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Pre-adverse Action forms/Adverse Action Forms

Posted on May 4, 2012 by admin

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10 Ideal Backgrounds for Live-In Nannies

Posted on April 30, 2012 by admin

Hiring a nanny can be a daunting task, especially if your favorite candidate has limited experience working as a live-in childcare provider. In some cases, however, a prospective nanny’s strong background in other areas can indicate an aptitude and strong potential for success in the childcare industry. Here are ten backgrounds that might make hiring a newer nanny worth the risk.

1. Nursing – Those that have experience working as a nurse are not only likely to have exemplary working-under-pressure skills, but also will have the requisite CPR and First Aid skills for a career working with little ones.
2. Emergency Medical Technician – Like nursing, an EMT background with some experience working with children is an ideal starting point for those looking to make the switch into the childcare industry. Thinking clearly in a high-pressure, high-stakes environment and strong medical knowledge are two of the most valuable traits a childcare worker can have.
3. Childhood Development or Child Psychology Studies – Recent college grads with limited work experience but a strong background in Childhood Development or Child Psychology studies show not only a dedication to working with children, but also the education level desired by most parents searching for a live-in nanny.
4. Daycare Center Work – Because daycare workers tend to have many children in their care, making the transition to full-time, live-in care provider for a few children is likely to be seamless.
5. Pre-School or Pre-K – Like daycare work, handling a classroom full of pre-schoolers certainly indicates and ability to multi-task, a sincere love of children and a working knowledge of childcare basics.
6. Elementary Education – Few jobs in the education sector are as challenging as teaching elementary-aged children. A nanny candidate with experience as a grade school teacher is a great find, even if they have no live-in experience whatsoever.
7. Comes From a Large Family and Has Extensive Babysitting Experience – Though it may seem small in the face of working-world experience, being an older sibling to several and holding a strong history of babysitting is one of the best prep courses for a nanny. Caring for children that lived with them and could not be easily escaped is the closest thing to working as a live-in that anyone without experience or children of their own could ever know.
8. Volunteer Work With Children – If a prospective nanny had a paying job in a field not related to childcare before changing industries, but a strong history of volunteer work in a childcare capacity, it shows a love of children and a desire to work with them. In many cases, a career in another field is only taken due to difficulty finding the nanny position they dreamed of.
9. Strong Live-Out History – A nanny who’s worked as a live-out full-time provider and is willing to make the move to living in is, on paper, ideally suited to a live-in position. Assuming that their track history as a live-out comes with great references and their resume otherwise meets requirements, there’s no reason to pass up a traditionally out-living nanny that’s willing to make a change.
10. Nutrition or Physical Training – As the focus on childhood obesity, poor eating habits and sedentary lifestyles becomes sharper, more and more parents find themselves searching for a solution. Hiring a nanny with a nutritionist or physical education background might be the perfect solution to this dilemma.

Regardless of their resume, some candidates will be appealing to you while others may not be. It’s important to use good sense when reviewing resumes and conducting interviews, but also to rely on your intuition as a parent when it comes to choosing the person that will care for your child.

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10 Ways Parents Can Conceal Nanny Cams

Posted on April 30, 2012 by admin

Most working parents worry about the quality of care that their children are receiving. Usually, there is nothing to worry about. However, there can be times when that worry turns into outright concern. One of the most popular ways of taking a peek behind the scenes of your nanny’s daily routine is to install hidden cameras, known as nanny cams, around the house. Concealing them can be tricky, though. Here are ten ways that you can get that piece of mind.

