Checking a Caregiver or Nanny Before They Start

Few decisions feel as personal as letting someone into your home to care for your child or an aging parent. You might have met them twice. They might come recommended by a friend or an agency. And you are trusting them with the people who matter most.

A good interview and a warm feeling are a start. Here is how to check a nanny or caregiver properly.

Confirm who they are

Everything else depends on this. Check a government-issued photo ID and make sure the name, date of birth and photo match the person in front of you. A background check run on the wrong name, or a name that is not quite right, is worse than none because it gives false comfort.

Look at the right records

In Texas, useful sources include:

• Criminal court records in the counties where the person has lived, not just a nationwide database search
• The Texas DPS public sex offender registry, and the national registry for other states they have lived in
• Driving history, if they will be driving your child or parent, obtained with their consent
• Professional licenses, such as nursing credentials, which can be verified with the licensing board
• Civil records, which can show protective orders or patterns worth asking about

Get their permission

When you hire someone to work in your home, you are an employer. If you use a background screening company, federal law (the Fair Credit Reporting Act) generally requires you to tell the person in writing and get their written permission first. There are also rules about what to do if you decide not to hire them based on what the report shows. A good candidate will not object to being checked properly.

Call the references yourself

Ask for previous families or employers, then verify they are real before calling. Ask specific questions: how long they worked there, why they left, how they handled a difficult moment, and whether they would hire them again. Pauses and vague answers can tell you as much as the words.

Watch for gaps

Unexplained gaps in work history, reluctance to provide ID, references who can only be reached by text, or a story that changes between conversations are all worth a closer look. None of them proves anything on its own. Together, they are a reason to slow down.

When to bring in a professional

If the person will have significant responsibility, live in your home, handle finances or care for someone who cannot speak up for themselves, a professional check is money well spent. We confirm identity, search the records that matter, and explain what we find in plain language. Learn more about our background checks, or read why an online search is not a background check.