Nanny Reference Checks — Why Calling Alone Is Not Enough

Why calling references yourself creates a false sense of security

You have found a nanny who is great with your children, who is flexible and who comes with excellent references. You call the names provided, hear glowing accounts and think: this must be fine. But is it? The reality is that a phone call to references selected by the candidate is one of the least reliable forms of screening. You are calling precisely the people the nanny knows will respond positively.

The problem runs deeper than selective reference choices. In practice, candidates sometimes provide friends or family members who pose as former employers. A friendly voice on the phone telling you the nanny was wonderful could be a friend performing a role from her own living room. Without verifying the identity of the referee, you have no guarantee you are speaking to the right person. And even when the referee is genuine, an informal phone conversation rarely yields the information that truly matters: prematurely ended employment, incidents never reported to the police, or concerns the previous family did not dare to voice aloud.

The difference between a reference check and a reference verification

There is a fundamental difference between calling a reference and professionally verifying one. A professional reference verification involves multiple steps, each testing a different aspect of reliability:

• Identity verification of the referee — we establish that the person you are speaking with is genuinely the former employer or client, not someone playing the role
• Employment verification — we confirm that the nanny actually worked for the stated family during the stated period, using independent sources where possible
• Targeted questioning — our investigators ask focused questions about reliability, interaction with children, adherence to agreements and any noteworthy observations. These are different questions from those a parent typically asks
• Cross-verification — we compare information from different references with each other and with the remaining findings from the background investigation. Contradictions are flagged
• International verification — for references abroad, we make contact in the local language or through our international network

This approach produces a fundamentally different picture than a friendly ten-minute phone call.

How SAJ Recherche conducts reference checks

SAJ Recherche conducts reference checks as part of a complete nanny screening, but also as a standalone service when you have already had a background check performed and specifically want the references verified. We operate under our Wpbr licence and within the framework of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

Our process begins with the details you have received from the candidate. We check these independently and contact the stated referees ourselves — not via the number the candidate has provided, but via contact details we verify independently. This eliminates the possibility of staged references. The findings are documented in a clear report shared exclusively with you. Confidentiality and discretion are a given throughout.

Practical example: three references, only one proved genuine

A family in Amsterdam-Oost had selected an experienced nanny through an online platform who submitted three written references. The parents had called one reference themselves and were reassured by the positive conversation. Still, they decided to engage SAJ Recherche for a professional verification. Our investigation established that the first reference was indeed from a genuine former host family. The second reference, however, was linked to a phone number registered to a person sharing the nanny’s surname — presumably a family member. The third reference was an email address created just weeks before the application. With these findings, the family was able to make a truly informed choice.

References are a starting point, not a final verdict

A reference tells you what the candidate wants you to hear. A professional verification tells you what you need to know. The difference is the difference between hoping and knowing — and when it comes to the safety of your children, hoping is not enough.

Do you have doubts about your nanny’s references? Get in touch with SAJ Recherche for a confidential consultation.