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Post your success story's finding work with an SO

Aradia — Thu, 26 Mar 2026 10:13:08 GMT

So I thought I would start a post where everyone in a similar position to me can post any ideas of what has worked for them and what didn't work.This can range from training to self employment to employed work. I will list everything I have managed to do with an SO. I still have 2.5 years before mine is unspent. I can't sit here till then.

Clean Sheet - Just started with this company. They call me up every 2 weeks to ask how the job search is going. They have an employment portal with vaccines. Most are out of my area or don't accept SO applications.
Nacro - They actually got me a job once. I had a guy calling me every 3 days checking up on me. Applying for me. Really super proactive. That was over two years ago. I tried to get in contact with them again but all they do is send me generic links I should check out.
OffPloy - The job centre tried to get me on their books. But I was basically ignored. Tried 3 times. All they said. They were waiting for funding.

Self employment; I would really love any extra ideas that people could suggest. I wish I knew someone personally who had started an ebay business who I could learn off. The whole process seems daunting. But if I could sit here all day taking pictures of items and listing them. It would be ideal.

Education/Training.
Go train. Managed to do a course with them. Never actually got a certificate, got told the whole class failed. Because the teacher taught us all wrong?? I didn't really care at the time. Just glad to be out the house
ACL - Managed to do a maths and forklift course with them.

So yeah as the title states. Lets start a post and try to help each other though this difficult time in our lives.

Agnecy's - I have gone down to sign up for them in the past. Taking all my I.D etc. Then just get ignored.

RE: Post your success story's finding work with an SO

punter99 — Thu, 26 Mar 2026 10:13:08 GMT

[quote]

[b]JASB - 25 Mar 26 5:59 PM[/b]

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[b]Stersco83 - 23 Mar 26 11:29 AM[/b]

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[b]Aradia - 11 Jul 22 10:54 AM[/b]

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Just with regard to this general thread.

I have this all beat.

I walked straight back into my old job, didn't bother telling anyone about the conviction, nobody bothered asking. Just got done giving a speech in the House of Lords. Nobody will believe that the sad sack who committed the crime in the news article is the same one living this constructively.

On top of the world.

It's not a tale of noble redemption and truth-telling though. I sort of brazen it out. I'm so busy living constructively, nobody can quite believe I'm the same guy in the news article. If they find it they shrug it off.

Also a combination of factors means that I have a clean criminal record dating from an earlier point than most people assume is possible. Sentenced to 18 months imprisonment in 2016. Clean record in 2022.

As of this moment, I'm still on the SOR!

[/quote]

Hi
Though I am extremely pleased you have managed to regain employment I wonder what your offence was? I ask this not being nosey but to try and understand partially why the "acceptance" was so easily given especially given the default societal bias. Please note I am very pleased for you.

It may be my grey cells are tied but I do not understand the "lords" comment? lol

Otherwise, I hope others are as fortunate as yourself, and please offer your support to others not as fortunate.

[/quote]

Based on what he said, the employer does not know about the conviction and nor do his colleagues. May be a different matter, if they find out.

RE: Post your success story's finding work with an SO

JASB — Wed, 25 Mar 2026 17:59:31 GMT

[quote]

[b]Stersco83 - 23 Mar 26 11:29 AM[/b]

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[b]Aradia - 11 Jul 22 10:54 AM[/b]

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RE: Post your success story's finding work with an SO

punter99 — Tue, 24 Mar 2026 11:01:16 GMT

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[b]Stersco83 - 23 Mar 26 11:29 AM[/b]

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[b]Aradia - 11 Jul 22 10:54 AM[/b]

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It very much depends on the employer and their attitude. With large firms, you might come up against the HR department being pedantic, even when the employer is happy to take you on. Large firms are also much more likely to worry about reputational risk.

A smaller employer with no HR department, will only care that you can do the job. The other problem of colleagues grassing you up, would again depend on how much the employer wants or needs you. They may conclude that it is not worth the potential loss of customers, if it spreads to social media etc.