1. Your Existing Security System – Many home security companies offer a hidden camera package; with a phone call or two, you can be on the road to professionally-installed cameras in no time.
2. High, Hard-to-Reach Spots – If you opt for a “larger” model of hidden camera, which are usually the size of a half-dollar, then your best bet is to conceal it among decorative items on a relatively high, out-of-the-way shelf. This is a delicate balance; too high, and the footage won’t be clear but a camera placed too low may be easily detected.
3. Embedded in Foliage – Potted plants, trees and other indoor foliage can be a great place for nanny cams, as they’re difficult to see unless one is specifically looking for them. Most nannies won’t go pawing through all of your plants to comb for surveillance items, though you should take care to put them in plants that toddlers can’t reach.
4. Smoke Detector Clones – Among the many faux household items that are designed to conceal nanny cams are smoke detector clones. These can be purchased in both working and non-working models.
5. Spring For a “Pinhole” Model – The tiniest cameras, known as “pinhole” spycams, can be a bit pricier. However, the quality is astounding for the size of the lens and they’re much more easily hidden within existing fixtures in your home.
6. Wall décor – Picture frames, mirrors and other hanging wall décor are often used to house nanny cam equipment, as they can be virtually undetectable to the naked eye. This is especially true if your camera is very small.
7. Ceiling Fans – Small nanny cams can be installed almost anywhere; a ceiling fan can be ideal, depending on its placement in the room. Though the footage might be a bit shaky if the fan is turned on, you’ll still have a great view of the room from a difficult-to-detect camera.
8. Ballpoint Pen Clones – There are online and brick-and-mortar stores that specialize in spy and nanny cam equipment; almost all of them offer the ballpoint pen model. This working pen houses a tiny camera, which can capture a great deal of the room if placed properly.
9. Air Freshener Clones – Automatic air freshener devices are so commonplace in today’s home that they rarely get a second look. Hidden camera manufacturers have taken this into account, and created a clone with an embedded camera. The misleading appearance of the device makes it easy to place it anywhere in your home without raising suspicion.
10. Specially-Designed Outlet Plates – Though not suitable for outlets that are low to the ground, outlets that are positioned above a counter or at a similar height can do double-duty as a facade for nanny cams with specially-designed outlet plates that feature an embedded pinhole cam.

It’s important to note that it is illegal in some states to record your nanny without her permission, though you only have to disclose the location of each camera under California and Massachusetts law. Be sure that you check the statutes regarding nanny cams in your area and comply with them to avoid a nasty lawsuit. Also, be sure that you stick with video footage only, as it is a federal offense to make audio recordings without consent.

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10 Real Reasons to Require Nanny References from Several Families

Posted on April 27, 2012 by admin

When you’re hiring a nanny, getting a good list of references is an important part of the screening process. There’s no more valuable tool in selecting the right candidate than some positive reviews from previous employers and personal contacts. The more references you can obtain, the better overall picture you’ll have. With that in mind, here are ten real reasons you want to get references from several families when hiring your nanny:

1. As we mentioned, the more references your candidate provides, the broader the picture she gives of her track record. Having a number of positive reviews from different families is a strong asset.
2. More input means a better balance of opinions. Different references might point out different things that you would not have otherwise known if you didn’t get several references. The variety helps fill in the blanks better.
3. More references also means more experience. A nanny candidate who can provide a number of different clients as satisfied previous employers makes a strong case for getting hired for your job too.
4. A longer list of references is more difficult to fake or stage. It’s less likely that a job applicant would have multiple references give fraudulent referrals. It’s not as easy to get so many people to conspire that way, which leads to another advantage …
5. A list of references can be cross-checked against one another, so you can corroborate dates and other information to make sure everything checks out. If your references are giving answers that either don’t jibe, or sound suspiciously similar, it could raise a red flag for you.
6. A full list of references helps to flesh out your nanny candidate’s work history, as a tool for accounting for all of her time. Some references may be employers and others, teachers, for instance. This will confirm dates on her application for employment, education, etc.
7. Different employers may have had different job requirements for her in her previous assignments. Speaking with each of them can provide perspective for a variety of skills that no one of them could have given you.
8. Establishing a salary will be easier the more information you can obtain about your candidate’s past work history. You could also find out some information about her previous compensation from former employers.
9. Viewing each of her references as stages in her nanny career, you can gauge the progress she is making, if any, and determine if she is continually improving her skills and training or if she has plateaued.
10.  The more people you speak with, the better your odds are of not missing something. Everyone will have their own impressions and perspectives, and collectively, will all hopefully provide you all the pieces to the puzzle so you can make an informed decision.

