Background Checks on Nannies–Better do your homework
When it comes time to hire a nanny for your children, you need to conduct a background check. Proper due diligence can greatly reduce the stress of finding the right nanny. Plus, it will keep you, your home, and your children safe and secure.
You cannot hire simply anyone to care for your home and family. This is why it is imperative to conduct background checks on the right nanny.
Here are the facts about background checks on nannies and why you need to do your homework:
What is a Nanny?
A nanny differs from a babysitter in a variety of ways. A babysitter typically watches your children for several hours maybe once or twice a week. A nanny is something else entirely.
A nanny can be defined as a professional childcare provider. Not only do they look after your children, but they also take care of the home. Nannies are hired by families to either live in or out of the home. They, in essence, undertake all the responsibilities of the children.
This can look like the following:
- Daily needs of the children
- Transport to and from activities and appointments
- Planning daily activities
- Helping children with care routines i.e. bathing
- Preparing meals
- Keeping the house tidy
- Possibly laundry care
- And more
What is a Background Check
Running a background check on a nanny is a look into the life of the person you intend to hire. This is a crucial step to employing the right person with the right background. An employer essentially scans your background to learn about your record.
This common pre-employment screening method allows the hiring party to learn about a nanny’s history. This extensive look into a nanny’s identity can showcase their respective background, qualifications, and any potential warning flags.
Background checks help employers verify all statements are true. This allows you to trust your new nanny before they step foot into your home. This is also a safety measure to keep your children and home safe.
How to Conduct a Nanny Background Check
Although background checks are vital to hiring an employee, they are equally as important—if not more—when you plan to hire a nanny. You are opening the door to a virtual stranger, so due diligence is a necessity.
Here are the top ways to conduct a background check when hiring a new nanny:
Run a Google search
When you are ready to find the perfect nanny for your family, begin with Google. When you have a candidate’s name, run a simple search—you can find a ton of information here.
Whether it be school records, their name mentioned in a newspaper, or a potential criminal record, Google can offer a wealth of information. You can run deeper searches the more information you have on the potential candidate.
Social media
Utilize social media to your advantage. Once you have narrowed down a list of candidates, run a social media search. Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok rank among the most popular.
Many people are active on social media platforms. They post everything from their education to their spouse/partner, employment, and even what they eat in a day. Social media is a goldmine for lucrative information on who a person truly is during their daily lives.
Verify nanny background education and qualifications records
Your next step is to isolate a contender or two. Then, you can verify their education and qualifications records. If candidates state they attended certain schools, contact them. Ensure they completed the program and ask for the date of completion.
You may have to fill out a Form I-9 to verify their employment authorization and identity. Next, a third-party education verification service can help you verify the status of the candidate’s graduation status.
Schedule the first interview
One of the most important steps is to schedule an in-person interview. This is your time to ask the tough questions. This interview will provide the foundation of your working relationship with the nanny. Meet either at your home or in a public place.
Ask questions regarding your children and their respective ages. Ask if they are comfortable caring for a child in that age group i.e. newborn or potty-training a toddler. Feel out their energy and observe them. Are you comfortable around them? Do they seem comfortable or nervous? This will be your teammate in raising your children, so make sure the fit feels right.
Interview past employers
Ask the nanny to offer references and information to past employers. This is one of the most important steps of the background check process. Whereas the questions may vary based on what type of job the nanny held prior, you can assess the appropriate questions.
Ask how long they worked for the employer. Next, ask their truest opinion of their work ethic, whether or not they were on time, and if they took their position seriously. Finally, ask the employer why they left that position.
Interview family and friends
After a successful first interview, ask for personal references. This can include family, friends, past coworkers, or anyone who knows the nanny. These are the people who know this person the most, so listen to what they have to say.
Ask questions about their character and personal ethics. Round off with questions regarding why you should hire them over someone else.
Schedule second interview
After all the interviews are conducted, now is the ultimate test: the working interview. Ask the nanny to meet at your home. You will be introducing them to the home and your children. This interview will tell you if this is the right nanny for your family.
Observe how the nanny takes in the environment and interacts with your kids. See how they handle the situation. You can even show them around the home and ask about their comfort level in performing specific daily duties.
Bottom Line
If you are ready to hire a nanny, a background check is the most vital component of the search. After you narrow down your list of potentials, you can begin running online searches.
After perusing social media platforms and scheduling an in-person interview, you can interview their friends, family, and past employers. The final step is seeing how they interact with your children, and the answer will reveal itself.
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