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Finding Employment

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Sunshine

Member since
November 2022

4 posts

Posted Wed November 23, 2022 9:31amReport post

Can anyone offer support. My journey started in 2016. I've looked at the forum but never had the courage to speak out before. My son has been found himself in the courts twice and has had a custodial sentence. He's struggling to find work. How do you overcome disclosure? Do employers give them a chance. He has recently completed the Lucy course and I think he understands what caused him to travel down this path. To be able to move on with his life is to be part of the working community and live like everyone else instead of existing on benefit's. It's so hard to watch him when the rejections come in. He once had a promising future studying at uni now this has all gone. Any help would be appreciated. I don't know what to suggest anymore

Distressed and pregnant

Member since
November 2020

993 posts

Posted Wed November 23, 2022 10:21amReport post

Hi,

My person has gone for a nights job at Asda. I'll update on this post if there are any issues but no questions asked so far. They are a ban the box employer but do ask for certain roles apparently. His issue to date is that most employers ask about unspent convictions xxx

Loulou22

Member since
October 2022

50 posts

Posted Wed November 23, 2022 11:01amReport post

This is something I would appreciate advice on too in respect of my son. We are in the limbo stage of pre charging decision and he's not fit to work atm due to anxiety and depression. But I'm sure it was anxiety and social isolation that led him down this path, and I'm so concerned that the fallout of all of this will prevent him from moving on with his life which includes meaningful employment.

Loulou22

Member since
October 2022

50 posts

Posted Wed November 23, 2022 11:05amReport post

Distressed- I have never heard of ban the box. Does this mean they are an employer open to ex offenders? I have heard that Timpsons are great on this regard but obviously not a massive amount of jobs with them.

SAL

Member since
December 2021

895 posts

Posted Wed November 23, 2022 11:31amReport post

Yes, Ban the Box employers will employ people with criminal records in some roles.

Also look at https://www.ex-seed.co.uk.

Alison20

Member since
March 2021

361 posts

Posted Wed November 23, 2022 11:46amReport post

It would be a good idea for your son to speak to the charity 'Unlock' about finding employment, they will be able to give advice and tips on this.

The charity NACRO also have a criminal record support service with a helpline -they may also be good to contact or have a look at their website.

If your son wants still to go to university he could speak to Unlock about this too. I believe University is still a possibility and maybe worth him looking into, if he is interested in studying.

Edited Wed November 23, 2022 11:57am

Sunshine

Member since
November 2022

4 posts

Posted Wed November 23, 2022 3:12pmReport post

Thanks for all the replies. Unfortunately uni would be the worst place for him to go due to anxiety and depression. He also has struggles with drink issues when his mood is low. The drinking culture at uni is what has aggravated his online behaviour. Trying to get employment is the hardest battle now. His sentence is spent but due to his SHPO he has to disclose any way. This is so cruel. How are they ever to move on. My heart breaks for him. He's a bag of nerves if he's lucky enough to get an interview which doesn't help. I fear for his future but we will continue to try. What else can you do!!

Distressed and pregnant

Member since
November 2020

993 posts

Posted Wed November 23, 2022 7:03pmReport post

An update; my person is due to start working nights at Asda later this week. He is 21 months post sentencing and is not on license so his only conditions are his SHPO which is all internet related and the standard ones of sor. His initial probation officer gave him incorrect information about disclosure so he essentially talked himself out of jobs that wouldn't have asked by disclosing at interview stage. By the time she corrected herself he'd exhausted all options available in the line of work he was in before all of this. She advised to go through agencies but he found that they all ask about unspent convictions to cover themselves for any roles. He spoke to unlock and didn't find the person very helpful but, having experience of call centre work I know it's very much dependent on who you speak to as to what level of support they provide. Ban the box is good but a little out of date as some of the companies on there ask but ask you to be honest as they don't discriminate. He has a meeting with PO tomorrow but fingers crossed he doesn't encounter any issues and can start as planned. The disclosure and following rejections have been hard for him to deal with and hard to watch him going through but hopefully that is over now and he can truly start to move forward as a working man. I'm so incredibly pleased and wanted to share good news to bring hope to others xxx

SAL

Member since
December 2021

895 posts

Posted Wed November 23, 2022 8:23pmReport post

Distressed and pregnant, I'm really pleased he has something. Fingers crossed nothing gets in his way. It must be so incredible hard to go through the disclosure and rejection but even more so to find out he didn't need to - I'm getting the feeling it's worth while asking the same question to many different people to find out facts as so many people are given incorrect or unclear guidance.

Fingers crossed for you both.

Jayjay

Member since
December 2021

695 posts

Posted Wed November 23, 2022 10:51pmReport post

Hi my person is on SOR and has SHPO internet only.
He was offered a job in a male only company, no dbs required however there was disclosure statement. He wrote one for unspent convictions with help from unlock, unfortunately they ended up withdrawing the job offer as they have a 17 yr old male apprentice (iioc were female).

he has thankfully gained a new employment male only company, no dbs, no disclosure statement. I count our lucky stars everyday for this.



lots of factory and workshop jobs don't ask for dbs/disclosures.



I would ask PO or mosovo officer for help finding employment. Also speak to unlock.
it is possible you just need to be given the right break. Good luck x

Seaside

Member since
July 2022

558 posts

Posted Thu November 24, 2022 8:41amReport post

I have been thinking about this as well regarding my person.

He relocated to a new area and found employment whilst RUI for online chats with a decoy.

Wasn't asked for DBS during application, interview or at any time up to now.

It is a large company and, although dealing with customers, he's never unsupervised or lone working.

We are now awaiting a plea hearing and sentencing for 2 charges-no images, contact or distribution and hopefully one charge will be dropped due to lack of evidence.

He would be assessed as very low risk so my question really is why realistically is there a need to disclose if it results in a suspended sentence or community order ?

If he was not a risk before sentencing why suddenly would he be deemed to be one afterwards?- in reality he would be less likely to be a risk.

If monitored by PO and undergoing courses etc to address the behaviour then surely being in employment is the best way to ensure that he doesn't fall into depression and increase the possibility of reoffending?

loulou74

Member since
September 2022

255 posts

Posted Thu November 24, 2022 4:12pmReport post

Seaside - it would depend on his contract. If it doesn't say he needs to tell them if he is convicted of an offence, then no, he doesn't need to tell. My husband is still in his job, and he has checked his contract, and he doesn't need to tell them. Hopefully, they don't find out. Sentencing is soon and I'm worried about it being in the media.

Seaside

Member since
July 2022

558 posts

Posted Thu November 24, 2022 4:23pmReport post

Thanks Loulou there is nothing in his contract regarding this so hopefully he will be able to keep his job.

He has relocated from where he was living when he was arrested so it shouldn't be reported in the media where he is now.

If it is reported in the media where he previously lived then at least he isn't going to have to see anyone he knew but I'm still worried about people I know reading it.

Sending you strength and hugs this is a s**t journey to be on .