Child Safety

How to Investigate a Nanny’s Background
by Kathleen Webb

A nanny, by definition, has the full charge care of children as her primary job responsibility. This is generally in an unsupervised setting, the private home, when the parents are absent. It is absolutely critical to the safety of the children that the parents thoroughly check the background of the person they are considering hiring. Even if she comes recommended by a friend or family member, check things out yourself anyway!

A thorough background investigation is an orderly process. First, have the nanny complete a formal job application. You can find these forms on the web – check the online resources at the end of this article. This collects the needed information you will use in the background checking process.

Require that the nanny show you original documents confirming her identity (drivers license, passport, college ID card, etc.) at the beginning of the job interview. At least one document should have a photo. Do not accept photocopies as these can disguise alterations. Compare the information on the identification documents to the job application and note any differences (legal name Kathleen Webb instead of Kathy Webb for example).

Assuming that you and the candidate hit it off in the interview processes, it is time to start doing the background check. Begin by establishing a chronology of work and education history. Look for unexplained gaps. If significant gaps exist, ask the candidate to help 'fill in the blanks.' Make sure the candidate's history is in month/year format. Ask probing questions - often gaps indicate a prior poor employment experience, but they can signal a myriad of other problems.

Personally contact all references. You may obtain forms forms and guidelines for these reference checking interviews online. References from teachers and clergy are encouraged, and are often the only real references the younger candidate may have. Follow up all written references with a telephone call if possible, or better yet try to meet the person informally for coffee to chat. People may be reluctant to admit to concerns on paper, but will sometimes share them 'off the record'.

When talking to a nanny’s references, try to obtain a third party reference. This would be someone else known by both the reference and the candidate who you may use as an additional reference. Third party references are invaluable, as they have most likely not been cherry-picked by the candidate and have not been briefed on the reference check ahead of time.

When you are satisfied that you have a reasonable chronology of employment and education experience and all references have been checked, it is time to order the professional background investigation. These will cost between $50 - $150 on average. The professional investigation will generally start by verifying the SSN of the applicant. The SSN Trace, obtained from credit bureau records, will provide you with names and addresses associated with the candidate’s SSN for the last 7 years. With the SSN trace results in hand, the professional investigator can order criminal records checks in the various jurisdictions. The candidate who has moved often will require more searches, as these records are generally maintained on a county by county basis. You should also validate the data in the SSN trace with the chronology of the candidate’s experiences you have already established.

Many families also require the objective analysis of a professional psychometric assessment. One such instrument, the Nanny Personality Profile, is available online at a nominal fee. Developed by Hogan Assessments Systems, a well established test publisher, this is an invaluable tool not only in assessing the candidate, but also for later management of the individual.

If you expect your nanny to be driving your vehicle and/or transporting your children, you should require that the nanny provide you an original, current DMV record. Optionally you can order that as part of professional background investigation. Reputable search firms will require the signed consent of the candidate before they can order the drivers record report.

In the end, TRUST YOUR INSTINCTS. Don't worry that your spouse or coworker might think you are paranoid. If your gut says there is something wrong, move on to other candidates.

DO NOT...

Employ a nanny without checking references and employment history.
Ignore unexplained gaps or discrepancies in work and education history - always check them out until you are completely satisfied.

RESOURCES:

Order a Criminal and SSN Check

Nanny Employment Application

Nanny TAKE Personality Inventory Family ORDER Scored Personality Inventory Checking Nanny References

 

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