RE: Post your success story's finding work with an SO

Stersco83 — Mon, 23 Mar 2026 11:29:09 GMT

[quote]

[b]Aradia - 11 Jul 22 10:54 AM[/b]

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RE: Post your success story's finding work with an SO

JASB — Sun, 13 Nov 2022 15:19:22 GMT

Hi
Many will of read my previous words and may remember my situation.
If all goes to plan I will apply to the Courts at the end of the month for my last 3 SOPO conditions to be removed. It has been a long journey; mainly utilising the self-belief I try to maintain.
I have discovered many things I was not aware of, confirmed my suspicions on certain elements but, enabled to show "the system" that though I challenge it is not out of anger and self pity, it is by using their tools; the SO Act and procedures, and so confidently and calmly and always replying courteously with the facts.
[quote]If you provide the facts they cannot simply say no, they have to give a qualified reason or you simply ask again[/quote]

If they disagree because of their interpretation on words, you gain the supportive evidence that confirms your words. Be that the police Policy College, the Home Office Sex Offender management Team or quite simply slow reading of the SO Act and the Guideline documents. Remember the Act may say one thing but if it refers to another document follow the links and you may find that you are correct.
[quote]Society may take things at face value but you don't have to[/quote]
One point I raised with my ex solicitors and they supported the Force Solicitor. However my PPU read ALL the references I presented and they support my case. It is only because I have that support in writing I am proceeding with my application.

Remember, your presentation is you, therefore even if it fails it could present a view of you the "system" has never seen before and therefore improve their view of you.

I am not using a solicitor; but if you have their documents from previous applications you have the basis of the "legal references" they use.

RE: Post your success story's finding work with an SO

Mr W — Thu, 10 Nov 2022 02:39:05 GMT

Haha, thanks! I've probably forgotten loads of stuff but everyone's case is going to be slightly different anyway.

One thing I really had to get my head around was that, at first, I wanted to point out: ‘This is wrong, my ppu stopped me from…, this is disproportionate… ‘ etc but after seeking advice, the ‘recalibration’ of my mindset changed to the message being: “This stipulation can be removed from my order because…’

So with that in mind, disproportionate ones should be easier to discharge. This is a silly example, but if a stipulation was ‘don’t eat salmon’, it’s easy to get rid of that stipulation because I can say “I don’t like salmon, I’m not a fan of any seafood, I prefer eating burgers, sometimes with chips, and enjoy experimenting with different sauces.” Rather than just saying: “This shouldn’t say salmon!”

Believe me, I could put a whole load of gherkin stuff in there about PPUs and why I think it’s disproportionate but the police/judge won’t want to hear it. For me, this did take a while to sink in. Once I read my first draft, I was disappointed with it, thinking: “Is this the best of my last five years?” After the ‘recalibration’, the final draft is now much stronger and, actually, I’ve only mentioned the police once in the whole thing. It’s your order and you need to show you’re able to live positively without it to get it discharged.

With your SAR, have a look at if there’s any positive feedback from the leaders from the Horizon course. Yes, do another one if you think it'll help and you've made more progress since the last one. I can't guarantee it'll work but it was just an idea of being able to quote a source that the judge/police can trust. But also what is written might vary from force to force. Having had two forces I’ve had the ability to compare, Force A recorded positive steps and progress can be seen in the notes, Force B constant gaslighting and making stuff up as they go along, honestly, it’s like night and day, so this may not work for everyone, it’s just a potential free avenue for information.

As for overall cost, I’m sure someone on this forum did it all themselves and is currently in the process of… or had success. At the end of the day, you’re five years on, you may not even realise how much you’ve changed since before the knock. You’ve had to deal with a lot and will continue to do so. Yes, in certain ways we’ve brought it on ourselves but everyone deserves a chance to be able to move on.

RE: Post your success story's finding work with an SO

xDanx — Thu, 10 Nov 2022 01:11:01 GMT

[quote]

[b]Mr W - 9 Nov 22 7:25 PM[/b]

Thanks JASB. I'm also glad to hear you're making progress.

For me, I was chomping at the bit on the turn of midnight on the 5 year mark to get the ball rolling. I’m not going to voluntarily live with a SHPO if there’s a chance I can get rid of it, I’ve had enough of its suffocating grasp on my life and when its sheer existence means I *must* tell random strangers what I did almost 7 years ago. It’s dangerous and mentally it’s reliving my punishment again and again when what I’m trying to achieve is progress. When that attempt is unsuccessful it’s a double-whammy of disappointment and an increasingly difficult test of resilience. If it wasn’t for the SHPO keeping me unspent, the conviction would actually be spent by now. This is just wrong and, arguably, helps to undermine what it’s supposed to achieve in the first place.

