Daycare Staff Preemployment Background Screens
It is vital to conduct preemployment background screens when opening a daycare. These checks safeguard both you and the children in your care. They establish two things. The first is to verify that the person applying for the position within your childcare center is indeed the person they claim to be. The second would be to expose any criminal history which could prove detrimental to the safety of all concerned. Preemployment background checks can also incorporate a drugs tests. The safety of staff and children plus avoiding future legal challenges are the main reasons you should conduct said checks.
Anyone who applies for employment at your daycare should be given a preemployment background screen contract. This form should inform the potential employee that they are providing you with the permission to conduct an investigation on them. You may, like many companies, provide an option for them to consent to a drugs test. You can make consent necessary for employment consideration. Being that you are opening a child care service center, this is something you should definitely consider. The safety of the children is paramount.
Naturally, due to time constraints on you and the specialized nature of the background checks you will need to outsource to a dependable company. Research different options and haggle for a good rate, many companies offer discounts to new business and businesses that deal with children. Check with existing, reputable daycares what companies they use and what rates they are paying. Also, contact your insurance provider to determine if, because you require background screening at your facility, you are eligible for discounts.
You must understand though that when conducting preemployment background screens there is certain information that you are not permitted, by law, to use in determining an individual to be worthy of employment. For example you cannot use a disability as grounds for unsuitability. Other examples of items that should not be used in determining employment at your new child care center include previous debts, low credit scores, and medical conditions. However, you need to assess the overall welfare of your daycare center when considering any of the above because if they were to pose a significant danger to any aspect of your business or the people therein i.e a severely contagious disease, then you may have grounds for not hiring the candidate.
When conducting preemployment background checks for potential employees in a new daycare business, it is important to understand that the results may take up to two weeks to return. Many companies may respond in as little as three days. However, these services will be relatively more expensive. It is important for you to place the returned screening in a file designed to track documents on that particular person in your daycare center.
Finally, when opening your daycare center you should perform background checks on all employees not just those working directly with the children. So, you might consider your cook, administrator or janitor - anyone that will be working in your center with access to the children, however limited. Remember, the safety and welfare of the children is paramount at all times.
Fiona Lohrenz draws on her 10 years of running a day care to write articles on all aspects of child care. She also pours this wisdom into her childcare website and has used it to produce a 'How to Start a ChildCare Business' DVD guide: StartChildCare.com Fiona can be found at her website: ChildCareOnly.com
Published January 10th, 2008
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