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10 Common Internet Scams Pulled on Nannies

Posted on April 24, 2012 by admin

When you think about Internet scams you may think that the scammers only target old people.  Those people that aren’t very tech savvy.  Unfortunately you would be wrong because scammers will target a specific audience when they can.  Stay alert while on the Internet, there are a lot of great opportunities out there, but there are also a lot of people trying to make money any way they can.  Check out ten common Internet scams pulled on nannies.

1. Pay to sign up for a service:  They will lure you in by promising to find you the ideal family to nanny for.  They will talk about their great reputation and that if you sign with them you will make more money than you ever thought you could.  All it takes is $200 to sign on with their service and they will find you the perfect job.  Except that they take your money and give you nothing in return.
2. $2000 a week with a 5 hour work day: This one is going around and it will say that this family needs you right away so there’s no time to interview with them.  If it sounds too good to be true then it probably is.  They will ask for your name, address, social security number and birthdate to fill out the paperwork for you.  Once you give them that information they can steal your identity and maybe your money.
3. Pretending to be the child you have cared for: Scammers somehow get the information that you were a nanny for this particular family and there’s an older child in the family.  They pretend to be this older child and they are stranded in Mexico and need you to wire them money to get home.  They called you because their parents would kill them and they knew you would help them out.  The phone line is not very clear so you can’t really recognize the voice.  Keep asking them questions and they will give up eventually.
4. Nanny on a cruise ship:  No one hires a nanny on vacation. Don’t fall for this old trick. It is just another scam to steal your money.
5. Unbelievable salaries or work conditions: No, you will not get hired for a $3000 a week, 4 hour a day job without an interview or background check. No, you will not be an nanny to the stars (most likely). Don’t fall for this.
6. Mother died in a tragic car/plane/boat accident: There is such a thing as tragedy. Just don’t let someone else’s tragedy make you stupid. Yes, it is sad, but no, I will not take the job sight unseen.
7. Asking you to open a bank account: Especially with Wells Fargo or Bank of America. No one has to do that. There is no LEGAL reason to. Run.
8. Needs a favor: Please forward money someplace for medical care/moving /burial via Western Union. Um, no! They have friends for that. They do not need a nanny, they need a brother. Just say no.
9. Overpayment for services: The ‘family’ will have an emergency and need the ‘money’ back before your bank tells you the check was faked. Now you are broke and someone else is laughing. Like I said, there is no such thing as free money.
10. Any references to Africa: Nigerian scams? Heard of them? Yeah, you have. They’ve been around as long as the internet has. Don’t fall for them.

No matter what you are doing online, you need to be on the watch for scammers. They will try anything to get your money and private information. Be careful, be wise, and only give out money and information to those you know and trust.

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10 Companies that Perform the Most Background Checks

Posted on April 24, 2012 by admin

Though many companies perform background checks in today’s world, some conduct far more investigations that others. Here are ten of the industries that fuel the billion dollar background check industry.

