Going for new jobs- Being ready for CRB checks and questions.. how to prepare successfully??

[JamieG]

Part of the recovery process further down the line after NFA is dealing with Enhanced CRBs if an employer brings up the issue.

How do you get the confidence to not be phased when explaining that you will have arrests of which I have a full and detailed explanation, the allegations were entirely malicious, and afterwards the entire cases were dropped. etc etc.

How does one develop the right attitude, protocol and strength to deal with this?

I would like to hear from people who have been in this situation and got through it.

If bad experiences, what did you learn and what would you do again?

Is it an employment law breach if you are turned down a job with an arrest list but you have given a full explanation and been honest with your employer?

Any feedback here would be helpful, I think a guide to "Getting back to Work" would be useful to everyone.

[lawlessone2009]

Part of the recovery process further down the line after NFA is dealing with Enhanced CRBs if an employer brings up the issue.

How do you get the confidence to not be phased when explaining that you will have arrests of which I have a full and detailed explanation, the allegations were entirely malicious, and afterwards the entire cases were dropped. etc etc.

How does one develop the right attitude, protocol and strength to deal with this?

I would like to hear from people who have been in this situation and got through it.

If bad experiences, what did you learn and what would you do again?

Is it an employment law breach if you are turned down a job with an arrest list but you have given a full explanation and been honest with your employer?

Any feedback here would be helpful, I think a guide to "Getting back to Work" would be useful to everyone.

I would reckon that to avoid any issues simply avoid jobs that would involve working with children/vulnerable people. Not simply for the fact that the ECRB comes back with marks on it but also for YOUR future, it would only take one person to make a further false allegation for hell to start all over again. You are forever after in a vulnerable situation within general society without further opening up possibilities for accusations.

The nasty bit about the ECRB process is that subjects of it are not able to add their own information to the actual file. They can protest their innocence to a potential employer/employer but the paperwork is not accessible/challengable. Everyone should be able to add their own information to the information that is supplied about them and every piece of information should be challengable unless found to be 100% accurate and true.

I have a CONVICTION for a driving offence which is incorrect. I am listed as a 'Dangerous Driver' for an offence which was simply 'Careless' and resulted in a few points back when I was 18 or something. This generally results in simple 'speeding' offences being 'dual charged' (Speeding/Dangerous Driving) and me being FORCED to plead to a speeding accusation in fear of being taken to trial and convicted of Dangerous Driving when I KNOW that there are issues with the speeding offence. It also means that upon sentencing after mitigation I need to return to the court as they need to clarify that the conviction, as listed, is INCORRECT. They've never changed it though!!! I am unable to add my own 'amendment' so they are not interested in acting to address their error. IF you were able to point out errors/make amendments then the authorities would need to be more careful about what information they purport to be true, they would need to substantiate their position rather than be creative with what they believe.

If you worked within an environment that required an ECRB then I would consider working in an environment where one is not required. If you have to work within that environment then honesty is the best policy. At the end of the day a potential employer can either say 'Yes' or 'No'. You will not get them on any employment law unless they are incredibly stupid, instead they will hide behind the 'more suitable candidate' statement.

Employers need to be incredibly careful about how they probe into your private life. You, post accusation, need to be incredibly careful about when and how you give out information. You need to thoroughly read and understand the questions that are asked of you on application forms giving as little information as is actually requested, too much information can be damaging. If the employer is going to be seeking and ECRB then fair enough, give the details and explanation but if they simply ask if you have any criminal convictions then there is no point in telling them you were once charge with 'x' because they are not looking for that information and indeed it may not be relevant to the job. You also need to be aware of employers that ask for information as a 'catch all' but are not entitled to that information. Taking advice from a legal/employment specialist is probably the easiest way to understand what is what and when to be honest/when to circumvent giving info.

If all else fails... Self employment and screw their stupid application forms.

[JamieG]

Thanks for this. I am getting stronger and I do think that only jobs with vulnerable people, kids etc and financial services require enhanced which is definitely not what I want to do.

The only charge I have had is for common assault and was found not guilty, I don't think anything would appear on my standard CRB and like you said, for my own safety don't work in situations where people can make up stories and mess you up.

I am a firm believer now that a career with kids or anything where people can make up stories is a carrier made out of glass, easy to shatter with simply a high pitched noise and no substance.

Thanks for your advice.

[lawlessone2009]

Thanks for this. I am getting stronger and I do think that only jobs with vulnerable people, kids etc and financial services require enhanced which is definitely not what I want to do.

The only charge I have had is for common assault and was found not guilty, I don't think anything would appear on my standard CRB and like you said, for my own safety don't work in situations where people can make up stories and mess you up.

I am a firm believer now that a career with kids or anything where people can make up stories is a carrier made out of glass, easy to shatter with simply a high pitched noise and no substance.

Thanks for your advice.

It's not only JOBS per se. After allegations of a sexual nature you become more than aware of ALL situations. You begin to see things that others may naively miss. The ECRB and CRB are merely 'checks', they aren't going to protect anyone from anyone other than those with marks on their E/CRBs and even then are the 'marks' genuine??????

There are still plenty of jobs/opportunities for sexual offenders to come into direct contact with children. I believe the existence of the E/CRBs has given parents/carers a completely false sense of security.

It's easy for me to slate the system and also to ensure that I will never fall within ECRB territory but then my chosen profession is far removed from children/vulnerable people. It would be incredibly difficult for someone who has spent their life with kids etc.

I am just dreading the time when the government/employers decide that it's in everyones interests to have these checks done as part of an job application... Then again, I'm self employed these days...