The biggest challenge felons have after their release is finding a job.
A felon with experience as a caregiver might consider applying at Care.com.
This blog post will cover whether or not Care.com runs background checks.
- What Is Included in a Background Check?
- Care.com Application
- Care.com Background Check
- Tips for Being Successful With Care.com
Contents
What Is Included in a Background Check?
Like many employers, Care.com reviews an applicant’s background because they don’t want someone who doesn’t succeed after starting a job.
Typically, employers look at an applicant’s background not just for criminal offenses, but to avoid a, “bad hire.”
A, “bad hire,” is someone who:
- Doesn’t produce quality work
- Has a negative attitude
- Doesn’t work well with other employees
- Doesn’t deal well with customers
- Doesn’t have the skills they stated on an application
- Has attendance problems
- Is dishonest on the job
The last question is the biggest challenge for felons.
Their criminal history can be a problem when applying at Care.com even if they are now committed to living an honest lifestyle.
An employer might view at least some of the following:
- Credit reports
- Driving records
- Educational records
- Criminal offenses
Background information helps an employer like Care.com to determine a candidate’s:
- Past mistakes
- Character
- Financial fitness
This allows an employer to identify hiring risks for security and safety issues for the company.
Criminal offenses are the main concern for anyone seeking a caregiver through Care.com.
Care.com Application
Care.com is a website that helps people find caregivers for family members, homes, or pets.
The company started in 2007 and currently has more than 22,000,000 users in 19 countries.
Care.com has its headquarters in Waltham, Massachusetts.
Care.com allows people to:
- Find a caregiver for their needs
- Request background checks from potential caregivers before hiring
- Look for work as a caregiver
Care.com helps families find:
- Child care
- Senior care
- Special needs care
- Tutoring
- Pet care
- Housekeeping
An individual can post jobs outlining a particular type of caregiver and details regarding requirements for the job.
A caregiver can then apply for those positions.
Care.com helps families and caregivers to connect in a safe and simple manner. Members can find care solutions through Care.com membership.
Basic membership is free and allows families to view and post jobs and access essential content on care-related issues.
A premium membership has a subscription fee and includes all services plus the ability to view contact details and make contact with an unlimited number of caregivers, purchase background checks, and access references for providers.
Families login to post a job and to allow them to respond or look through provider profiles on their own.
A comprehensive safety guide is provided as well as three levels of background checks differing in comprehensiveness.
A care provider creates a profile including:
- Expertise
- Special skills
- Education
- References
A provider selects the type of job and the distance he or she is willing to travel.
Care.com provides a custom, comprehensive package of care services for potential family employers.
Care.com Background Check
A background check at Care.com is used as one part of a candidate selection and hiring process.
It is not intended to substitute for:
- An in-person interview
- Reference check
- Online and social media search
- Obtaining copies of an individual’s identification documents
- Conducting ongoing monitoring of an individual
Caregivers are professionals dedicated to take care of people with various difficulties.
Those who employ caregivers may be vulnerable and incapable of caring for defending for him or herself.
A background check allows a person to ensure professional and trustworthy individuals hired to provide care.
Background checks are an important part in the Care.com hiring process.
Care.com uses a third-party company and offers a variety of background checks that include:
Criminal Records Check
The criminal records check involves searching a variety of electronic databases including federal and county courthouse public records.
This typically covers the counties an applicant has lived in during the past seven years.
This also includes a Social Security Number trace. Criminal records are searched over the past seven years.
Social Security Number Trace
The Social Security Number trace is an address locator search that compares the SSN to credit and public records data to identify an applicant’s address history, alternative names, and aliases.
The SSN trace does not involve the Social Security Administration and is not a confirmation of an individual’s identity nor is it used for an employment decision.
Multi-Jurisdictional Database Search
The multi-jurisdictional database search is also called a national criminal database search and consists of a multi-jurisdictional database search of public and some nonpublic records from state, county, and other sources.
Sex Offender Search
The sex offender check is a search of the federal Department of Justice National Sex Offender Public website (NSOPW).
Information contained in this review includes sex offender registry data from 49 states, excluding Nevada.
The search is subject to state limitations, availability, and reporting limitations.
Criminal Records Check
The federal criminal records check is a search of federal U.S. District courts for the past seven years of an individual’s address history obtained from the SSN trace results.
This check may report information relative to federal crimes like:
- Money laundering
- Drug trafficking
- Kidnapping
- Counterfeiting
- Racketeering
- Crimes committed across state lines
This information will be consistent with the Fair Credit Reporting Act and any state laws.
The county criminal records search involves a review of criminal records from each county an applicant has lived in the past seven years.
Motor Vehicle Records Check
The Motor Vehicle Records (MVR) check is a check of the driving record of a candidate for the state in which a license was issued.
This will typically report the following information:
- Operator driving privileges
- Restrictions
- Expiration date
- License type
- Class
- Endorsements
- Suspensions
- Revocations
- Violations
- Accidents
- DUIs
Typically, violations stay on the MVR report for three years.
Investigative Criminal Plus Check
The investigative criminal plus check is the most comprehensive background check conducted through Care.com.
This includes a criminal record investigation as listed above along with a search of driving record history for the state where a caregiver is licensed.
Additionally, several other essential components are included:
- A national bankruptcy records search seeks information regarding whether a candidate has filed for bankruptcy through the U.S. federal court bankruptcy system over the past 10 years.
- A national warrants search is conducted through a federal database of arrest warrants reported by local, state, and federal authorities. This is a nationwide search based on name, date of birth, and Social Security number.
- A civil restraining order search checks for civil restraining orders filed by or against a caregiver in each county or the individual has lived in the past two years. If civil restraining orders are often filed in domestic disputes or even by former employers.
Tips for Being Successful With Care.com
It is essential that a felon who wants to seek to become a care provider through Care.com be honest in all dealings with the company.
Don’t hide the fact that he or she has a felony conviction if it comes up.
Instead, explain the facts about that conviction without being emotional.
The depth of any background check that can be run by someone looking for an honest, trustworthy family will easily discover a wealth of information relating to a felon’s background and history.
It is never a good idea to lie about your past on an application.
This could result in not being considered for a position if a Care.com subscriber finds out about it.
Take responsibility for past actions and explain how you’re putting your life in order.
Doing his or her own background check allows a felon to know what a Care.com member will see on his or her record.
A felon needs to remember that he or she is not defined by his or her crime.
We are not defined by our mistakes but in how we recover from them.
Be willing to see yourself in a different light and ready to establish an honest life.
So what do you think about this blog post about whether Care.com runs background checks?
Have you or someone you know had Care.com run a background check?
What was that like and was he or she successful in being hired?
Please tell us in the comments below.
