Trusting another person to look after your children when you’re not around is a big deal and the process of finding the “right” person can be long and drawn out. It’s important to do your homework when you’re vetting childcare. More parents are now running background checks on their potential babysitter or nanny to get more insight on who could possibly be looking over their children.
What to Check For
If you’re using a database service to find a qualified sitter such as Your Happy Nest, Care.com, and Sittercity, typically these companies have already run some kind of background check on the people in their database. However, if you’re going through the process of finding a sitter independently, you’ll need to utilize a background screening service to run a proper background check for you. When running a background check you want to make sure the searches include criminal records, driving records, National Sex Offender Registry check and a check on the Child Abuse & Neglect registry.
Other Methods of Screening a Babysitter
Even if you run a background check on a person, that still isn’t enough information to go by when selecting a sitter. You’ll need specific information from them and other references to know you’re making the right decision. Here are a few tips to help with the screening process:
- Run a reference check by asking your candidate to provide a list of references and contact each one to gain insight from past employers
- Inquire about any CPR certifications and other child care and safety trainings
- If they don’t have any type of safety training, ask if they would be willing to do so for the position
- Include scenario based questions in your interview to assess their problem-solving skills and how they would handle certain situations pertaining to your child/children
- Observe that person’s personality by paying attention to the way they communicate with you during the entire interview process
As much as we may like to rely on our “gut feeling” to let us know if a certain situation is right or wrong when it comes to your childcare you’ll need to rely more on concrete facts from reputable sources. AllCheck Screening Services is a background screening company that will provide you with cost-effective and reliable background information through access to government agencies and credit reporting bureaus. We are located in Downtown Woodstock, GA. Know who you’re hiring by contacting AllCheck to provide you with accurate background information.