1. Private Investigators – Though they still conduct hands-on investigations, many private investigators today specialize in background checks. A crafty criminal can take steps to conceal their checkered past, but private investigations can still return the pertinent information.
2. Gun Vendors – Because of the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act, gun vendors are required to run thorough background checks on all customers purchasing a firearm. Because firearm sales have risen dramatically in recent years, these vendors account for a vast number of the background checks run each day.
3. Hospitals – Access to powerful drugs and sensitive information make it absolutely imperative that all employees are carefully investigated prior to their first day of work. Because the healthcare sector is one of the fastest-growing areas of employment, the number of background checks generated by hospitals is astounding.
4. Financial Institutions – Despite the controversy surrounding financial institutions and workers within that industry, they’re still the source of a staggering number of background checks for new employees.
5. Childcare Companies and Agencies – Childcare is one of the strongest industries in the United States, especially as the economy suffers and forces more families to become two-working-parent households. Trusting strangers with our children is difficult enough; doing so without insisting upon an investigation of the worker’s history would be unthinkable.
6. Home Healthcare Companies – Due to the vulnerable state that most patients who rely on home healthcare are in, workers who care for them are required to submit to background checks designed to protect those patients. The booming industry generates a considerable percentage of background investigations each year.
7. Domestic Service Agencies – Agencies that supply busy families with domestic workers such as household managers and nannies carefully screen each candidate before adding them to their labor pool.
8. Transportation and Trucking Companies – As the trucking industry booms and the demand for drivers skyrockets, companies are submitting a record number of background check requests in order to insure against drivers with moving violations or a history of substance abuse.
9. Casinos and Gaming Corporations – Both state gaming commissions and the casino parent companies insist on exhaustive background checks for casino workers that will be handling large sums of cash. Despite the struggling economy, the gaming industry is still a source of many new job openings, and thousands of background checks.
10. Temp Agencies – Because temporary workers rarely have time to establish trust in a position before moving on to a new place of employment, the agencies that handle them run background investigations as part of the hiring process. In today’s struggling economy, many workers have turned to the temp pool in hopes of securing work; as a result, the number of background checks run by these agencies is spiking.

These are only a few of the companies that rely on background investigations to make important hiring choices. In today’s security-fixated world, many require consumer and criminal reports before employing new workers.

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10 Jobs Where Background Checks are Most Critical

Posted on April 18, 2012 by admin

Though background checks are becoming more commonplace for job seekers to encounter in a variety of positions, there are some industries that warrant a thorough background check before hiring a candidate. Here are ten of the jobs that almost invariably require criminal and consumer reports review.

1. Nanny – Most parents balk at the idea of trusting their children’s safety and well-being to a stranger, and will insist upon a background check during the final stages of the hiring process. These investigations will also include careful examination of the National Sex Offender Registry and, in states that maintain one, a Child Abuse Registry.
2. Home Health Care – Home healthcare providers are responsible for the day-to-day care of patients with long-term illnesses. In many cases, the patient has difficulty or an incapability of communicating, making it even more imperative to thoroughly vet each home healthcare nurse before hiring.
3. Law Enforcement – Working in the law enforcement sector requires a background check for many reasons, not least of which is the need to identify and weed out applicants with a history of violence and aggression. Because of the authority that accompanies a law enforcement position, it’s of the utmost importance to ensure that a candidate would not abuse it.
4. Government Positions – Depending on the type of government job and what the position entails, criminal and consumer background checks can be exhaustive. For higher positions, the process can be a quite lengthy and tedious one, requiring years worth of information.
5. Education Sector – To work in a position of authority over a group of children in a public or private institution, teachers and other workers are required to submit to thorough background checks in order to prevent any harm or illegal activity.
6. Medical Field – Working in a hospital, clinic or pharmacy places employees in a setting with access to sensitive information and controlled substances. As a result, hospitals will require extensive background checks for all employees, even  those working in a non-medical capacity on hospital grounds.
7. Financial Industry – Handling large sums of money in a bank or having access to a family’s entire financial portfolio requires a worker that is both trustworthy and honest. Before hiring an applicant in the financial field, human resources and hiring managers will ensure that their criminal history and credit reports are free of any major blemishes.
8. Household Manager – Handling the running of the entire home for busy families, household managers have almost unlimited access to that family’s financial and other sensitive information in addition to being intimately acquainted with the workings of the household and the location of valuables. For this reason, housekeepers and household managers alike are almost always required to submit to lengthy background checks.
9. Personal Assistant – When busy professionals hire a personal assistant, they know that trust is a key aspect of the relationship. In order to be sure that their trust is well-founded and not likely to be abused, most will insist upon a background check.
10. Management Positions – While an hourly retail or food-service position is not likely to require a background check, a promotion to management almost always will. Handling the daily deposits and valuable stock places managers in a high-access position; upper management is well within their rights to require an investigation of a candidate’s history.

These positions only scratch the surface of job listings that would require a background check. Investigations are becoming par for the course in even entry-level hourly positions as the industry grows and a larger emphasis is placed on trust.

