Accrediting Background Screeners
The background-screening industry finally adopts an accreditation standard to give the seal of approval to organizations that meet required levels regarding consumer protection, legal compliance, client education, product standards, service standards and general business practices. Proponents say it will lead to fewer reporting errors and increased professionalism.
After nearly seven years of work, the trade association for the nation's background-screening firms is finally unveiling the industry's first-ever accreditation standard.
The new accreditation standards will lead to fewer reporting errors and greater consistency, says Robert Capwell, a former chairman of NAPBS who helped draft the standard.
"The accreditation standard provides additional processes, forms and formality for handling disputes over accuracy, but ultimately it's simply spelling out what's already in FCRA," says Capwell, who serves as chief knowledge officer for Employment Background Investigations in Owings Mills, MD.
Developing the standards took a long time because the National Association Of Professional Background Screeners (NAPBS) wanted to solicit input from a variety of sources, including HR leaders, attorneys and members of the public, as well as professional background screeners, says Capwell. The organization also wanted to ensure that the standards were auditable and easily adaptable for small, medium-sized and large organizations.
To be accredited, firms must undergo an in-depth audit by an outside firm retained by the NAPBS that will evaluate their policies and procedures as they relate to six areas: consumer protection, legal compliance, client education, product standards, service standards and general business practices. Read More>>
By Andrew R. McIlvaine
March 16, 2010
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