The pandemic has forced many working parents and guardians in the U.S. to redirect their time to taking care of their children at home. Many childcare centers shut down, limited staff and customers, and have raised prices. As a result, many families are left with limited childcare options and are hiring help without pursuing typical efforts to conduct background checks on candidates out of desperation. This could be a significant mistake.
Choosing a nanny can be as hard as choosing your child’s doctor. When you interview the candidates, ask about their educational background and experience working with children. It is also helpful to talk to others who have used their services.
When you like someone during their interview, you may be tempted to take the risk of hiring a nanny without a background check. This blog post will provide information to help you hire the right nanny for your family without taking unnecessary risks!
Why You Shouldn’t Hire a Nanny Without a Background Check
A background check with the help of criminal attorneys help from Mirsky Law Firm, in general, will help you determine if your nanny has a criminal history.
Most importantly, a thorough background check will tell you about any history your potential new nanny has with children, including a history of abuse or neglect against children. If someone has committed an offense against children in another country or during past employment, background checks will tell you about it.
But when you’re in a pinch and you need someone to take care of your children immediately, quickly hiring a nanny without a background check may not seem like an issue. It’s a quick solution to a problem. True – in most cases, nothing will go seriously wrong. But do you want to trust your family members to a stranger without the certainty of knowing that your nanny has a spotless record?
Here are a couple of things to consider for a thorough background check. It might be easiest to hire a professional background check company to ensure all those aspects are covered.
Criminal History
A properly conducted background check will tell you whether your nanny has a criminal history and if they have been convicted of crimes such as child exploitation, theft, or drug use. You will also learn about any history of abuse or neglect against children. A thorough check will include searching county, state, and national criminal offense records, federal district records and Most Wanted List, sex offender lists, and more. The background check should also include looking into your future nanny’s driving records and check for child abuse and neglect records with Child Protective Services.
Ability to Communicate with Children
There are many background check companies out there, but not all background checks can tell you whether the nanny can communicate well with your kids and effectively deal with their needs. A Google search or Social Media Check might be helpful here to look for anything that might be harmful to your children – look for illegal activities, explicit material, discriminatory behavior. Also, look for comments and reviews from other families the nanny might have worked with.
Education
Education background checks will tell if the nanny has completed a degree in child care, early childhood education, or any other related field- whether they are certified and have experience working with children.
Work History and References
It is also crucial for background checks to inform you about the nanny’s past work history and references. This will give you peace of mind knowing that your children are cared for by someone reputable who has experience working with kids.
This information can also be beneficial when looking for significant issues in the past.
Short background checks that just focus on abuse or neglect will not provide you with this information which is why it is so important to be thorough when conducting a background check for your nanny!
A Word of Caution
If the background check company doesn’t cover all of these aspects, they might not be worth your time and money, as there are many other background check companies out there that will provide you with these important pieces of information.
Be aware of fraudulent background checks! Some exclusively online background check companies may not be reputable. When possible, call the company and speak with a company representative. You should only use background check companies that are well-known and thoroughly vetted.
Conclusion
When you’re hiring someone to care for your kids, they must have a clean criminal and educational background. Background checks can help ensure the safety of your children by filtering out nannies who don’t communicate well with children or those without the proper training. It also gives parents peace of mind knowing their child is in good hands while at home alone with a trusted caregiver. Be sure to research companies before committing, as many scammers are preying on unsuspecting parents. You should always conduct a background check when hiring a nanny, so you know what you’re getting into!
Want to Learn More?
If you would like to learn more about our employment background check services, please call us at 267-419-1390, click here, or send an inquiry to: info@firstcontacthr.com.