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Connect Care

Guide for families

California caregiver hiring checklist

A practical checklist for families to review experience, credentials, duties, pay, household employment rules, and safety before hiring a caregiver.

Key point: A profile is a starting point. Families should directly verify interviews, references, credentials, working terms, and legal obligations.

1

Define the care need

Write down the care recipient, schedule, location, duties, and budget. If care requires regulated medical tasks, confirm the worker has the appropriate credentials.

2

Use scenario-based interview questions

Ask about similar experience, schedule changes, and how the caregiver handled an unexpected situation. Confirm that both sides understand the expected duties.

3

Verify experience and credentials directly

Contact references and verify credentials with the issuing organization when they matter to the role. Connect Care does not currently provide background checks or credential verification.

4

Put pay and working terms in writing

Agree on hourly pay, pay dates, overtime, breaks, transportation costs, cancellations, schedule changes, and duties. California domestic worker rules may apply.

5

Check household employment obligations

A worker may be a household employee when a family controls both what work is done and how it is done. Review IRS Publication 926 and seek tax advice when needed.

6

For child care, review TrustLine

California TrustLine is a background-check registry for in-home child care providers. Families should review eligibility and verify registration through the official CDSS resource.

7

Share an emergency plan before work begins

Document emergency contacts, allergies, medications, medical facilities, access instructions, and communication steps. Share sensitive information only when needed.

Official resources

This guide provides general information, not legal or tax advice. Consult a qualified professional for your situation.

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