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For people with criminal records
For people with criminal records

Author: Debbie Sadler

Monthly update – July 2016

We’ve just published our update for July 2016.

 

 

 

 

 

 

This months update includes:

  1. Some new information on an A-Z of job roles and their eligibility for basic, standard and enhanced criminal record checks
  2. Our updated information on applying to university
  3. A personal view on becoming a solicitor with a criminal record
  4. Details of our response to the Government’s consultation on the childcare disqualification arrangements
  5. A link to case studies of bad employer practice that we’ve challenged as part of our employment project.

 

The full update provides a summary of:

  1. the latest updates to our self-help information site for people with convictions
  2. recent posts to our online magazine, theRecord
  3. other news and developments that might be of interest to individuals with a criminal record

 

Read the July 2016 update in full

 

Best wishes,

Unlock

 

Notes

  • All previous updates can be found in full in the ‘Latest updates‘ section of our Information Hub
  • For more self-help information, please visit unlock.devchd.com/information-and-advice/
  • If you have any questions about this information, please contact our helpline
  • If you’ve been forwarded this email, you can sign up to receive these updates directly by clicking here and selecting to receive ‘News/updates for people with convictions’
  • If you have found this information useful, please leave us your feedback and/or consider making a donation.

 

Monthly summary – July 2016

Welcome to our monthly summary for July 2016.

This provides a summary of:

  1. the latest updates to our self-help information site for people with convictions
  2. recent posts to our online magazine, theRecord
  3. other news and developments that might be of interest to people with a criminal record

Have you just stumbled across this? You can receive these updates direct to your inbox every month for free by signing up to our mailing list (make sure you choose to receive ‘news for people with convictions’)


Updates to our information site

Here’s a summary of the updates that we’ve made recently to the theInformationHub. There are links within each update to where you can find more information about the update. There are also links next to many of the updates, which link to threads on our online forum where you can discuss these with other people with convictions. 

Work and volunteering

  • A-Z of job roles and their eligibility for basic, standard and enhanced criminal record checks – We’ve produced some new information which sets out an A-Z of job roles and the potential level of criminal record check that these may involve.

Education

  • Applying to university – With A-level results out in August, we thought it timely to update our information on applying to university.

Coming to (and staying in) the UK

  • Travelling to the UK and visa applications – As a result of some changes to Home Office immigration rules, we’ve updated our information on travelling to the UK to reflect this.

theRecord posts

Below are links to recent posts to our online magazine, theRecord. These are often linked to from the practical information that we have, to help give some personal experiences.

Success – Five years in the life of a person with convictions – ‘I’d like to share with you my journey since I received my conviction over 5 years ago. In 2010, I received a conviction – the first time ever I’d had a run in with the criminal justice system. Shortly after I was sentenced……..’

Struggles and stigma – When is enough, enough? – ‘From the age of twenty, I trained with the National Trust specialising in the repair of old buildings following which I began my own building business. I sang both at amateur level and professionally as a tenor in various local operatic companies………’

Success – Seeing the legal system from both sides – and becoming a solicitor – ‘In 1993, I drove the “get away” vehicle in a robbery. It goes without question that this is a crime that I am deeply ashamed of and one I regret every day…..’

Other news and developments

Below are links to other news and developments that might be of interest to people with a criminal record. For more news, check out the news and media section of our main website.

Our response to the Government consultation on childcare disqualification

This month we published our response to the Department of Education’s consultation into amending the childcare disqualification arrangements. Download a copy of our submission.

Case studies of bad employer practice that we’ve challenged

We’ve posted a number of anonymous examples on our website for employers of bad practice that we’ve challenged as part of our employment project. Read more about the cases here.

Summer 2016 Activities Newsletter

We’ve published our summer 2016 activities newsletter which sets out what Unlock has been doing over the past 3 months. If you’re not signed up to our public mailing list, you can read it here.

Disclosure and Barring Service publish their independent review of their barring operations

The DBS has just published an independent review into their barring operations. As part of our employment project, Unlock contributed our thoughts to the DBS review team. Read Christopher Stacey’s comments on the review.

A-Z of job roles and their eligibility for basic, standard and enhanced criminal record checks

For anybody with a criminal record, knowing what level of criminal record check a job role is potentially eligible for may be what determines whether you apply for that job or not.

For example, if your conviction is spent but not yet eligible for filtering, it will still appear on a standard or enhanced check and you may decide to only apply for jobs that involve a basic check.

