Current headlines highlight the continuation of caregiver abuse in the USA.  Children and the elderly are considered at-risk populations that need to be protected and under the care of good people not malfeasant individuals.

From daycare facilities to at home care the opportunity for abuse remains.  This is why all caregivers prior to given unsupervised access to children and the elderly must pass a thorough background screening that includes a criminal background check, sex offender registry search and verifications as well as proper reference checks.

Managing risk is the central precept of background screening.  The ability to mitigate risk through careful and lawful use of public records such as criminal background records as well as thorough verification of references is of critical importance to those utilizing background checks for caregivers.

In Indiana horrific details emerged as a daycare facility allegedly allowed a 1-year-old child to be beaten and severely injured.  During the course of an investigation several significant violations were discovered.

From MSNnewsnow.com (May 04, 18):

Violations included: no drug screen completed for caregiver, no consent form submitted for caregiver, no fingerprinting for national background check. Violations also included: unqualified caregiver present, two lack of supervision violations and child abuse not immediately reported by caregiver. As a result, the location was shut down.  msnewsnow.com/story/38112300/daycare-shuts-down-after-1-year-old-beaten

A professional pre-employment background check, one with a complete drug screen, background checks, verifications, reference checks and a compliant consent documentation, may help deter malfeasant individuals from gaining access to at-risk individuals like the children and elderly.

In the USA today it still remains a best practice to fully vet all caregivers, family or professional using a well-qualified third-party background screening agency, one that remains fully compliant with law and has the capability to draw information from public records and can complete thorough reference verifications and aid in confirming the accuracy of caregiver job applications.

To read more about this subject read recent press release: Caregiver Abuse Remains in the Headlines