Hiring a Nanny? Don’t Skip Caregiver Reference Checks

Employing a caregiver is not just any personnel decision. As a household employer, you are entrusting to your employee what you hold most precious. This is one of the most important decisions you will ever make. So when it comes to hiring a nanny or other caregiver, it should not be taken lightly.

One of the key elements of the hiring process is caregiver reference checks. Speaking to references is a great way to get more information about applicants and to verify the information they’ve provided to you. As a best practice, we recommend getting an applicant’s formal written consent to check their references, but if they’ve provided you with a reference list with names and contact methods for this specific purpose, additional authorization is likely not needed.

When speaking with references, open-ended questions are often the most helpful—if they are willing and able to answer them. Ask whether the caregiver was good fit for their previous family and what skills or training they demonstrated that made them well-suited for the job. We also recommend asking about any times the applicant received any criticism and how they responded to feedback.

If a reference doesn’t seem willing or able to answer open-ended questions, you can ask them to confirm employment information that the candidate has already provided (e.g., dates of employment, reason for leaving). In the process, the reference may open up about the caregiver’s strengths and weaknesses related to their previous family or about other job-related details. If they don’t, then we advise asking whether they’d recommend the applicant to be a caregiver in your home. Even a simple yes or no answer will speak volumes.

For more information on how GTM helps families with all aspects of household employment, contact us at (800) 929-9213.