As for tips for an application… while writing this I’ve somehow ended up using a burger as an analogy, probably because I’m hungry. Anyway…
Bread: Have you done everything asked of you in terms of the sentence and order specifically (By this I mean what is in black and white and not additional capricious rules made up by the ppu)? Eg. Horizon course and any other things like that. Has there been any more reoffending, no. Has there been any breaches of the SHPO, no. Have there been any other arrests or issues, no. (If you answer yes to any of these but still want to put an application in, then seek legal advice… in fact, I’d suggest to seek legal advice anyway even if you can say no to all of these).
Meat: Get some positive documents together, from a therapist, make a subject access request (it’s free) and highlight positives written about you. Character references, especially if they can prove you have positive relationships with young people but don’t worry if not. Employers perhaps. Any kind of independent evidence that can vouch for you.
Tomato sauce to enhance the meaty points: Explain why you’re remorseful and contrite, tackle *why* you ignored the “I shouldn’t do this” but don’t use excuses like stress, explain why you WILL listen to “I shouldn’t do this”. How you’ve got your life in order SINCE conviction. Lessons learned. Take care with this because a tasteless sauce can ruin a nice burger.
Lettuce: The feel-good bit of salad. Work/voluntary work/positive routines or contributions (especially if it’s something new that you didn’t do before the knock). Hopes and goals for the future.
Gherkin: Finally, for me this was important, take out the gherkin! Try not to complain, moan, or air your issues. I’ve taken legal advice and have had to park all my grievances for now. I have a number of questions I want answered and complaints about what I’ve had to put up with from my PPUs but this application process is not about that. Leave out the gherkin to be dealt with later.

As for the process, It'll probably vary per area. Your force will have a say but I'm sure they have more important things to deal with but when they do they can probably affect how easy or tricky the time in front of the judge will be. I'll update if I have anything relevant.

[/quote]

That was actually a nice and clear way of explaining the process and what to include, Although it has also made me quite hungry lol
I have managed to get some impartial advice from various solicitors who were kind enough to discuss their thoughts with me on my SHPO and have agreed that some of the restrictions are disproportionate. I feel highlighting this although briefly would be of benefit where I can proceed to detail the positives since sentencing. I will not be able to afford a solicitor for this but I am aware that varying or applying to discharge a SHPO does fall under legal aid, providing the firm choose to let this happen.

I was able to sort out a subject access request some time ago, oddly 50% of what I got was redacted but I was able to get an unredacted copy from my solicitors, sadly nothing in what I was given contains anything positive. Perhaps I should request another and ask for any reports my PPU have written?

Although I find this new PPU much easier to deal with, I do not have faith in changing his "opinions" as these seem to cloud the actual facts. They are so tight that they refuse to provide me their emails so I can discuss things with them in writing. Should I continue speaking to him about my application to try and convince him or his superior?

RE: Post your success story's finding work with an SO

Mr W — Wed, 09 Nov 2022 19:25:43 GMT

RE: Post your success story's finding work with an SO

xDanx — Wed, 09 Nov 2022 02:40:58 GMT

I am also past the 5 year mark and I keep meaning to sort out my application but I am putting it off as I am always over thinking it.
Do I basically email the courts or write to them with my application or even contact them by phone?
What kind of things in my application should I include? Something like I wish to apply to discharge the SHPO because. 1, It is not smith compliant ect? Should I give evidence also or wait till the hearing (if there is one)
I never bothered with applying to vary the SHPO as I figured it would just be easier to try and discharge it entirely and if that failed to push for the amendments.
I have tried speaking to my PPU about amendments and such and he is not supportive and wants me to endure the next 5 years. What should I be asking him for which might go in my favour?

Any tips and advice is always appreciated. I hope your own applications are successful.

RE: Post your success story's finding work with an SO

JASB — Tue, 08 Nov 2022 17:39:13 GMT

[quote]

[b]Mr W - 8 Nov 22 3:02 PM[/b]

I appreciate I am asking how long is a piece of string but for those who have been through the process of discharging SHPOs... can you give me a timeframe of how it panned out for you please?
I know different areas will have different backlogs, there's a fat bloke dressed in red making his annual appearance next month etc
Having endured 5 draining years, I've sent my application off and I'm told 'the spring' but I'd hope it'd be quicker or might that sound about right?

