The Risks of Going Online to Find Child Care

When going online to find a nanny for your children, don’t be fooled. It’s mostly up to you to research your caregiver’s background – including criminal activity – and verify their credentials.

A recent investigation by the Wall Street Journal on the vetting and screening of caregivers on Care.com found “in about nine instances over the past six years, caregivers in the U.S. who had police records were listed on Care.com and later were accused of committing crimes while caring for customers’ children or elderly relatives.” Alleged crimes included theft, child abuse, sexual assault, and murder.

In response to the initial investigation, Care.com says that parents are responsible for background checks and that it doesn’t fully screen caregivers. WSJ also revealed hundreds of day-care centers that were listed on Care.com as state-licensed but didn’t appear to be.

Among the incidents cited in the Wall Street Journal investigation:

• In July 2018, twin toddlers drowned at an in-home day-care center in Tennessee. The mother read about the facility on Care.com. The listing showed the center was state-licensed when, in fact, it wasn’t.
• In Seattle last year, police responded to call about a babysitter allegedly sexually assaulting a 7-year old girl. That caregiver “remained on Care.com’s site for weeks, during which time he allegedly also molested a young boy and his friend.” It wasn’t until seven weeks after the incident that Care.com notified clients who may have used the caregiver.
• A few years ago, a three-month-old girl in Illinois died under the care of a babysitter whom the parents found on Care.com. The caregiver allegedly already had a criminal record and pleaded guilty to first-degree murder in the death of the three-month-old.

Since the Wall Street Street Journal article was published on March 9, 2019, Care.com says it has “taken steps to remove fake day-care center listings” and will “no longer allow caregivers to begin applying for jobs on the site until the company had completed a ‘preliminary screening.’”

Even with these new assurances, families may feel wary about hiring a nanny through an online job site. Here are a couple of alternatives keeping in mind that while a comprehensive background check can catch most red flags about a caregiver, no screening is 100% foolproof.

Hiring Through an Agency

Using an online job site to find a nanny may seem a quick and easy way to find care for your children. However, GTM’s recent survey of household employers found that families hiring through a placement agency spend less time on the hiring process and keep their nanny for longer than those that used an online job site.
Also, 87 percent of families cited “security and screening of candidates” as a top reason why they chose to work with an agency.

As part of a placement fee you pay an agency, they will conduct a comprehensive screening process that may include reference checks, criminal background checks including sex offender registries, motor vehicle check, drug screening, and others. Ask your agency about their candidate background screening process and make sure you’re comfortable with the level of vetting performed before moving forward.

Even when you hire through an agency, it’s a good practice to check your candidate’s references yourself. Families may be more open to discussing a past caregiver with another family. Trust your instincts. If something doesn’t feel right about your candidate, move on.

Using a Friend or Colleague Reference

If you’re hiring a nanny, put the word out to neighbors, friends, relatives, and colleagues. They may have had a good experience with a caregiver and would recommend them to you. While a recommendation from someone you know carries a certain about of trust and comfort, you still need to be diligent with your nanny’s background checks. This time, however, you’re on your own. GTM Payroll Services can help you screen candidates by conducting a comprehensive background screening of your candidate that includes a Social Security check, credit check, driver’s license check, criminal conviction search, and drug testing.

Check Your Candidate’s Background the Right Way

When researching and verifying your nanny’s background, be sure to call references, conduct a background check, verify their professional designations and college degrees, and review their “digital footprint.” Be careful not to illegally discriminate against your applicant. While most federal discrimination laws apply to businesses of certain employee sizes, they may impact your hiring process along with state and local regulations.

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