All employers are legally entitled to do basic checks for any job although there are many employers that don’t do any checks at all.

Some employer’s don’t state what level of check they will be doing or ask for levels of check from the Disclosure and Barring Service which clearly don’t comply with the DBS eligible positions guidance.

We’ve produced some new information, which sets out an A-Z of job roles and the potential level of criminal record check that these may involve.

Whatever your situation or whatever will be disclosed on a certificate, don’t let a criminal record check put you off applying for a job. If you believe that you have the necessary skills and experience then go ahead and apply. You should have the opportunity to explain your conviction to an employer prior to any formal check being undertaken and you should use this time wisely to sell yourself, making it known that you’re the best person for the job.

We hope you find this helpful. Let us know what you think by completing our feedback form.

For more information

  1. For practical self-help information – Find more information on the:
    1. Rehabilitation of Offenders Act
    2. Filtering of convictions from DBS certificates
    3. Challenging an ineligible DBS check
  2. Questions – If you have any questions about this, you can contact our helpline.
  3. Policy – Read about the policy work we’re doing on ineligible checks.

Get ready – Our updated forum is on its way!

In April 2015, we decided to update our forum. We asked members and supporters to give us their ideas on how the forum could be improved and we were delighted with the number and quality of the responses we received.

Since then, we’ve been working hard behind the scenes, taking on board the comments and feedback and working on an updated version.

In order to update the existing platforms, we’ve had to take the forum offline for a couple of days. We hope it will be back up and running as soon as possible.

Once it’s back up, we will be contacting all existing members of the forum by email and you’ll be asked to reset your forum password.

We apologise for any inconvenience this will cause, but please bear with us and we hope you think it’ll be worth it.

If you have any questions, you can email forum@unlock.org.uk

 

Some examples of people we’ve helped

Looking back over the last couple of months, we’ve written up a few examples of the people we’ve helped.

We hope they give a good idea of how we help people.

However, more importantly than our role, we think that these examples show how people with convictions are able to overcome some of the barriers that have been put in their way due to their criminal record.

We’ve posted the examples below as case studies in the support section of our website:

 

Patricia – Proof of disclosing for employment disputes

Bernadette – Not disclosing on the application form

Alisha – Don’t be too honest if you don’t need to be

 

Monthly update – June 2016

We’ve just published our update for June 2016.

 

 

 

 

 

 

This months update includes:

  1. Some new information on getting a reference from a previous employer
  2. Advice on the best way of approaching a panel interview if you have a criminal record
  3. A personal view on how to deal on a daily basis with a sexual offences order
  4. Christopher Stacey’s response to the government’s announcement to reform prisons and improve prisoner education
  5. A link to a paper published by the Financial Conduct Authority on access to financial services.

 

The full update provides a summary of:

  1. the latest updates to our self-help information site for people with convictions
  2. recent posts to our online magazine, theRecord
  3. other news and developments that might be of interest to individuals with a criminal record

 

Read the June 2016 update in full

 

Best wishes,

Unlock

 

Notes

  • All previous updates can be found in full in the ‘Latest updates‘ section of our Information Hub
  • For more self-help information, please visit unlock.devchd.com/information-and-advice/
  • If you have any questions about this information, please contact our helpline
  • If you’ve been forwarded this email, you can sign up to receive these updates directly by clicking here and selecting to receive ‘News/updates for people with convictions’
  • If you have found this information useful, please leave us your feedback and/or consider making a donation.

 

Monthly summary – June 2016

Welcome to our monthly summary for June 2016.

This provides a summary of:

  1. the latest updates to our self-help information site for people with convictions
  2. recent posts to our online magazine, theRecord
  3. other news and developments that might be of interest to people with a criminal record

Have you just stumbled across this? You can receive these updates direct to your inbox every month for free by signing up to our mailing list (make sure you choose to receive ‘news for people with convictions’)


Updates to our information site

Here’s a summary of the updates that we’ve made recently to the theInformationHub. There are links within each update to where you can find more information about the update. There are also links next to many of the updates, which link to threads on our online forum where you can discuss these with other people with convictions. 

Work and volunteering

  • Getting a reference from a previous employer – We’ve published some new information which sets out the legal obligations a previous employer has when providing a reference and what, if anything, they are able to disclose about an individual’s criminal record to their new employer.
  • What’s the best way of approaching a panel interview if you have a criminal record – Following recent enquiries to our helpline, this advice post looks at things to consider if you’re asked to disclose your criminal record at a panel interview.

theRecord posts

Below are links to recent posts to our online magazine, theRecord. These are often linked to from the practical information that we have, to help give some personal experiences.

