Criminal Background Checks

Title 16, Chapter 11, Subchapter III, Sections 1141 and 1145 of the Delaware Code requires the Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS) to complete criminal background checks on persons applying for a position in a nursing home or home health agency licensed pursuant to 16 Del. C. Ch.11, that affords access to patients or individuals receiving care at such a facility or private home, or a person applying for a license to operate such a facility or business.

DHCQ requires that persons applying to such facilities sign a release allowing the State Police to proceed with fingerprinting and complete a check of state criminal history through the State Bureau of Identification (SBI) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).All employers must now use the BCC - Background Check Center

All applicants for employment in long term care facilities and home health agencies must have a criminal background check, according to State of Delaware law. The Division of Health Care Quality receives, investigates, and maintains criminal history records, to qualify or disqualify employment applicants.

Employers may hire an applicant on a conditional basis pending receipt of the qualified/disqualified determination from the Division of Health Care Quality, after the employers obtain proof that the applicant has submitted his/her fingerprints to the State Bureau of Identification for this process.

Fingerprinting Locations & Procedures

For more information about the criminal background check requirements for employment in long term care facilities or home health agencies, please (302) 421-7400.

Mandatory Drug Testing

All applicants for employment in long term care facilities and home health agencies must submit to drug testing, according to State of Delaware law.

Employers may hire an applicant on a conditional basis pending receipt of the drug test results, after the employers obtain proof that the applicant submitted to the testing.

For more information about the drug testing requirements for employment in long term care facilities or home health agencies, please (302) 421-7400.

Background Check Center

The BCC electronic system gathers information from a variety of sources and makes the information available through a single portal - the BCC. It retrieves information from:

• State Bureau of Investigation - state and federal criminal background checks
• Adult Abuse Registry
• Nurse Aide Registry
• Public Sex Offender Registry
• Professional Regulation - license verification
• Office of the Inspector General
• Department of Labor - service letters
• Child Protection Registry
• Delaware Health Information Network - drug tests

The BCC Helpline phone number is (302) 421-7405. Providers can call this number for help with questions regarding the BCC.