Can I work for children’s services

[Kelz19]

I have been offered a job working with children’s services in an admin role, I know they will carry out checks and I have a clear dbs.

However my children have been subject to child protection plan in the past due to me being in an abusive relationship, I am no longer in the relationship and the children haven’t been on for a fair few years.

I’m concerned that this might flag up and will affect my job, does anyone know what checks will be made and whether This would affect my job role

The DBS will just check if you have a criminal record/ any crimes committed related to children. I don't believe it would flag up a child protection plan unless you were actually charged with a crime.

You absolutely can. In fact you'd probably be perfect for role with personal experience

Thankyou, does that mean there wouldn’t be any checks into my personal life and the children’s being on there wouldn’t affect anything.
I’m sure it wouldn’t be on my dbs check as it’s not a criminal conviction

My main concern is not the dbs check it’s any further checks they may make and whether the children being on a plan in the past would affect anything. Do you think that this would be a check they make

Should be fine. I think it's only an "issue" if they were to be on a plan in the LA that you're working for in terms of restricting access to the file. Like you said, it's not a criminal conviction and wouldn't show on a DBS. You weren't on it due to your own behaviour and were a victim of DV.

You should disclose it. It wouldn't necessarily bar you but you should absolutely not conceal it. Many parents are referred to the LADO when they have children's services involved and it doesn't usually result in any action but you must be transparent.

Thankyou I will mention at interview, I did feel better to disclose it as I would rather be open and transparent

Hi op, no they should not be checking any records under your name in terms of social service involvement as this is a breach of your personal information. It has no bearing at all if you had previous involvement however it may help you to understand the job a little better. It is up to you to disclose or not however I wouldn't. Aslong as toue dbs and criminal checks are clear then that's ok. You are not hiding anything by not telling them because it's not a conflict of interest or anything.

You wouldn't be allowed to access your own files anyway so you don't need to disclose anything, don't mean to be rude but where are pp getting their information from is incorrect.

Sorry just reading over your posts. No a child protection plan will not show up on any police or criminal checks. As stated you do not need to disclose this as it's your personal information and not an offence. It will not flag up at all.

I work in a similar place, I had a full social services background check. Be honest with them. It wouldn't be an automatic no

Do mention but not until after being offered the role/before you get your work computer, if it's for the same council. If not it's none of their business

Thankyou everybody for your advice, it’s a perfect job opportunity for me and one I would hate to miss from issues from my past. Me and my children are happy and I’m in a healthy relationship, this has been giving me so much worry and anxiety so thank you all for replying

Which part of children's services, it quite a big department ? only a few people would have access to that type of information and they’d need a legitimate reason to access it, they can’t just snoop on people.

I don’t know whether it’s worth going for the interview I feel so stressed over it all. I’d be working in the office doing general admin. Answering phone calls from families and taking minutes in child protection conferences etc. I won’t be working with children directly. On the specification it says I need a standard dbs which is less than I need for working in the job I do now, however I work with adults now not children

I would work in the reception and office doing general admin and taking minutes in child protection conferences.

Thankyou, this is what I’m worried about and whether this would stop me from working for them, do you know exactly what they check and whether they would for an admin role, I won’t be working with children directly

OP, I work in this sector. You really don't need to disclose this.

All they will do is a DBS check, and all that looks at is your criminal record regarding children.

There aren't any other checks for an admin role in a school.

Honestly, please go for the job and don't worry. This is your personal, private information which you don't have to share with your employer.

Sorry, just saw you said children's services so not necessarily a school.

But still - it will be an enhanced DBS and that's all. Don't worry, you're fine.

I think you should disclose it, I work as a ta and in every school I've been asked if my children have had any involvement from social services, I dont think it will stop you doing the role, you will have a greater understanding of what families suffering DV go through. But it's better to be upfront from the beginning

You absolutely must go for the job, particularly if it's your dream role. I work in children's services and would say that your involvement with social care will not have any bearing, I don't think you need to disclose this unless there was a prosecution against you.

I would expect that your lived experience would be regarded as an asset in this job.

I’d imagine should you get the job your record and your children’s record would be locked, therefore only those who had been granted access could get into them.
it’s quite common in terms of staff who foster, who adopt etc.
id not worry and disclose if it’s a question otherwise don’t.

Please go for the role! Honestly, nothing will happen. I've been aware of people currently doing similar roles who have had children's service involvement ongoing (am a manager so would have that info) and it doesn't stop them working. What would be a problem would be if you didn't disclose and something ELSE happened, you were referred to the LADO and it came out that you hadn't disclosed it in the first place. Social work managers will be very understanding of your situation!

Thankyou this had made me feel much better. There was no prosecution against me, just the perpetrator. I was a victim of domestic abuse and the the children seeing it meant they were put on a cpp, rightly so as no child should witness such horrific things. Either way I’m a long free but just hope it doesn’t go against me. Thanks again for your advice. I will go for the interview and can only hope for the best.