FAQs - Shepherd's Watch

✔ Why should my organization do background checks?

Background checks can reveal red flags for behaviors you need to know about. And should any sort of litigation ever emerge against your organization, you must show your due diligence in screening candidates, employees, and volunteers.

✔ Are background checks required by law?

A number of industries—especially those that require the handling of other people’s personal and private information—require background screenings. These include the home healthcare, financial, and education industries among others. Plus, many insurance companies do require that  church background checks be performed when dealing with children, youth and at risk adults regardless of the law. But even if your organization does not operate in or provide services to these industries, there are still enough crucial reasons to run them. 

✔ Do I need to get permission from the person I am checking?

Yes, you do. If you want to order and review any kind of background check in order to determine somebody’s eligibility, you must ask their permission. We make this easy with an electronic consent form. 

✔ What information do I need to know about the applicant to run a background check?

You will only need their first and last name and email address. Once you enter their information into the online system, the applicant will receive an email with a link to an online consent form where they will fill out their own personal data. They will need to provide their Social Security Number, date of birth, full legal name, and address history for the past seven years.

✔ How often should I do a background screening on my volunteers and employees?

The best option is to run a comprehensive background screening on your employees and volunteers at the point of hire and check annually after that. Hiring someone doesn’t mean that he or she won’t commit a crime in the future. Without a periodic check, you have no way of knowing if someone has been convicted unless the information is volunteered. It is important to check with your insurance company to see what they require.

✔ What happens if I choose to decline an employee or volunteer applicant based on the background screening?

If you intend to decline an employment applicant based on what was found in the background screening, you need to provide the applicant with at least two notifications, commonly known as the pre-adverse and adverse action letter. For more information on the pre-adverse and adverse action letter CLICK HERE.

✔ How often do I have to order reports to keep my Shepherd's Watch account active?

There are no monthly minimums, but we do ask churches to order at least one background check a year in order to keep their account active.

✔ How long does it take to run a background check?

It all depends on what type of report you run. In general, results can be received within 24 hours if the background check is clear. If a record is found, it will be verified before being reported to you. The verification process can take 1-3 business days.