CRB, 18 yo son and simple caution - please advise

[wrinkled]

Hello - long time lurker here in need of some advice from wise mumsnetters.

18 year old son received a simple caution for possession of cannabis on Friday night - he accepts he was foolish and bitterly regrets it. He has wanted to be a primary teacher since he was about 8 and of course, that involves CRB checks, as does the job he does part-time at the moment, working with children with disabilities.

Will this simple caution automatically preclude him from teaching and/or working with children? His world has collapsed around him, and while he accepts it's his own fault, he is in despair.

Any advice would be so gratefully received.

Thank you.

I dont think that it completely "writes him off", especially if he can keep his nose clean from now on.
When applying for University, jobs etc each will look at his CRB and perhaps invite him for a discussion on the matter, to be sure that it was a stupid, one off mistake.

I completed my nursing course last year and a couple of people on my course had blemished records from their teens- it didnt stop them from getting into Uni or getting good jobs once the incidents were discussed fully.

Thanks for your reply, tiredemma - we're hoping that this might be the case and that it will be put down as a stupid teenaged mistake.

Bump in case anyone else has any experience of something similar, or any other insight to support tiredemma's view?

Having been involved in child protection for voluntary youth work...

The guidance issued to employers says, amongst other things, that they must assess the relevance of any criminal records disclosed. This includes looking at the seriousness of the offence, its relevance to the job, how long ago the offence occurred, whether it is a one off or part of a pattern and so on.

If this was some form of child sex offence it may be the end of his ambitions. However, a youthful indiscretion with drugs is not the end of the world.

If your son keeps his nose clean he should not have any problems, either with his current part time job or with teaching.

Thank you, prh47bridge - that's very helpful. Mumsnet is great for advice and support.

Thank you, prh47bridge - that's very helpful. Mumsnet is great for advice and support.

The main thing is for him to be honest about the caution....problems with things like that only arise when people omit relevant information.

Has the caution prevented his drug use, do you think?

scurryfunge, that's the line we are taking, that he should be upfront about it and admit he made a very stupid mistake.

As for preventing future drug use, I think he has had such a shock over this - not just how he feels, and the impact on his own future, but seeing the impact on the rest of the family - that he should be put off it altogether. I certainly hope so, anyway.

Thanks for your response.