Background checks for nanny, eldercare and household staffing agencies

PFC’s Credentials

PFC has been providing background screening services to Nanny Agencies, Eldercare Agencies, and Domestic Staffing Agencies since 1987, and is the oldest household background screening company in the U.S. PFC combines an old-fashioned concern for quality with cutting edge technology to provide comprehensive and accurate background checks. PFC has been a member of the International Nanny Agency (INA) since 1987 and the Association of Premier Nanny Agencies (APNA) since 2003. PFC offers significant discounts to APNA and INA agencies. We provide a special “home state” discount for member agencies. There are no “add-ons” to our rates, such as court or DMV fees; therefore, our clients know in advance exactly how much a background check will cost.

PFC’s credentials in the background screening industry are impeccable. We are a founding member of the National Association of Professional Background Screeners (NAPBS), a charter member of the Public Records Retrievers Network (PRRN), and a member of the Association of Independent Information Professionals (AIIP), the California Association of Licensed Investigators (CALI), and Concerned CRAs (CCRA).

The PFC Difference

How PFC Is Uniquely Suited To Provide Nanny, Eldercare, And Household Background Checks

PFC’s roots in the nanny industry are deep. In the 1980’s PFC’s owners ran a successful nanny agency called Prairie Home Companions Agency, Inc, and is, therefore, uniquely attuned to the difficulties that agency owners deal with on a daily basis.

PFC is in full compliance with INA’s Recommended Practices for Background Screening and APNA’s Standards of Practice concerning background checks. For example, PFC does not utilize vendors that offshore background checks to India, the Philippines, or other countries. Offshoring places candidates at risk for identity theft.

Information quality is what sets PFC apart from many pre-employment background screening companies. We have our own network of professional court researchers that we dispatch to courthouses throughout the U.S. In addition, we subscribe directly to many state databases, and we also utilize premium commercial databases for our background checks.

The background checks generated by many of the large online firms are essentially untouched by human hands. Much of the data is gathered robotically via web-scraping technology. Once the client enters the data, there is no quality review or analysis to determine whether the information identified is valid. Consequently, there are frequently false positives and false negatives. At PFC, we are involved in each step in the process, from data entry to analysis to report preparation. In April 2012, the National Consumer Law Center (NCLC) published a scathing criticism of the level of inaccuracies and lack of accountability of the background screening industry. According to the report:

With the explosive growth of this industry, it is essential that the “Wild West” of employment screening be reined in so that consumers are not guilty until proven innocent. Currently, lack of accountability and incentives to cut corners to save money mean that consumers pay for inaccurate information with their jobs and, thus, their families’ livelihood.

Not only do applicants pay, agencies pay because erroneous information can derail a good placement.The report can be found here.

Our clients are able to call us and speak to a knowledgeable staff member whenever there is a question about a background check. We proactively contact our clients if we happen to have a question regarding a request that they have submitted. In addition, if we are advised by one of our court runners that there is a possible criminal record on a candidate, we immediately call the agency to give them advance notification.

Our reports clearly define what was checked, where the records were searched, over what period of time, and the results are described in plain English.

We place a high priority on protecting the privacy of employment applicants. Therefore, we do not utilize vendors that send the personal identifying information of applicants offshore for processing. (See PFC’s Privacy Policy)

Our Services

Please contact PFC for information regarding our rates, services, and how to request background checks. Discounted rates are available to APNA and INA member agencies.

The types of checks included in a background profile vary in accordance with the type of position that the applicant is applying for, as well as the employer’s budget. The following is a description of

PFC’s pre-employment services for agencies:

[raw]

[accordion_content title=”Criminal Records” title_size=”h3″]Felony and misdemeanor records can be researched anywhere in the U.S. In some states the checks must be conducted at the county level, while statewide checks are available in the following states: Alabama, Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Washington, and Wisconsin.[/accordion_content]

[accordion_content title=”Federal Courthouse Records Search” title_size=”h3″]The Federal Courthouse Search includes information regarding criminal records at the U.S. District Courts. Federal crimes include money laundering, drug trafficking, kidnapping, counterfeiting, racketeering, and crimes committed across state lines.[/accordion_content]

[accordion_content title=”DMV Records” title_size=”h3″]DMV reports can be obtained in every state. Generally, violations remain on the driving record for 3 years, although convictions for serious offenses are reported for 5 years or more, depending on the state. Convictions for DUI or “wet reckless” are of critical importance, as they can point to substance abuse problems.[/accordion_content]

[accordion_content title=”Social Security Number Verification” title_size=”h3″]The Social Security Number Verification is not a check of the Social Security Administration’s databases, but a search of credit bureau and public records databases to determine what name or names are associated with the usage of a particular Social Security number. A comprehensive address history is also included. Furthermore, this search provides information regarding when and where the Social Security number was issued. This search can be extremely useful in determining whether the applicant’s number is valid, and where civil and criminal records checks should be conducted. In addition, this search provides fact-based data that enables employers to determine whether or not the résumé correlates with the address history. If there are discrepancies noted, this would constitute a red flag.[/accordion_content]

[accordion_content title=”National Sex Offender Registry” title_size=”h3″]This is a national search of the U.S. Justice Department’s Sex Offender Registry. All 50 states are included.[/accordion_content]

[accordion_content title=”Civil Protective Orders (CPOs)” title_size=”h3″]Civil Protective Orders are also called Restraining Orders or Stay-Away Orders. This search checks for civil protective orders filed against the candidate or filed by the candidate against another individual. Restraining orders are frequently filed in the context of domestic disputes. However, restraining orders may be filed against the subject by other parties, such as former employers. Civil restraining orders will be searched at the current address and the permanent address of the candidate. Note: it is not always possible to determine the relevance of a restraining order, particularly when the name is common.[/accordion_content]

[accordion_content title=”National Wants and Warrants” title_size=”h3″]A nationwide search for any open, extraditable warrants pertaining to the subject.[/accordion_content]

[accordion_content title=”National Criminal File” title_size=”h3″]This check provides a search of multiple criminal record sources, including some state and county criminal repositories, a proprietary database of felonies and misdemeanors, and prison parole and release records. While this check provides access to millions of criminal records, it is not a true nationwide search. This search is available only in conjunction with a state or county criminal check and is not available as a stand-alone product, as it does not meet the standard of a premium information source. PFC does not report any criminal records retrieved from this database without first verifying the information.[/accordion_content]

[accordion_content title=”Educational Verification” title_size=”h3″]Confirmation of dates of attendance and degree attainment.[/accordion_content]

[accordion_content title=”Professional License Verification” title_size=”h3″]This check includes verification of license status and any disciplinary actions on file.[/accordion_content]

[accordion_content title=”National Bankruptcies” title_size=”h3″]This search is conducted by SSN and will uncover whether the candidate has filed for bankruptcy and, if so, whether the bankruptcy was classified as a Chapter 7 or 13. Additional debtors, assets, liabilities, and discharge dates are included in this search.[/accordion_content]

[/raw]

Legal Information for Pre-employment Background Checks

Regardless of the type of search being conducted, the Fair Credit Reporting Act imposes limitations on the information that can be included in a background check and the types of disclosures that must be made to applicants and employees. FCRA is applicable regardless of whether or not a credit report is included in the background check. In addition, state laws impose their own restrictions on employment and pre-employment background checks. PFC’s background checks are compliant with FCRA and all applicable state laws. For information regarding some of the relevant laws please click here.