At-Risk populations such as children and the elderly should always be cared for by good people that treat them with dignity and respect and never take advantage of them or harm them. Although it may not be possible to discover the true intentions of caregivers before giving them access to a vulnerable at-risk person there are certainly ways to greatly reduce that risk. The best course of action to do this is to perform a thorough background screening on them before they are hired or utilized. A thorough background screening should include several reference checks, verifications to determine if what they put on their application is true and of course a criminal background check that includes a national sex offender registry check.
Caregivers are responsible for working with some of the most at-risk populations, the young and the elderly, and it is incumbent on those individuals hiring caregivers to ensure at-risk populations remain protected while being managed by a caregiver. A thorough background check on a caregiver is a best practice in protecting those being cared for. Not only can a background check verify application information, it could also give pause to any malfeasant characters with certain criminal history. A thorough background check can be a useful tool in risk mitigation.
Finding a caregiver can be a significant challenge. Often a caregiver might be utilized in a limited capacity, such as a babysitter. Parents may be new to a neighborhood and not know any of the older kids that may be willing to sit and, subsequently, look to a service to provide baby-sitting. Parents should ensure these services conduct thorough background checks.
But when the time calls for longer term babysitting arrangements parents may want to conduct the background check on those individuals they wish to hire. Nannies and long-term babysitters should be thoroughly vetted through interview and background check.
From the Pocono Record (Aug 04, 19):
Experts suggest asking your potential sitter for three references. Ask the references whether the sitter was responsible, how they followed directions, why they no longer work for them and if they would ever consider hiring them again. “You cannot underestimate the power of parental intuition. If a potential sitter made a reference uncomfortable or makes you second guess your choices, beware. A parent should always trust his or her gut when it feels like something is off,”…. poconorecord.com/entertainmentlife/20190804/expert-tips-on-how-to-find-safe-caregiver-for-your-child
Three references in addition to a thorough background check is definitely a best practice.
When the level of care is relatively low an in-home caregiver might be hired directly and not through a service. But the best practice remains.
A caregiver background check could include a variety of reports and services, such as:
- Sex Offender Registry
- DMV Records (if the caregiver would be driving those cared for)
- Criminal History Reports
- Verifications & Reference checks, specifically to verify certifications and education
Ultimately a best practice for caregivers working with our youth and our elders should be a thorough vetting process, one that includes: a thorough interview, reference checks and verifications, and a criminal background check.
Elder care can be more complicated, especially when one must consider the level of care. However, at any level of in-home caregiving individuals providing care must be thoroughly background checked to help ensure the patient is in good hands and won’t be abused.
It is clear that for any type of caregiver the safest approach remains to have those individuals being held responsible for the care of at-risk populations (our kids, our elders, the handicapped and others) be properly background checked prior to having contact with such individuals. Implementing safeguards to help protect the vulnerable in each community goes a long way in improving society as a whole and making the USA a better place to live in.
To read more about why caregivers should always undergo a thorough background check before being allowed access to any at-risk population read recent CriminalBackgroundRecords.com press release: Background Screening & Caregivers