Hiring a Nanny or Home Care Worker in Los Angeles County

This article provides general informational guidance for families hiring in Los Angeles County. Laws and requirements may change, and individual circumstances vary.

What Families Should Consider Before Hiring a Care Provider

Bringing someone into your home to care for your child, parent, or loved one is a deeply personal decision. In California, there are specific background check and registration requirements designed to protect families. Understanding them helps you hire legally, confidently, and safely. Following is a guide to help you navigate the process.

If You’re Hiring a Nanny or Child Caregiver

In California, most nannies and babysitters (who are not related to your child) are often registered with TrustLine, California’s voluntary in-home childcare background check registry.

TrustLine verifies:

• California DOJ criminal history
• FBI criminal history
• California Child Abuse Central Index

What Families Should Require 

• Proof of TrustLine registration
• Confirmation that Live Scan fingerprinting was completed
• Registry verification (you can confirm status)

Verify TrustLine Status

https://www.trustline.org

Families may choose to request TrustLine registration prior to hiring.

If You’re Hiring a Caregiver for an Adult or Individual with a Disability

If you are hiring independently, you may choose to request documentation of: 

• Live Scan fingerprint background check
• Criminal record clearance
• Registration as a Home Care Aide (when applicable)

Learn About Home Care Aide Registration

https://www.cdss.ca.gov/inforesources/community-care/home-care-services

If You Receive Traditional Regional Center Services

Understanding “Parent Conversion”

If your child receives services through a Regional Center (outside of Self-Determination), families are typically required to work with a vendored home care agency in order to receive respite funding.

Many families identify someone they trust, a respite worker, aide, or caregiver, and then request what is commonly called Parent Conversion.

Parent Conversion means:

• The family selects the caregiver they want 
• The caregiver is hired as an employee of a vendored home care agency
• The agency becomes the employer of record
• The agency handles background checks, payroll, workers’ compensation, and compliance

Under this model, the caregiver must meet the agency’s hiring standards, which typically include:

✔ Live Scan fingerprint background check

✔ Criminal record clearance

✔ Home Care Aide (HCA) registration with the California Department of Social Services

✔ Completion of employment paperwork

Because the agency is the employer, they are responsible for ensuring all state requirements are satisfied before services begin.

Understanding the Financial Structure

Under Parent Conversion, the Regional Center pays the vendored agency an approved hourly rate. The agency then pays the caregiver as its employee. A portion of the hourly rate is retained by the agency to cover:

• Payroll administration
• Workers’ compensation insurance
• Background check processing
• Regulatory compliance
• Administrative overhead

As a result, the caregiver’s hourly wage is typically lower than the total amount authorized by the Regional Center. For some families, administrative support is helpful. For others, the reduced direct wage to the caregiver is an important consideration. Both the compliance structure and the financial structure are important to understand before choosing how to hire.

If You Receive IHSS (In-Home Supportive Services)

If your loved one receives IHSS benefits through Los Angeles County, caregivers must:

✔ Complete county enrollment

✔ Attend IHSS orientation

✔ Submit required forms

✔ Complete Live Scan fingerprinting

✔ Receive clearance before working

Learn more about IHSS provider requirements:

https://dpss.lacounty.gov/en/senior-and-disabled/ihss.html

What Is Live Scan?

Live Scan is California’s electronic fingerprinting system. It runs state (DOJ) and federal (FBI) criminal background checks.

Find authorized Live Scan locations here:

https://oag.ca.gov/fingerprints/locations

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Families may request proof of Live Scan completion or clearance documentation prior to employment.

Are There Exceptions?

Some relatives (such as grandparents caring for grandchildren) may be exempt from TrustLine registration. However, most professional caregivers working for pay should complete background checks. When in doubt, ask for documentation.

Questions Families Should Ask Before Hiring

• Are you TrustLine registered (if caring for children)?
• Are you a registered Home Care Aide?
• Have you completed Live Scan fingerprinting?
• Can you provide documentation of clearance?
• Have you had any criminal record exemptions approved?

Clear answers to these questions protect everyone involved.

Why This Matters

Background checks do more than screen for risk. They create transparency and trust.

When you verify proper registration:

• You ensure compliance with California law
• You may reduce potential legal and financial risk
• You protect your loved one
• You start the relationship with clarity

A Note on Background Check Costs

Live Scan fingerprinting and background checks involve state and federal processing fees. In California, total costs can range from approximately $70–$100 or more, depending on the type of clearance required.

While this expense can feel burdensome, especially for families managing multiple care costs, it is generally considered standard practice for the hiring family or employer to cover the cost of required background checks.

