Screening a Nanny, Au Pair or Babysitter?

Selecting a caregiver for our children is a difficult task and the risks in making a wrong choice are daunting. Most guides on caregiver screening tell parents to interview the nannies, check their references and perform a background screening. While each of those screening tools is important, they all have their limitations and do not necessarily provide sufficient information to make the best possible choice. The facts show that, despite all screening efforts, more than 70,000 cases of abuse and neglect of kids by care providers were reported in the US in 2008.

The purpose of an interview is to get enough knowledge about the candidate to decide whether he or she is suitable for the job. Yet, interviews can fail to reveal facts or problematic personality traits. Most parents are not trained interviewers and don’t know how to properly formulate interview questions, read between the lines of what the applicant says, and interpret non-verbal signs and body language, etc.

Reference checks are important and past performance can be a good indicator of future performance. However, such checks can also be highly subjective and in some cases past employers may even prefer to omit certain details which may harm the candidate in his search for a new position.

Caregiver personality assessments are now becoming available online to all parents.  It is an example of a test for your potential babysitter, Au Pair of Nanny that is easily accessible, easy to use and it allows parents to increase their chances of ensuring the well-being of their kids.

Personality assessments, like the NannyTest, are psychological tests that analyze a person’s character and personal traits.  The tests typically include several hundred questions, covering all relevant issues, including questions which parents may feel uncomfortable to ask in a face-to-face interview. Personal traits covered may include responsibility, obedience and discipline, self-control, emotional stability, coping with pressure, positive attitude and service awareness. Risk assessment issues include violent behavior, drug abuse, drinking problems, truthful reporting, respect to property and more. Many businesses (including some 80% of the US Fortune 500 companies and 75% of the UK Times 100 companies) enhance their recruitment process by using pre-employment psychometric tests.

Personality assessments do not replace caregiver interviews, reference checking or background screening. Making personality assessments an integral part of any nanny, au pair or babysitter selection process, in addition to the existing selection tools, will allow parents to make the best and most informed hiring decision, ensuring their kids are in good hands.

Yossi Pinkas

Learn more about personality testing and screening child caregivers at www.TakeCare.me