Caregiverlist
“We feel very strongly that our caregivers have a pristine background.” -Lew Meyers
Chicago, IL (PRWEB) August 30, 2013
Caregiverlist.com, the nation’s online career center for professional senior caregivers, announces background check laws by-state as a new resource on their website. As professional senior caregivers turn to Caregiverlist for career opportunities, senior home care agencies perform background checks to ensure that safe care will be provided to senior clients.
Senior caregivers applying for a professional caregiving job may learn about the state and federal criminal background check components, including the number of prior year's information which can be reviewed through the by-state background check directory on Caregiverlist.
“We run a background check on all of our potential employees,” says Lew Meyers, President and Owner of Right at Home of Maryland. “We feel very strongly that our caregivers have a pristine background.” Background checks prove to be an imperative part of the hiring process. Mr. Meyers mentions that Right at Home has a zero tolerance policy on criminal records, making trust absolutely essential in this one-on-one care.
Purchasing background checks before applying prevents mix-ups, as they do happen. Lew Meyers recommends this. If a mix-up occurs where identities misalign, the applicant can find out sooner rather than later to fix the problem. Caregivers can purchase their own background checks on Caregiverlist.com, where Right at Home buys theirs. The $8 Social Security Name Match verifies that the name matches the Social Security number and former addresses to verify identity. The recommended $18 Criminal Background Check verifies the information of the former plus an instant multi-state search of criminal records, felony, misdemeanor, sex-offender, inmate and arrest records in 3 countries. The Social Security Name Match and Criminal Background Check will be returned to the purchaser the same day and within 24 hours, respectively.
"Caregivers should always conduct their own background checks, just to know what a prospective employer will be seeing," comments Renata Laszuk, Caregiverlist Content Manager. "There is no way to bypass the background check process -- every Home Care agency or private employer will run a background check if you are applying for a job in caregiving." Ms. Laszuk adds that identity theft and bureaucratic mix-ups happen all too often. If something is incorrect in a background check, it's best to know about it and fix it before a prospective employer sees it.
Caregiver hiring is not a matter taken lightly. While purchasing a background check for oneself, questions may arise. Caregiverlist answers background check questions in their background checks resource center. How will I receive my purchased background check? Should I show my background check to a prospective employer? Will I know if information on my file has been used against me? All these questions and more are answered on the Caregiverlist.com website.
The background check company, Intellicorp, that services Caregiverlist’s background checks for employment will include a Social Security number confirmation, current and historical felony convictions and an arrest record. Background checks provide information covering the past seven years. However, some states have special exemptions where this information can be in review beyond seven years. If a caregiver has a criminal-related occurrence in their history past the seven year mark, they should be open, upfront and honest with the hiring manager. Senior care companies, like Right at Home, will ask caregivers to sign an application confirming that nothing criminal-related has ever happened in their past. Hiding this information falsifies the application.
Senior care agencies may have caregivers sign a background check disclosure and authorization form. Caregiverlist provides a sample of what caregivers can expect on this form. The background check authorization form will ask for your contact information, Social Security number and signature. Those who are required to sign this form in the future can read ahead what they can come across later.
“My best advice: make sure there is nothing in your history that is a red flag,” notes Lew Meyers. Professional senior care companies only hire caregivers who pass a background check. Getting a background will make or break getting a caregiving job. Senior care companies, like Right at Home, cannot afford any doubt in their caregivers. With so much one-on-one exposure between a caregiver and senior client, trust must be established even before initial contact.
About Caregiverlist
Caregiverlist.com is the nation’s online destination dedicated to connecting seniors with quality senior care choices. Caregiverlist.com helps seniors and their loved ones define care needs, understand the many caregiving options and costs and connect to senior home care agencies that meet Caregiverlist.com’s checklist of quality standards. Caregiverlist.com is also a leading caregiving career and recruitment resource. Visit http://www.Caregiverlist.com.
