Are paramedics CRB checked?
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I'm looking to retrain and have heard about a two-year paramedic degree. This is something that really interests me.
However, I have a small number of minor convictions for sexual offences from some years ago that, although are considered 'spent' under the ROA, would obviously show up on an enhanced CRB check. I don't want to spend a lot of money and time on a new career only to find out I can't get a job.
Any info appreciated.
However, I have a small number of minor convictions for sexual offences from some years ago that, although are considered 'spent' under the ROA, would obviously show up on an enhanced CRB check. I don't want to spend a lot of money and time on a new career only to find out I can't get a job.
Any info appreciated.
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Comments
http://www.crbchecks4u.co.uk/crb_checks.html
Although for a paramedic it seems a standard CRB check not an enhanced one hope this helps you.
The likelyhood of you being employed as a paramedic is nil.
I would have though that checks would be made on anyone starting a course to become a paramedic because they are likely to have contact with vulnerable persons. So the college running the course should have an idea of whether a person with sexual offences will be accepted as a paramedic or not so that is a good place to start with enquiries.
Convictions for sexual offences covers a wide range of possibilities so I would have thought that there was a chance of the OP still being able to become a paramedic depending on the age and type of the offences. The College carrying out the course and the NHS are the best place to start to find out whether it is still possible to become a paramedic. Obviously, they would need to be assured that the offences were minor, spent and that the OP was no more likely to re-offend than any other employee.
Doesn't it depend on the nature of the offence though.
The OP could have been done for indecent exposure for mooning during a drunken binge at uni for all we know.
With regards to college, i studied a health care course which required a crb check as it involved work with vulnerable people. Therefore it is likely that you would need to disclose your record to the college before they allow you do complete the course. Therefore you may be rejected before you do two years worth of study to find youre not accepted.
Yes it is up to the employer but generally anything that requires registration on sex offenders list is not good when applying for NHS jobs.
A number of under 16's are being put on the Sex Offenders register because they've been filming their antics (sexually explicit) on their phones and sharing it with class mates and posting it online......... and so are making, taking and distributing child porn. --- was a recent case of a 14yo boy and his 14yo girlfriend filming their antics..... the boys mum wasn't too pleased that her son was placed on the register - she said it'll harm his job prospects....
Once it's out there.... it's out there.
The Sex Offenders register covers a massive range of offences,(ranging from minor to the most horrific and pretty horrendous crimes.....)
to become a paramedic you will need to pass an enhanced CRB - as you WILL come into contact with the most vulnerable in society.....
I think the best thing to do is be honest with your prospective employers - sometimes they will give a chance to someone who is honest from the start.... Well I would anyway... I'd give a second chance to a person who was honest to me about what they've done........ as people do change/grow-up are not the same person they were 10yrs ago....
Good Luck!!!!!
When you say minor, what was the sentence? As it's the rehabilitation period following the sentence that will determine whether you can undertake this role or not.
If you are still outside the limits, it's up to YOU and any potential employer to report you for accessing work with children or vulnerable adults. It's illegal for either to even attempt to seek work in this area or for the putative employer to enable you to do so.
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/campaigns/Vetting/DG_183218
In terms of 'spent' it's very rare, if not ever, that you would be employed in a sector were a clear Enhanced CRB is required.
I see what you're saying Moony and I realise this is 'advice' but why are people wishing the OP good luck when they should be directing to another form of retraining?
If you are unwilling to tell us the nature of these "small number of minor convictions for sexual offences", no one can advise.
There is a huge difference between being caught mooning at a bus when part of a pissed up rugby club outing, or, for example, being done for flashing several times in the lcoal park.
Maybe...but a 'small number' highly suggests that this was more than once. However 'unserious' the offence is problematic. Would someone with 5 convictions for drunken mooning really be an ideal candidate?
Rehabilitation is all well and good and something I strongly support.... But in this case the best and only policy is to be open about your past and also why you want to be a paramedic to your potential college / employer. Maybe they think you are a suitable candidate maybe not.
Absolutely ^^^
I'm not prepared to share what I was convicted for as I do believe it's only for the voyeurs but my sentence was a three year CRO and I was ordered to sign the SOR for five years - these both expired a few years ago.
My convictions are indeed 'spent' under the ROA and would not show up on a standard CRB check but would, of course, come up on an enhanced check.
I've no desire to deceive a potential employer but equally I don't want to provide information that I don't need to (exactly why the ROA was brought in).
As somebody else mentioned, you really need to speak to the uni/collage where you are doing the course.
Front line staff - Nurses, Drs etc - who have contact with children and vulnerable adults need an enhanced CRB
I would assume that this is fairly standard across all NHS trusts including ambulance service trusts.
However, you can phone the HR department of a couple of Ambulance Service Trusts and see what they say. Will take you ten minutes and give you a more definitive answer.
I would advise that you disclose everything to a potential employer as if you don't, and they then unearth your history, you'll have no chance of a job. Honesty is, in this instance, the best policy. A close friend of mine had a series of (non sexual, but criminal) convictions for petty offences which he disclosed prior to applying for a portering job he'd done for some months through an agency. However, when it came to being taken on full time, the fact that he'd failed to mention a caution he'd recieved during the same period counted against him. He lost his job that day
Should someone be punished for being a drunken ******** as a teenager for the rest of their lives? :P
I work for the NHS and I would agree with other posters that spent or not your convictions would have a very detrimental effect on their choice to employ. Not suggesting you would but IF you re-offended and it got out into the public eye....well you can imagine. I doubt they would take the risk.
I understand that these convictions are spent and I'm not suggesting you haven't learnt some harsh lessons from your sentence. However I personally wouldn't omit to include the information whether you are obliged to or not because you will always be wondering if it's going to come back and bite you on the arse.
Good advice - will do - thanks!
ermm - if it was a caution that he didn't need to declare (ie was 'spent') then that would be unfair dismissal. If a conviction is 'spent' then you are legally entitled to answer 'no' to the question 'Do you have any criminal convictions'.
Full stop.
^This. Someone who might have been convicted of sex with a minor etc probably couldnt and shouldnt get a job dealing with children in vunerable situations. Whereas someone who flashed a bunch of housewives in a park once for a dare when drunk would be a different kettle of fish. The worrying thing for me personally was "a small number" which means obviously a more than once repeated action?
Completely agree. Sorry to the OP if he feels people are being voyeuristic but the nature of the offences are significant to whether or not he should even be applying for work with vulnerable people at all.