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10 Pioneers of the Background Check Industry

Posted on April 16, 2012 by admin

Though its recent popularity is greater than ever before, the background check industry has roots that extend farther back than one might think. Many developments came together to create the industry as we know it today. Here are ten of the pioneering people and organizations in background screening.

1. Henry Fielding – The creator of the forerunner to the modern police records system, Henry Fielding’s contributions to law enforcement and modern private investigation is undeniable. His Bow Street Runners, the first professional police force, were responsible for several advancements in criminal justice.
2. J. Edgar Hoover – His creation of the first fingerprint database and obsession with data collection left an indelible mark on the methods investigators use to collect information.
3. Eugene Francois Vidocq – One of the most important and controversial aspects of a full background check is the ability to access sensitive consumer report information; this is due in part to the work of French convict-turned-lawman Eugene Francois Vidocq who created the world’s first credit reporting agency.
4. Allan Pinkerton – America’s first private investigator, the legendary Scottish-born Allan Pinkerton was responsible for many advancement in law enforcement and investigative techniques in both the public and private sectors.
5. Jim and Sarah Brady – After being injured in the assassination attempt on President Reagan, Jim Brady suffered permanent paralysis and some brain damage. In response to this, he and his wife Sarah became crusaders for more stringent gun control laws, which spawned the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act. This law requires that all people attempting to purchase a firearm must first submit to a background check.
6. Lester Rosen – The founder of Employment Screening Resources, Lester Rosen formed his firm in 1996 after working for the Doane Agency. Qualified as a employment screening expert and a recognized expert in the field, Mr. Rosen is one of the industry’s foremost figures.
7. NAPBS – The National Association of Professional Background Screeners is the leading non-profit trade association for companies that offer background screening services. Their mission of promoting ethical hiring and compliance with federal law places them among the figureheads in the industry.
8. Steve Brownstein – In response to the lack of industry standards, Steve Brownstein held the first background check industry conference in Long Beach, California in 2000. This conference led to more events in Tampa, Florida on an even larger scale and strove to introduce an industry standard system.
9. Pre-Employ.Com – As one of the very first internet-based background screening companies, Pre-Employ.Com helped to revolutionize the process of background checks by streamlining and speeding up the process.
10. Past-Employ.Com – Part of the Pre-Employ.Com family, this website was designed in 2005 to streamline the employment verification process even further by creating a system for verifying past salary and employment information.

The background screening and investigative industry is an ever-evolving one; as legal implications and admissibility changes, so must the service providers and industry leaders. These companies and individuals have aided dramatically in creating today’s multi-million dollar industry.

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10 Safety Considerations for Childcare Providers

Posted on April 14, 2012 by admin

For parents, there is nothing more important than their child’s safety and well-being. Part of choosing a childcare provider is being sure that the candidate is well-versed in safety protocol. These ten items should be of the utmost importance for childcare providers when honing their skills.

