I was interviewed for a job in a council run children's home (residential care officer) in July and was offered and accepted the post the same day. However they have not been in touch to arrange a start date and whenever I contact them to ask about progress they say they are still waiting for information.
I have got my DBS for the job, and supplied references. I left my part-time job last December to set up my own business as a Personal Carer, so I gave details of my last employer and that I am now self-employed . According to the Home Manager a business client needs to supply a reference but they do not want to as they see it as an invasion of their privacy - he keeps insisting they are my employer and that he needs a reference from them and I keep saying they pay me for a service and do not employ me (I am registered with HMRC). Another PA who worked with the same client in the role of Team Leader (client required 24 hour care) has agreed to give me a reference. But I have not heard if the council thinks this would be acceptable. A HR person talked about OFSTED requirements for children's home staff but I can't find any information about this.
I am beginning to get anxious, I feel as if I am under scrutiny for something I haven't been told about. I have had continuous CRBs/DBSs for more than 15 years and have worked with vulnerable people in paid and voluntary capacities for more than 40 years.
Can anyone please give me any insight into what might be happening?