Babysitters play a critical role in helping couples get some time away from their children. While you should spend as much time as possible with your little ones, everyone needs a good date night or even a night out of the house that’s free from the worries of childcare. Thankfully, babysitters are around to help, whether you have a family member babysitting your children or someone who babysits for a living. In fact, many babysitters are people in school looking to earn some extra cash, so it all works out.
That said, it’s important to learn more about a babysitter before they start looking after your children to eliminate any risks. This article covers the babysitter background check, including what they consist of, how you can run one, and why you should always consider running one. Read on to learn more below.
What Is a Babysitter Background Check?
A babysitter background check is a type of background check that’s designed to look into the records of someone who will be watching your children when you’re not home. It’s a type of background check that’s unique for domestic help workers or people who will be in your home and caring for members of that home. You’ll need consent and maintain Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) compliance to run one of these background checks. Otherwise, you run the risk of getting into legal trouble.
What Information Is Included in a Babysitter Background Check?
A babysitter background check will include a lot of information. When you work with a reputable and compliant company, you can view someone’s criminal records, sex offender status, and much more. What’s more, identity verification is possible as well and you can identify just about anything that’s public record.
Some information you’ll usually find on a babysitter background check includes:
- Social Security verification, including personal details, name, and number
- Sex offender status
- Criminal records
- Court records
- Jail sentences
- Domestic disputes and civil court records
- Information about someone’s age
- Work history
- Education
- References
Depending on the background check and the company that runs it, you may find some or all of this information. In fact, you might be able to find even more.
How Much Does a Babysitter Background Check Cost?
A babysitter background check isn’t expensive, but it’s not always cheap, so expect to pay anywhere between $60 and $500. In some cases, you might have to pay more, or you can take the payment to the babysitter, although they will usually expect to be reimbursed.
There are also some online tools you can use to view some information about someone, like a Google search or a criminal records search with Information.com. However, these tools aren’t meant for background checks that look into people who are working as domestic help. These tools can be free or about $5 per search.
How to Run a Babysitter Background Check in 4 Simple Steps
There are a handful of steps you can follow to run a babysitter background check. Most steps are straightforward, but expect the process to take some time. Each step will also vary based on who’s running the background check, and you can even task the babysitter with providing you with background information. Learn more about each step below.
1. Get Consent
According to the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), you must get consent from a babysitter before you go ahead and run the background check. This rule applies to anyone who is considered domestic help. The consent should be written, and you also have to run the background check with a FCRA-compliant company. This is designed to prevent stalking and to protect the background checker and the person being checked.
2. Gather Information About the Babysitter
Once you have consent, you can begin the background check process. You should start by gathering information about the babysitter, including their Social Security number and anything else that’s a public record to submit to the background check agency.
You can use public records lookup to aid you in your search for information about the babysitter. Sometimes, you can find what you’re looking for with just a public records search, so you can stop the search here.
3. Run Multiple Background Checks
There are a handful of background checks you can run on a babysitter. You should contact the DMV for their driving records, consider checking the sex offender registry to see if they’re listed there, and have them provide details like their driver’s license. Most babysitters won’t mind submitting this information or being checked, but it’s a red flag if they’re against the process. You can use a background check agency or an online tool like Information.com if you have consented to run the background check.
4. Speak with References
Speaking with references is crucial when it comes to hiring a babysitter. It’s not part of the background check process, but you can request references on the babysitter’s resume and reach out to them. Try to connect with two professional references and two personal references. If the babysitter is not 18, we recommend connecting with their parents, school, or friends to see if they’re a good fit. There may also be laws relating to their age you need to follow before working with a babysitter who’s not part of an agency.
Run a Babysitter Background Check Today
There are a lot of legal requirements you need to follow to run a background check on a babysitter, but the process is worth it. You should always inquire about a babysitter’s history to ensure that they don’t have a history of abuse, substance abuse, theft, or sex offenses. Fortunately, the steps that we provided you with today can help you run a babysitter background check today.