Online Agencies May Provide a False Sense of Security
You may be aware that the CBS program, The Early Show, is running a week long series on nannies. The broadcast has made the common mistake of implying that online-only job sites provide the same level of service as professional agencies.
The Alliance for Professional Nanny Agencies has provided some of the following information to help parents understand and differentiate between an online nanny database and a full-service nanny placement firm (like Mom’s Best Friend).
A Sittercity spokesperson was interviewed in one segment. Sittercity connects families and nannies online and rarely screens either. Job listing services such as Sittercity should not be confused with full-service nanny agencies.
Online job listing services can give the client a false sense of security. Many online services steer parents to low-cost, computer background checks that offer minimal screening compared to what a top-notch nanny agency would consider adequate. Sittercity connects parents to the LexisNexis background check that costs $9.99. Sittercity’s own web site has a disclaimer that the LexisNexis check covers just 38 states (http://www.sittercity.com/help_detail.html?tag=bgcin). Some online job listing services call the LexisNexis check “nationwide” which can be misleading.
Top notch household staffing agencies require a computer background check, and much more, on each job candidate. Most quality agencies hire a seasoned professional to conduct background checks. You can read in detail about what a thorough background check entails on our web site at: http://theapna.org/blog. We, at Mom’s Best Friend, use a company that provides the most comprehensive background check available at this time, as well as ongoing monthly monitoring for the lifetime of the placement.
Quality nanny agencies also meet each nanny candidate in person and check the candidate’s references and resume. Online job listing services most often do not check qualifications or references. They simply advise parents to perform those tasks.
Careful, experienced household staffing agencies are the best way to protect children, but they also help ensure a job seeker’s safety. Katherine Olson of Minnesota was found dead last October, one day after she responded to an online ad for a nanny job. The 19-year-old man police suspect placed the ad, where he posed as a parent seeking a nanny, is charged with her murder and awaiting trial.
A responsible staffing agency knows when one of its job candidates is being interviewed, and the candidate is expected to report in afterward. The personal contact that a qualified agency provides is an added security measure for both candidates and the hiring families. That service also increases the chances a family will find a nanny that is right for them and decreases the chances of high turnover of nannies in their employment.
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Tags: Online Nanny Agencies