FBI and DOJ BACKGROUND CHECKS - How we use this in our VETTING PROCESS when we hire caregivers.
Hi, SF Bay Area family!
It’s Gina from GoldLeaf Homecare, and today, I want to talk about a topic that I wish I had written about sooner which understandibly is a major concern of the families working with home care agencies.
At GoldLeaf Homecare Network, we understand that inviting a caregiver into your loved one’s home is a decision that requires complete trust. That’s why we take every precaution to ensure our caregivers are the right fit. We go through an throurough process to find and vet our caregivers and part of our process is the background check. Our thorough background checks help safeguard your family, ensuring that those providing care are reliable, trustworthy, and highly qualified.
Caregivers play a vital role in daily support—assisting with personal care, medication reminders, and responding to emergencies when needed. Verifying their background is crucial, but conducting these checks individually can be time-consuming and may not provide access to full state and federal records.
As a licensed home care provider, GoldLeaf Homecare Network follows strict screening protocols, including comprehensive background checks, to give you peace of mind. When you choose us, you can rest assured that your loved one is in the hands of experienced, vetted professionals who prioritize safety and compassionate care.
California Requires the LIFE SCAN Background Check for Caregivers
Since January 2016, California law mandates that all Home Care Organizations (HCOs) be licensed and that all home care aides undergo a thorough background check via Live Scan before providing care.
A Live Scan background check is an electronic fingerprinting process used to conduct criminal history checks in California. Instead of traditional ink fingerprinting, Live Scan digitally captures fingerprints and submits them to the California Department of Justice (DOJ), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and, in some cases, other state or federal agencies.
All caregivers employed by a licensed home care agency, by law, must successfully complete a criminal background check through Live Scan before they can register with the state. To further enhance transparency and consumer protection, California has also created a public online registry, allowing individuals to verify the status of caregivers who have passed these screenings.
By enforcing these standards, California ensures that home care aides meet essential safety and reliability requirements, giving families peace of mind when selecting a trusted caregiver.
Reputable home care agencies do this work for you and relieve you of this responsibility. At GoldLeaf Homecare Network, all of our staff undergo thorough background checks and screening as a top priority, ensuring your safety and security.
We are fully licensed, insured and bonded in compliance with California law.
The Home Care Services Bureau (Bureau), a division of the California Department of Social Services (CDSS), works in partnership with the Caregiver Background Check Bureau (CBCB) to oversee and enforce the state’s caregiver background check requirements. The Bureau manages the process of registering home care aides and maintains the Home Care Aide Registry to ensure caregivers meet all legal standards. If the caregiver doesn’t pass the Life Scan, they are not allowed to have a Home Care Aide Registration.
REQUIREMENTS in a life scan Background Check for Home Caregivers in California?
To be listed on the Home Care Aide Registry, home caregivers must successfully complete the following steps:
Fingerprint Submission
The caregiver must provide fingerprints for the FBI and DOJ to conduct a criminal background check.Declaration of Criminal History
The caregiver must disclose any prior criminal convictions.Verification of Good Character
Evidence must be provided that the caregiver has a “reputable and responsible character.”Disclosure of Disciplinary Actions
The caregiver must disclose any prior revocation or disciplinary action taken against their caregiver certification.Acknowledgment of Legal Requirements
A signed statement confirming that the caregiver has read and understood the Home Care Services Consumer Protection Act (HCSCPA) and related regulations.
The DOJ and FBI uses the submitted fingerprints to check for any criminal convictions, except minor traffic violations, unless the applicant qualifies for an exemption.
***Note that individual families cannot access this information—only qualified organizations, such as licensed home care agencies, can receive the background check results.
What IF they commit a crime after the background check is cleared?
In California, state agencies also receive automatic notifications of any arrests following registration, a process commonly referred to as “rap back.” Any criminal convictions occurring after the initial background check are then proactively reported to the designated agency or employer. No further fingerprinting is needed after they have begun employment.
Working with a home care agency means you can be sure that the caregiver you are employing has passed all of these checks before they begin care for your loved one.
With love and care,
Gina Martinez
President, GoldLeaf Homecare
📞 (650) 861-8228 | 🌍 www.goldleafhomecare.com