[/quote]

Hi
First I wish you luck.
My first application which removed all but 3 contact ones ( 2 standard under 16yrs and 1 with female), took most of period getting the PPU to agree, circa 2 mths.
I am now building the case to remove those 3.
At present it has taken 6 mths to get the PPU to agree (so not wasting trip to court if they will not), but conversations with the Court say once PPU report applied for and reviewed then possibly a month for Judge to have a hearing or treat in chambers.

So to me you should ask the Court admin and your PPU officer if he has a report done already or time to complete one.
Hope you are successful.

RE: Post your success story's finding work with an SO

Mr W — Tue, 08 Nov 2022 15:02:39 GMT

RE: Post your success story's finding work with an SO

Mr W — Fri, 07 Oct 2022 19:03:02 GMT

Excuse the mini-rant. Anyone else fed up with when you're reaching out to talk about employment and you mention criminal record, it's assumed you just want to work on a building site. I understand that maybe the majority of us scallywags who break the law perhaps fit that bill, but for those of us who don't...

RE: Post your success story's finding work with an SO

JamesZ — Wed, 21 Sep 2022 15:23:19 GMT

[quote]

[b]khafka - 21 Sep 22 7:44 AM[/b]

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[b]JamesZ - 21 Sep 22 1:01 AM[/b]

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[b]khafka - 19 Sep 22 12:27 PM[/b]

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[b]Jamie7718 - 19 Sep 22 9:04 AM[/b]

Really good news. This is the exact reason why I started this post. To give us some glimmer of hope there is a way out of this mess. I am in the early stages of trying to do something for myself. In the self employment route. I wish we did something like that scheme down here. That would be amazing. I did hear from another PO that she had another success story about someone in our position getting a job in a recycling place. To be honest the job sounds awful. But it's got to be better than sitting here every day for the next few years.

[/quote]

Yeah, I mean, its retail - It isn't really a sector I wanted to get back into and I left it years ago for a reason but I can't really be that picky and at least its something to get me going again and giving me that routine and sense of purpose again a bit.

The scheme definitely seems to be working well for others too, a chap in my social work group sessions had to leave our session schedule because he ended up with a job due to it too, which is great!

[/quote]

Great news. Obviously you don't want to give away any personal details, just wondering the best way to find something the same/similar?

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Well one thing I found fairly useful was actually Indeed and Glassdoor for application questions. Basically just Googling various companies like "Does [COMPANY] DBS/Disclosure check" then, depending on the size of the company, you'll tend to find a few people asking the same question on either of those sites and typically you'll get an answer.

In my experience the ones that don't do a DBS/Disclosure check seldom ask about convictions in their application form. It can usually give you a rough indicator if its worth pursuing or if you're wasting your time.

[/quote]

Thanks. Great idea and info. It's often these simple yet good ideas that elude my brain! Cheers

RE: Post your success story's finding work with an SO

khafka — Wed, 21 Sep 2022 07:44:18 GMT

[quote]

[b]JamesZ - 21 Sep 22 1:01 AM[/b]

[quote]

[b]khafka - 19 Sep 22 12:27 PM[/b]

[quote]

[b]Jamie7718 - 19 Sep 22 9:04 AM[/b]

[/quote]

Great news. Obviously you don't want to give away any personal details, just wondering the best way to find something the same/similar?

[/quote]

RE: Post your success story's finding work with an SO

JamesZ — Wed, 21 Sep 2022 01:01:17 GMT

[quote]

[b]khafka - 19 Sep 22 12:27 PM[/b]

[quote]

[b]Jamie7718 - 19 Sep 22 9:04 AM[/b]

[/quote]

Great news. Obviously you don't want to give away any personal details, just wondering the best way to find something the same/similar?

RE: Post your success story's finding work with an SO

khafka — Mon, 19 Sep 2022 12:27:32 GMT

[quote]

[b]Jamie7718 - 19 Sep 22 9:04 AM[/b]

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RE: Post your success story's finding work with an SO

Aradia — Mon, 19 Sep 2022 09:04:01 GMT

RE: Post your success story's finding work with an SO

khafka — Sat, 17 Sep 2022 17:53:53 GMT

[quote]

[b]Mark15788 - 16 Sep 22 5:20 PM[/b]

I was always nervous about the googling aspect. That’s why I changed my surname so if people chose to they don’t find anything. Has worked well for my role as people obviously know my new surname. Have you thought about what to do on the situation if not only a colleague but a customer was to find out and challenge you? Put something in place to obviously protect you in such a situation? Might be worth considering.

