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Why It's Important To Pick A Nanny Agency Who Is A Member Of The International Nanny Association
Proud Members of the International Nanny Association
Top Notch Child Care Concierge is proud to announce that we are officially members of the International Nanny Association. It is important to make sure your personal child care & nanny agency is a member of the INA. The INA is for anyone who is involved with the in-home child care industry including nannies, nanny employers, nanny placement agency owners (and staff), nanny educators and providers of special services related to the nanny industry.
In recognition of their responsibilities to children and families, members of the International Nanny Association agree to abide by our Commitment to Professional Excellence and Recommended Practices
Commitment to Professional Excellence
Respect the contributions of individuals and organizations involved in professional in-home child care.
Maintain high standards of professional conduct.
Respect and support families in their task of nurturing children.
Promote the physical, emotional, intellectual and social development of children.
Support the lifelong process of personal growth and professional development
Recommended Practices for Background Screening
INA recommends placement agencies and/or parents:
Verify and authenticate a nanny candidate’s identity to ensure that the candidate is using real and accurate information about his or her own identity.
Verify employment and educational history and applicable credentials and licenses.
In addition to these screenings, agencies and/or parents may wish to consider obtaining a credit report as well as conducting a civil records search to expose lawsuits, liens and judgments.
Perform state and county criminal record searches for every jurisdiction where the candidate has worked and lived, using any and all names the candidate has used, for at least the past seven years, depending upon applicable state laws.
Perform a sex offender registry search for all 50 states, D.C., Puerto Rico and Guam.
Review the candidate’s driving record.
Comply with the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) and all other applicable local, state and federal laws.
Perform periodic updating of background screenings for all placed nannies and nannies who provide temporary services.
Top Notch Child Care Concierge's personal approach to meet your families needs & make sure every applicant's background & criminal history has been cleared will give the peace of mind you're searching for. We use additional resources when providing you with information on your potential babysitter/nanny. We make sure you receive more information than you would ever be able to find on an online website. Top Notch serves you with REAL PEOPLE who have REAL ANSWERS.
We believe in the safety of all children above all other things. When looking for a perfect child care placement for your home, nothing should be more important than the safety and well being of your children. We strongly urge all parents to verify the nanny/babysitter 's credentials as well as the agency's. Make sure your agency will provide you with all background information, reference checks, training information, experience history, and ONGOING SUPPORT even after your nanny has been placed. An outstanding agency will provide you with even more information.
Parents who have the time and resources to conduct their own searches should keep this in mind as well. Although doing a thorough check and screening on your own may take weeks, or even up to a month, it is still possible for those who have plenty of time and reliable resources.
The first thing you should do before hiring someone to care for children is conduct a background check. You must get consent from the candidate before undergoing any type of background check. If the candidate declines your request for a background check, consider that not only a red flag, but forget about the candidate immediately.
After getting FULL consent (written and signed) make sure you do a FULL background check. We cannot stress how important it is to not cut corners. There are many online websites that provide criminal background checks, but you need to make they are a reputable and accurate source. A Full background check may cost you more, but better safe than sorry. Fancy Nancy's criminal check may be crystal clear in Michigan, but Fancy Nancy might be Negative Nancy in Texas. Online background checks often miss the mark here. Do your Research. You can also get background checks completed at the police department or state police for the county in which the candidate lives (with candidates consent)
Make sure your call references, Check employment history (ask the employers to provide you with additional references that the candidate has not provided you with already) DO NOT BE AFRAID TO ASK. Make sure you ask detailed questions when calling references ("how old were your children when so&so cared for them", "have you met so&so's family, how did you meet so&so") You will be surprised at how many times the references slip up, only to find out the references may not be truthful or real. Dig deep in your search. Always ask the reference to give you someone else's number that may also know the applicant. Most babysitters or nannies are familiar with the neighbors and other family members of their previous employers.
Don't wait until last minute to find a babysitter. If you're having trouble finding a nanny or babysitter who doesn't end up as a turnover, look for a babysitting company who provides you with already screened applicants. Ask questions. When you're done, ask more.
Feel free to contact us for more information on how you can go about your search for a babysitter or nanny.