Success – Going straight and loving it – ‘I spent about 20 years of my life abusing drugs and grafting to pay for them (you name it, shoplifting, card fraud, car crime etc). I didn’t consider doing anything else, it was just a way of life for me………’

Success – Functioning on a daily basis with a sexual offences order – ‘I hear so many stories about the difficulties that people encounter trying to live with Sexual Offences Prevention Orders and Sexual Harm Prevention Orders. If you’ve just been given a SOPO/SHPO and are struggling to see how you’re ever going to be able to live a normal life again, then here are some of my own experiences and opinions’.

Success – From brothel to boardroom – ‘I would generally describe myself as a clever woman. I’ve had a good education. I’ve had some really good, well paid jobs. I’ve travelled the world. My social skills are fine and I’ve got a wide circle of friends. However, I’m not the smart a**e you might think I am. I have an Achilles heel – men ……’

Other news and developments

Below are links to other news and developments that might be of interest to people with a criminal record. For more news, check out the news and media section of our main website.

We must encourage and support employers to recruit people from prison

Although Unlock welcomes the government’s announcement last month to reform prisons and improve prisoner education, we believe that much more still needs to be done to encourage and support employers to recruit people with a criminal record. Read Christopher Stacey’s views on the importance of changing employer attitudes.

Insurers are not following good practice when dealing with criminal records

Last month the Financial Conduct Authority published a paper on access to financial services. Download the paper which includes contributions made by Unlock.

From inmates to entrepreneurs

Following a survey undertaken by Unlock and the Centre for Entrepreneurs, 158 people with convictions in the community responded. Read CfE’s full research here.

Comment by Unlock on an article in The Independent – “We should encourage more employers to do the same”

As a result of an article published in The Independent, Unlock defended a Tower Hamlets school employing a convicted killer and called on more employers to hire ex-criminals who have become positive members of society. Download the original article and read Christopher Stacey’s comments here.

Ever been to prison? What support did you get applying for benefits, finding work and returning to normal life?

The House of Commons Work and Pensions Select Committee asked Unlock to assist them to collect evidence for an inquiry into the support given to individuals prior to leaving prison. Details of how to contribute to the survey can be found here.

Getting a reference from a previous employer

Once you’ve been offered a job and satisfied yourself that nothing is going to be disclosed on your basic criminal record check, the next hurdle you may need to overcome is getting a reference from your previous employer.

If you’ve not worked for a while (perhaps because you’ve been serving a prison sentence) or if you were sacked by your previous employer (maybe as a result of your criminal record) then you may be worried about asking for a reference.

We’ve published some new information which sets out what legal obligations a previous employer has when providing a reference, what an employer is most likely to mention and whether an employer is entitled to disclose any unspent or spent convictions which they may be aware of.

Have a look at our getting a reference from a previous employer page and tell us about your own personal experiences

We hope you find this helpful. Let us know what you think by completing our feedback form.

For more information

  1. For practical self-help information – Find more information on looking for and keeping employment.

Ever been to prison? What support did you get applying for benefits, finding work and returning to normal life?

Have your say – fill out our short survey!

People with convictions face many barriers to work on leaving prison, but the inability to find paid work can have all kinds of knock on effects including becoming homeless.

The House of Commons Work and Pensions Select Committee is currently running an inquiry into support for ex-offenders and has asked for the thoughts and experiences of people with convictions and those organisations working with them. Unlock has already submitted it’s response to the inquiry but we’re pleased to see that the Committee would like to hear directly from people with experience.

Use this opportunity to directly inform the work of Parliament and potentially improve the support that people receive.

Click here to complete the survey

The closing date for the survey is 15th July 2016

If you’ve got any questions about the survey, please email advice@unlock.org.uk or casework@unlock.org.uk

Thank you for your support

Ever been to prison? What support did you get applying for benefits, finding work and returning to normal life?

The House of Commons Work and Pensions Select Committee have launched an inquiry into the benefits and employment support available to people with convictions when they leave prison.

They are interested in hearing from anybody who has had experience of the prison system.

The deadline for consultation is 15th July 2016.

Find out how to have your say on our information site.

We want to make sure that our website is as helpful as possible.

Letting us know if you easily found what you were looking for or not enables us to continue to improve our service for you and others.

Was it easy to find what you were looking for?

Thank you for your feedback.

12.5 million people have criminal records in the UK. We need your help to help them.

Help support us now