Conducting a Background Check Before You Hire
After you identify an individual you wish to hire, it is good diligence to conduct a criminal background check. Criminal Background checks are encouraged and often required, depending on how you will pay your caregiver.
If you are a member of KanCare, your Financial Management Services Provider will work with you to conduct a criminal background check. If you are not a member of KanCare, it is still highly recommended that you conduct a full criminal background check. Some important checks you may want to consider are:
The Adult Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation Central Registry is operated by the Kansas Department for Children and Families. This statewide registry identifies, after due process, persons substantiated for the abuse, neglect, exploitation or fiduciary abuse of vulnerable adults. The written permission of the job applicant is required to conduct this search, using the Release of Information Form found on the website.
The Child Abuse and Neglect Central Registry is operated by the Kansas Department for Children and Families. According to Kansas law, a substantiated finding of abuse and/or neglect prohibits any person listed in the Child Abuse and Neglect Registry from working, residing, or volunteering in a child care home or facility regulated by KDHE. The written permission of the job applicant is required to conduct this search, using the Registry Release Form found on the website. A $10.00 fee may apply for each request.
The Kansas Criminal History Record Check is operated by the Kansas Bureau of Investigation and can provide a name-based criminal history record check for $20.00 per individual.
The Kansas Registered Offender website is operated by the Kansas Bureau of Investigation and facilitates public access to information about persons who have been convicted of certain sex, violent and drug offenses, as set forth in the Kansas Offender Registration Act. Please note the only way to positively link someone to a registered offender record is through fingerprint verification. Positive identification cannot conclusively be established by comparing name, date of birth, or other information provided on the website. The Kansas Registered Offender website does not include a complete criminal history for each offender, and therefore, obtaining information from the website does not constitute a valid background check for any purpose including employment.
The Survey, Certification and Credentialing Commission (Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services) provides a list of CNAs/CMAs with findings of abuse, neglect or exploitation. The list is available for public viewing on the website free of charge.
Background checks are available through the Kansas Department of Motor Vehicles. You will need written consent from the employee to conduct the search.
The Kansas Board of Nursing provides information about advanced practice registered nurses, registered nurses, licensed practical nurses and certified nursing assistants. Phone: 785-296-4929.
In addition to the above Kansas resources, you may also conduct some national checks:
Office of Inspector General U.S. Dept. of Health & Human Services - Provides names of individuals who are excluded from working for federally-funded healthcare programs. To check if an individual is listed by the OIG, you only need to enter their name on the Exclusion Search page. Once you have established that a person is not on the OIG exclusion list, you still may wish to conduct a criminal or other background check.
FBI Criminal Background Check - You may also wish to conduct an FBI criminal check, which requires that the job applicant submit fingerprints. In most cases, a local police department may take fingerprints from your worker and send them to the FBI. Click here for a list of locations (by state) where job candidates may get fingerprinted for FBI checks.
National Criminal Database reports information from a compilation of sources at the county, state and federal levels. Use caution when paying an online criminal data provider, as some lower-priced providers may just give you a name and address history trace for their fee and not an actual criminal history search. Prices for criminal searches can range from $15 to over $100.
These suggestions are offered as a service to employers, and cannot be construed as legal advice. Rewarding Work cannot be held liable for any interactions between people who use this website.