Daycare Background Checks
Criminal Background Research for Daycare Businesses
In the business of daycare, child safety should be the number one priority. When hiring staff, it is imperative that background checks are conducted. In addition, all references must be thoroughly verified.
Types of Daycare Background Checks
In the article “Conducting a Background Check during Your Childcare Search” [Wiley Publishing, 2009], Dummies.com recommends performing checks in the following areas after reference checks are complete:
Criminal History: Criminal history checks report previous misdemeanors and felonies. A thorough criminal check will include a national, regional, state criminal and county criminal check along with a sex offender check.
Court Records: It is important to check court records for civil judgments, liens, and bankruptcies. This report can help to assess the candidate's responsibility toward his or her financial obligations.
Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV): Checking a childcare provider’s driving records are important especially if he or she will be responsible for driving the children to and from activities offsite. The details of a driving record will reveal speeding tickets, reckless driving, and any DUI charges.
Credit Report: A credit report can reveal the maturity and trustworthiness of a potential daycare provider. If he or she is not able to manage financial responsibilities they may prove to be unreliable.
Social Security Number Trace: A social security number trace determines if the social security number is valid and if there are aliases associated with the number.
Worker’s Compensation: It is important to know if the candidate has a number of worker’s compensation claims. While the claims may be legitimate, it is important to know if he or she has a history of fraudulent worker’s compensation claims in order to avoid victimization.
Health: The physical and mental health status of a potential employee is especially important in the daycare setting. Working with children is an occupation that requires physical fitness and it goes without saying that mental stability is a necessity.
Additionally, a comprehensive background check will include past and present addresses, professional license verification, employment verification, and professional license verification. These additional background checks go a long way in protecting children, clients, and daycare businesses.
Investigative Tools
A background check may cost anywhere from $15.00 to $300 depending on the amount of detail required. The following companies offer background checks:
- CrimCheck.com
- Intelius
- Childcare Background Research Corporation
- HireRight.com
- Sherlock Records
Be sure to conduct a background check on both maiden and married names. In addition to a background check, be sure to study the applicant’s disposition. Does the applicant demonstrate or express a genuine love of children? How does the applicant seem to relate to the children? Does the applicant seem capable of caring for the number and ages of children in the daycare? Daycare providers should also listen to their instincts. If an applicant seems questionable or inept despite a clean background check, trust that feeling.
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