[/quote]

Yeah, I haven't changed my surname but now I tend to go by my formal name as opposed to my common name (and what I was reported under). So thing along of the lines of being called John and I now go by Johnathan. When you Google that version of my name only a handful of things come up for me and they're all music related so no issues there.

There's obviously always the chance someone I know might come in but it's just one of those things that I'll just have to deal with if it happens. I don't feel it's a good idea to stress out about something that may never happen.

punter99: I'd rather not, just from a safeguarding point of view I hope you understand, it's definitely nothing personal, but what I will say is it's a large retail group in the UK that deals in food.

RE: Post your success story's finding work with an SO

punter99 — Sat, 17 Sep 2022 10:17:01 GMT

[quote]

[b]khafka - 16 Sep 22 3:37 PM[/b]

[quote]

[b]Craniumbre - 16 Sep 22 2:25 PM[/b]

Congrats - great news to hear. Can I ask if they asked for any references from previous employer and if you had to explain the unemployment gap? How did you circumvent around that (if they did ask).

[/quote]

They asked none of that.

As mentioned earlier in the thread - This was set up via the job centre's Long Term Unemployment scheme, so the companies are aware it's for people with 12+ months unemployment. They didn't ask for any references at all, the job centre just give them a bunch of CVs, they pick out the ones they like the look of and interview them and then offer the job as applicable.

[/quote]

Really good news. Sounds like a model employer. Are you able to give the name of the company?

RE: Post your success story's finding work with an SO

Mark15788 — Fri, 16 Sep 2022 17:20:11 GMT

RE: Post your success story's finding work with an SO

khafka — Fri, 16 Sep 2022 15:37:47 GMT

[quote]

[b]Craniumbre - 16 Sep 22 2:25 PM[/b]

Congrats - great news to hear. Can I ask if they asked for any references from previous employer and if you had to explain the unemployment gap? How did you circumvent around that (if they did ask).

[/quote]

RE: Post your success story's finding work with an SO

Craniumbre — Fri, 16 Sep 2022 14:25:23 GMT

Congrats - great news to hear. Can I ask if they asked for any references from previous employer and if you had to explain the unemployment gap? How did you circumvent around that (if they did ask).

RE: Post your success story's finding work with an SO

khafka — Fri, 16 Sep 2022 13:23:30 GMT

So an update following my induction! All looking super good now!

Running through the paperwork I was obviously a bit anxious and waiting for the dreaded question about criminal convictions to come up but it never did! I did look online and it seems like they don't bother doing disclosure/DBS checks.

I ran through all the paperwork, right to work and all that stuff, got my shifts for next week all sorted and ready to go.

So super positive, the only real thing now I guess would be if a member of staff decides to Google me then I'll have to obviously try navigate that but I'll worry about it if it happens.

RE: Post your success story's finding work with an SO

khafka — Tue, 13 Sep 2022 14:30:27 GMT

[quote]

[b]Mr W - 13 Sep 22 2:10 PM[/b]

Thanks. That's interesting about the no obligation to update them about employment. I'm presuming them being involved is when it comes to the SHPOs etc, the 'access to devices' is ridiculously punitive.
I have my fingers crossed for you anyway and hope you're able to put this frustrating time behind you!

[/quote]

Yeah the employment obligation is a bit weird as up until that point I'd always been working under the pretense that it was required and one thing that was told to me a few years back was the police could make a decision to disclose to my employer should they feel there is a potential safe guarding issue (like becoming a school janitor or something). But if I'm under no obligation to tell them then how would they know in order to make that judgement call..?

Thankfully they've been pretty hands off with me the entire time. I don't have any SHPO/SOPO conditions, I'm purely just registration requirements however they do have their random spot checks of my devices to make sure I'm behaving myself.

Thanks for the good wishes! I hope it sticks as it'd be a good finishing point for it all as I'm officially off the register and a "free man" in February so not too long to go however social work did state there might be potential for an early discharge but I'm not holding out much for that.