When it comes to welcoming a caregiver into your home, safety means the world. That’s why we run our own background checks on individual caregivers and have more options for those looking for even greater peace of mind.*
Criminal background checks
We provide multiple options for background checks based on your family’s preferences—because your caregiver journey is personal to you.
What it is
Initial criminal background check run on all individual caregivers you can hire on Care.com.
When to use it
Already completed on all individual caregivers you can hire.
Report availability
Families can see that the check was completed, but cannot review background check reports.
Provides always-on monitoring that notifies you of newly reportable criminal activity.
Who it’s available to
Available on all new renewing subscriptions starting June 2, 2025. An ongoing subscription is required by family and caregiver to maintain access to this feature.
When to use it
Enroll up to three caregivers you have hired and plan to work with ongoing (requires caregiver opt-in).
Report availability
You’ll get a report if a new shareable criminal event is detected.
What it includes
National Sex Offender Public Website Search
Multi-Jurisdictional Criminal Search
Other select criminal record databases for indicators of new activity
While background checks are important, they are not always 100% accurate and may not reveal an individual’s entire criminal or sex offender history. Employees of businesses listed on Care.com may not be background checked. No background check can tell you anything about anyone other than the specific person named on the report.
The scope of these checks and the results for each check vary by state, and sometimes county, due to variations in state laws and state and county criminal record reporting systems. For example:
Some states prohibit reporting criminal records more than 7 years old.
Some states prohibit reporting non-convictions like arrests, dismissals, or deferred plea agreements (e.g., CA, KY, NM and NY, among others).
Some states prohibit reporting anything other than felonies (meaning misdemeanors or civil infractions may not appear on a background check).
Some states have fragmented court and/or record-keeping systems, so the background check may not capture records from every available court (e.g., MA, NH, NJ, and parts of IL and MI).
Some states limit sex offender reporting so that only violent sex offenders will be reported.
Reporting delays, inaccuracies, and even human or electronic errors can also cause inaccurate or incomplete results. Periodic court closures or electronic access point failures may limit our vendors’ ability to search for records. Consequently, even the most comprehensive background check available may not disclose all criminal records in all jurisdictions.
Every background check is performed using information that the subject provides, such as their name, home address, Social Security number, and date of birth. If a candidate provides false or incorrect information, the check may not capture important criminal history information.
We strongly recommend that a background check only be used as one part of a candidate selection and hiring process. A background check is not a substitute for conducting thorough in-person interviews, reference checks, online and social media searches, obtaining copies of the candidate’s identification documents, and conducting ongoing monitoring of any individual you hire.
Additional safety checks and bundles
Motor Vehicle Records Check (MVR)
Get insights into a caregiver’s driving history—including information on license status, restrictions, violations, accidents, and DUIs.
Enhanced Background Check + MVR
Get a detailed report with a caregiver’s criminal record along with their driving history—available with the option to run a single or unlimited number of caregivers.
