Appealing a caution from 15 years ago...

[HelpMeCheese]

Hello,

I recently applied for a DBS check as I was planning on working with children.

I am in England.

When I was 15, I was contacted by the police. A neighbour had accused me of harassment (which I didn't do). This neighbour was well known in our area for complaining about school children. He had complained about 100s of children from my school prior to me, and many more after. I admitted to shouting a few words at him (the worst of which was "psycho") after he started shouting at my friends and I after school. I regret shouting back, and i certainly wouldn't do it now.

Anyway, he phoned the police and claimed that I had racially-abused him (which I definitely did not!). The police warned me about my behaviour and told me to think twice next time. I have never been in trouble with the police since.

I was not (to my knowledge) arrested. My DBS says that it's a "reprimand". The specific details on the DBS say:

"racially threatening abusive or insulting words or behaviour to cause fear or provocation of violence"

I 100% didn't do this, and I have several witness to vouch for me (the other kids who were with me at the time)

Anyway, the incident was 15 years ago. As I said, it has showed up on my DBS, so I now can't work with kids. Therefore, I would like to get my DBS cleared if possible. As I was 15 at the time, I wasn't 100% sure what was happening at the police station (although I had my dad with me).

Does anyone have any advice/ suggestions?

This doesn't rule you out of working with children, not with all employers anyway. You would need to declare it on application forms and be prepared to discuss what happened. But you'd be surprised how many people working in social care have a conviction of some sort. Most employers will be used to doing risk assessments around this type of thing.

Thank you. But UCAS said that I can't go onto a PGCE course because of it?

I don't think there's any such rule unless things have recently changed. See this

www.theguardian.com/teacher-network/teacher-blog/2013/may/22/convictions-cautions-teaching-job

I'm afraid there is no way of getting this removed from your DBS. You effectively pleaded guilty by accepting the reprimand and the offence is one that will never be removed from a DBS check.

PGCE courses require a DBS check which will be carried out by the training provider. It is then up to the provider to decide whether to accept you with this on your record. I would have expected most, if not all, to accept someone with an isolated reprimand for a minor offence committed 15 years ago when you were in your teens. They may, however, be concerned if you say you haven't had any cautions or reprimands and then this shows up on your DBS check.

The difficulty is that it was for racially abusive language. Obviously that is a concern if you're wanting to enter teaching. Does UCAS do the check or the individual unis you apply to?