Nanny Background Check

Why do Parents Conduct Nanny Background Checks?

A Nanny Background Check is conducted by parents, or legal guardians to verify the identity, safety, qualifications, and personal history of a prospective nanny.  Parents are entrusting their children to the care of a stranger, and want to know what skeletons a person may be hiding in their closet.  Are they a registered sex offender? Do they have an arrest record, if so, for what and when...the questions are as frightening as they are endless, and unfortunately, very necessary to ask.  Sometimes it might not be a glaring criminal record, but perhaps they have lied about some piece of their background, like have they been divorced, declared bankruptcy, have a pending lawsuit against them...why didn't they disclose such facts, or better yet, why would they lie about it?  Is that someone who can be trusted?  Better yet, is this someone who can be trusted with your children?  Parents who perform nanny background checks want to answer such questions and know precisely who is watching their kids.

Do I Really Need To Perform A Nanny Background Check?

We don't believe that every person carries a chequered past, or evil agenda.  The reality is, you will probably get lucky.  For parents that don’t want to leave their kids’ well-being to luck (and I would assume that’s everyone…), , you should seek definite answers. When it comes to the safety and well-being of your children, we can all agree that “pretty-good” is not good enough.  It may sound like a daunting task to do the required research, but what you may not realize, is that these answers are readily and freely available and are at your fingertips!  

Keep in mind some of the research provided by the Bureau of Justice Statistics and others:

·         Nearly 5 of every 6 sexual assaults of young juveniles occurred in a residence.

            U.S. Department of Justice

·         Studies show that while the statistics on most other forms of violent crime are dramatically decreasing, reports of child abuse and neglect have risen since 1993.

            Prevent Child Abuse America

·         An incident of child abuse is reported, on average, every l0 seconds. More than 2.9 million reports were made in 2003; the actual incidence is presumed to be much higher.

                        Child Study Center, NYU School of Medicine

·         For violent crime, about half occurred within a mile from home and 76% within five miles.

            Bureau of Justice Statistics

·         On average, children were more than twice as likely as adults to be the victim of violent crime.

            Bureau of Justice Statistics

·         67% percent of all victims of sexual assault reported to the participating law enforcement agencies were juveniles; More than half (34% of total victims) were under age 12.

            Bureau of Justice Statistics

What is Included in a Nanny Background Check?

A nanny background check can include the following records:

·         Nationwide, and, or State Criminal Records: Charges, Offenses, Dispositions, Sentences, Arrest File Dates & Case Numbers

·         Identification Verification: Full Name, Maiden Name, Age, & Aliases

·         Marriage, Divorce, & Death Records

·         Bankruptcies, Tax Liens, Judgments, & Law Suits

·         Past Address Verification: Address History, Phone Numbers, & Property Records

·         Find & Verify Known Relatives, Neighbors, & Associates

What are the relevant Legal Matters associated with Nanny Background Screening?

Nanny background checks are a specialized form of pre-employment background check.  Unlike personal background checks, they require you--the consumer--to follow specific Federal and State law.   For example, before you can conduct a formal background check on a nanny that includes criminal records, the FCRA requires a written authorization from your potential caregiver.  Those looking to hire a nanny should familiarize themselves with these laws, starting with the Fair Credit Reporting Act (PDF).    

How do I use Background Check Elite to Perform a Nanny Background Check?

Parents or Legal Guardians can use Background Check Elite's database to access thousands of public records that are systematically organized by location and type to conduct a completely free background investigation on a potential nanny.  Parents can choose a specific state, such as New York, and select a specific resource like Sex Offender Records, and receive relevant results like the New York State Sex Offender Registry.  The question really then is, what types of records should you investigate and where should a parent start his or her investigation.  Most parents like to start nanny background checks with our Criminal Records Resource or the aforementioned Sex Offender Records Resource, since those are typically the areas of greatest concern.  From there, many parents check Motor Vehicle Records, especially if the prospective nanny will be driving their kids from place to place.   Don't forget about confirming the nanny's alleged past through Marriage & Divorce Records.  The point is to confirm their claims, (are they who they say they are?), and is there any unusual history, criminal, or otherwise, that would cause you to look elsewhere for your childcare needs.  There is a long list of possible record checks to perform.  How deep you should investigate a potential nanny, and what records you decide not to verify is up to your risk tolerance as a parent.  If you are worried you might not be finding everything, you can use our much more comprehensive premium service.  To do so at any point in your search, enter your prospective nanny's name into the search box on the right to retrieve a complete nanny background check immediately.