1. First Aid Training – Scrapes, bumps and bruises are all par for the course when it comes to caring for kids; it’s essential that a childcare provider have the know-how and capability to handle both minor first aid situation and maintain major ones until professional help arrives.
2. CPR Training – Choking is relatively common, especially for smaller children who inquisitively put objects into their mouths and inadvertently swallow them. Knowing the life-saving measures necessary in the event of a charge becoming choked on objects or food.
3. Food/Medication Allergy Knowledge – Many children have food and medication allergies, some of which are as-yet undiscovered. In addition to having a list of the known allergens for each charge, providers should also have a working knowledge of how to handle and allergic reaction to an unknown substance, should one occur.
4. Attentiveness – Childcare providers with short attention spans or trouble maintaining interest in children at play should seriously consider another career field. Children can get into trouble in the blink of an eye; one of the most important preventative measures a childcare provider can take is simply paying attention.
5. Risk Assessment Skills – Being able to quickly and accurately assess risk is another invaluable skill for nannies, babysitters and daycare workers. Being able to tell the difference between risky behavior and safe is the key to preventing both injury and unnecessary worry.
6. Baby-Proofing Knowledge – Childcare providers that work in their charges’ homes, such as nannies and babysitters, should have a strong understanding of baby-proofing and injury prevention. For those that watch children in their own home, ensuring that the environment is safe for little ones is doubly important; in addition to the risk of injury, there’s also the risk of a lawsuit.
7. Fire Safety Plan – Regardless of where a childcare provider reports to work, it is absolutely necessary to have a clear plan in place in the event of a fire. This plan should include several evacuation routes and a confident knowledge of how to work a fire extinguisher.
8. Emergency/Disaster Preparedness – In the event of a natural weather disaster or other emergency, childcare providers should have access to emergency contact information for each child in their care, an emergency kit containing essential items and a plan of action.
9. Safe Food Handling Skills – While food poisoning is usually only very unpleasant for adults, in can be quite dangerous for little ones. Knowing how to safely handle and prepare food is one of the most important things a childcare provider can learn.
10. Lifting Techniques and Body Mechanics – Because the safety of the childcare provider is important too, they should have a strong knowledge of body mechanics and safe lifting techniques for heavy toddlers.

Because word of mouth and references are among the most valuable promotional tools in a childcare provider’s arsenal, maintaining strict standards of safety and cleanliness are two of the keys to continued success in the childcare industry.

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10 Reasons Families are Afraid to Ask for a Nanny Background Check

Posted on April 9, 2012 by admin

Though the safety of our children is paramount, asking a nanny candidate for permission to run a background check can be intimidating. There are many reasons why parents, especially those hiring a nanny for the very first time, are hesitant to approach their favorite applicant about a criminal and consumer report investigation; here are ten of them.

1. The Risk of Offending an Experienced Candidate – Anyone who has ever interviewed a nanny knows that the seasoned veterans of the field can be downright intimidating. Asking such a stern figure for permission to dig into her past can seem overly intrusive and make parents a bit nervous.
2. The Nanny Came With a Friend or Family Member’s Recommendation – When a nanny is suggested by a friend or family member, requesting a background investigation can seem like an invasion of the nanny’s privacy and a lack of trust in the loved one’s judgment.
3. Potential Discrimination Claims – As lawsuits claiming “credit-check discrimination” rise, many parents worry that performing a background check on their nanny candidates could open the door for a lawsuit of their own.
4. Worries That The Process is Too Expensive – For those who have no experience with running background checks, it’s easy to assume that the process will be quite pricey. Affording a nanny’s salary and perks packages can be difficult enough in our economic climate; worries about the cost of a background investigation can cause some parents to forgo them.
5. Discomfort With the Legal Implications – Because the laws differ from state to state, knowing exactly what’s legal in regard to a background check and what isn’t permissible can be daunting.
6. Concerns About the Difficulty Level – A lack of experience with the process of background investigations can also cause parents seeking a nanny to worry that they’d be taking on a difficult and tedious task.
7. Fear That the Process Will Be Too Lengthy – Worrying that a great candidate could slip through their fingers by taking another post while they wait for the background check to come back is another aspect of a criminal and consumer report investigation that scares some parents away.
8. Worried About Potential Complications – Horror stories about mistaken identities, wrongfully executed searches and other complications from friends and family can be a strong deterrent for those seeking a nanny.
9. Disposing of Personal Information Properly – Accessing a person’s sensitive information and personal data creates a very large responsibility for the person who possesses it, in the sense that it must be disposed of carefully to prevent the possibility of identity theft. Concerns about inadvertently playing a role in such a devastating crime can be a very scary thing.
10. Worries About Finding a Reputable Company – Choosing to run a background check through a company that specializes in such things can be easier for employers who have no experience doing such things themselves, but concerns about finding a reputable company to do so can be another deterrent.

Though there are several aspects of running a background check on a potential employee that are daunting, taking the risk of hiring a candidate with a criminal history is even more terrifying. Weighing your options carefully and researching all aspects of the process is the best possible way to make your decision.

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