which she initially concealed on an application (but not mh related) and it all hit the fan.

5 years later and she now declares it and actually as it hasn't impacted on her current role and has not prevented her achieving her aims. I believe she has been asked about it in interview but not gone against her.

Hth

If she has never been cautioned or commited a criminal offense then being sectioned 8 years ago should not stop her from gaining employment.

I agree with posters are saying that a person has to have a very serious mental illness to be sectioned under the MH Act because they are a danger to themselves or others.

I think much depends on what job she is applying for. Are you able to say what the job is?

OP: My take is the police section 136 will show on a CRB check. As the police aren't medics it isn't a medical section like the MHA sections exercised by MH professionals.
But if you want to know, your friend can do a CRB check on themselves with 'Disclosure Scotland'. Used to be c£30 for basic check or pay for an advanced check. (Many English employers use Scots law to allow them to do the search, but only with your permission, unless they are permissible to apply to the CRB direct.) And yes it will pick up all UK references. Hope this helps.

www.disclosurescotland.co.uk