How to Do a Background Check on a Babysitter

You don't want a person with a history of violence or child abuse watching your children. Unfortunately, many people with this type of history are drawn to professions where they can work with children. To protect your children from predators and people who continually make bad choices, you should get a background check for any potential babysitter.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Get references from prospective babysitters when you interview them for the job. You must ask specifically for previous employers rather than family or friends. When you talk with the references, ask if they know of any additional employers. You also need to ask a variety of questions to help you put together a picture of the babysitter's work ethic, level of responsibility and history.

2. Get written permission to perform a background check. By law, you have to have the potential employee's permission to perform a background check. You need to get this permission in writing and keep it with your secure documents.

3. Find out relevant information. You must have specific information about the babysitter in order to perform most background checks. This includes her current and previous address, her date of birth and her social security number.

4. Decide which background check you'll perform. A background check can be as simple as a criminal record search or it can be a full blown investigation of him. You should only search relevant information, as privacy laws vary from state to state. Typical investigations include a criminal background check, a social security number check and a driving record check.

5. Hire a firm. Most information you'll obtain in a background check is public information if you visit the appropriate jurisdiction. To save time and money, consider hiring a reputable firm to perform the background check for you. The price varies depending on the type of check you want to perform.

Tips & Warnings

• Check previous addresses and adjoining cities and states when conducting a background check.

[sheila325]

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