06-12 · Background Screening Requirements FDCH/LFCCH Handbook

Licensing specialist observed that level 2 screening was incomplete due to missing DCF child care eligibility date. Please see supplemental for more details. 4 of 4 files reviewed. T.A. Operators, household members (adults and children 12 to 17 years of age), substitutes, volunteers and Large Family Child Care Home employees must have a level 2 background screening clearance from the Department prior to obtaining a license, residing in the home, employment, or volunteering unsupervised with children. The employer/owner/operator must review each employment application to assess the relevancy of any issue uncovered by the complete background screening, including any arrest, pending criminal charge, or conviction, and must use this information in employment decisions in accordance with state laws. Level 2 screening as outlined in s 435.04, F.S., is required for all child care personnel and includes a criminal records check (both national and statewide), a sexual predator and sexual offender registry search, and child abuse and neglect history of any state in which an individual resided during the preceding 5 years. All fingerprints must be submitted and processed through the Background Screening Clearinghouse and therefore a LiveScan vendor that is Clearinghouse compatible must be used for submission of fingerprints. DCF will issue an eligible or non-eligible result for employment through the Clearinghouse upon completion of searches and results from other states, if applicable. The employer/owner/operator must initiate the screening through the Clearinghouse prior to fingerprinting. Failure to initiate the screening may result in an invalid screening and the individual will have be re-fingerprinted and pay the fees again. The employer/owner/operator must add substitutes, employees and household members to their Employee/Contractor Roster within ten days of when the individual has received a child care eligible result. Employer/owner/operator must add an end date within ten days of termination for individuals on the Employee/Contractor Roster in the Clearinghouse when employment terminates, or a household member is no longer residing in the home. The employer/owner/operator will receive an email notification if any individual on the Employee/Contractor Roster is arrested for a disqualifying offense. The employer/owner/operator is required to take appropriate action if an individual becomes disqualified pursuant to s. 435.06, Florida Statutes