Asking care providers to absorb the cost of fingerprinting before employment is secured can create unnecessary financial strain. If you are acting as the employer of record(whether directly, through an agency, or through an FMS provider), offering to cover required clearance fees:

• Signals professionalism
• Reduces barriers for qualified candidates
• Aligns with standard employment practice
• Helps establish trust from the outset

Before scheduling Live Scan, it is best to clearly confirm who will be responsible for payment. Establishing this in advance prevents confusion and ensures the process moves smoothly.

If you are working through an agency or Financial Management Service (FMS), confirm how fingerprinting fees are handled before your caregiver schedules their appointment.

Family Hiring Checklist

Before Your Caregiver Starts

If Hiring a Nanny (Child Care)

☐ TrustLine registration completed

☐ Live Scan fingerprinting submitted

☐ Registry status verified

☐ Work eligibility documentation collected

TrustLine:

https://www.trustline.org

If Hiring a Caregiver for an Adult or Individual with a Disability

☐ Live Scan fingerprinting completed

☐ Criminal background clearance received

☐ Home Care Aide registration verified (if applicable)

☐ Work eligibility documentation collected

Home Care Aide info:

https://www.cdss.ca.gov/inforesources/community-care/home-care-services

If Hiring For IHSS

☐ Provider enrollment completed

☐ IHSS orientation attended

☐ Live Scan fingerprinting completed

☐ County clearance confirmed

IHSS info:

https://dpss.lacounty.gov/en/senior-and-disabled/ihss.html

If Hiring Under a Self-Determination (SDP) Budget

☐ Worker enrolled through your FMS

☐ Live Scan form provided by FMS

☐ Fingerprinting completed

☐ Clearance confirmed by FMS

☐ Payroll approval in place before services begin

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Self-Determination info:

https://www.dds.ca.gov/initiatives/self-determination-program/

Live Scan locations:

https://oag.ca.gov/fingerprints/locations

Important Reminder 

Truly Care Is a Marketplace, Not the Employer or Care Provider

Truly Care is a technology marketplace that connects families with independent care providers.

We are not:

• An employment agency
• A home health care agency
• The employer of care providers
• A supervisor of care services

Care providers you connect with on our platform are not employees or independent contractors of Truly Care. Families independently select, interview, hire, and contract with caregivers directly.

As a result, Truly Care is not responsible for:

• The performance of care services
• The supervision of care
• Employment decisions
• Compliance with payroll, tax, or labor laws
• On-the-job conduct

Families are responsible for ensuring compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local employment and safety laws.

What We Verify and What We Do Not

As part of onboarding, care providers complete identity verification and third-party background screening through independent screening partners including the following: .

• Identity Verification
• Social Security Number (SSN) Trace
• National Criminal Database Search
• Sex Offender Registry Search
• Global Watchlist Search

However, we do not independently verify every representation made by care providers on their profiles, including education, certifications, experience descriptions, or references unless explicitly stated.

Families are encouraged to:

• Conduct interviews
• Check references
• Confirm licenses or certifications
• Verify required state registrations (TrustLine, Home Care Aide, etc.)
• Complete any additional Live Scan or program-specific clearance required

Compliance with California law remains the responsibility of the hiring family and/or employer of record. Background screening does not guarantee safety, and no screening process can identify all risks.

Medical or Skilled Care Requires Proper Licensure

If you are hiring someone to perform medical or skilled nursing tasks such as:

• Medication administration beyond routine assistance
• Injections
• Wound care
• Tube feeding
• Skilled assessments
• Nursing-level monitoring

That individual must hold an active and appropriate California professional license.

Examples include:

• Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN)
• Registered Nurse (RN)
• Nurse Practitioner (NP)
• Other licensed healthcare professional as required

You may verify licensure through the California Department of Consumer Affairs license lookup system https://search.dca.ca.gov

California nursing licensure information:

California Board of Vocational Nursing and Psychiatric Technicians

https://www.bvnpt.ca.gov

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California Board of Registered Nursing

https://www.rn.ca.gov

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Certain medical tasks may legally require professional licensure under California law.

Why Independent Verification Matters

Marketplace platforms facilitate connection. They do not replace employer due diligence.

Adhering to state requirements, including background checks, registration, and licensure, protects:

• Your loved one
• Your household
• Your funding source (IHSS, SDP, Regional Center, etc.)
• Your legal position as an employer

Additional Resources

California Department of Developmental Services (DDS):

https://www.dds.ca.gov/services/

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Regional Center overview of respite services and vendor requirements (example – generic RC explanation page):

https://www.dds.ca.gov/rc/

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Home Care Aide registration information (CDSS):

https://www.cdss.ca.gov/inforesources/community-care/home-care-services

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For details specific to your child’s services, speak with your Regional Center service coordinator.

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