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Background Check Results

What will a BCCU background check result show?
Background check information will vary depending on the information provided by the applicant and the WSP. The BCCU background check result generally shows criminal convictions that occurred in Washington State and may include but not limited to:

Pending charges under 12 months old
Civil or family court decisions
Convictions from other states
DSHS and/or Department of Health disciplinary board final decisions of abuse, neglect, abandonment, or exploitation of a vulnerable adult or child
Professional or provider license suspension and revocation
Department of Corrections information

How is the background result information located by BCCU?
BCCU has direct electronic access to WSP information and access to the Department of Corrections database. BCCU also has access to the Washington Nurse Assistant OBRA Registry. The OBRA Registry shows license and certification status and findings of abuse, neglect, abandonment, or exploitation of vulnerable adults by Nurse Assistants. BCCU is able to access the court system database when more information is necessary. BCCU may also have self-disclosure information provided by the applicant on prior authorization forms.

Does BCCU include any descriptive or interpretive information when the result is returned?
If the individual has any kind of record with the WSP, a copy will be included with the background check. The requestor is responsible to interpret the result and make a decision based on governing statutes and regulations. The notice from BCCU may include one of the following:

A BCCU letter;
The RAP Sheet if any;
Additional Information and Source Document, showing information obtained through self-disclosure, the Department of Corrections or other sources; or
A request to obtain positive identification through a thumbprint.

Does a BCCU result contain the same information as the WSP?
YES. BCCU receives the Washington State criminal conviction history information by direct electronic access to the WSP database.

Does the WSP provide the same result information as BCCU?
NO. DSHS/BCCU may have some information that the WSP does not have such as:

DSHS due process findings of abuse, neglect, abandonment, and exploitation
More specific Department of Corrections information
Some out-of-state information may be available through self-disclosure and/or past background checks.

How long are BCCU background check results valid (good)?
Check with your DSHS contact person. The WSP indicates their background check is valid for two (2) years because:

At the time the result is issued, it is possible that the individual has been convicted and/or charged with a crime that does not appear on the result. The information may not have been entered into the WSP system or sent to the WSP by the court
It is possible the individual is in the process of a conviction at the time the check is completed. If the pending charge is over 12 months old it will not appear on the RAP sheet until settled in court
It is possible to be convicted of a crime within two years

Should a requester rely 100% on the result of any background check?
No. Judgment should be used when hiring a person even when a background report is favorable. Consider the following:

There may be convictions in other states
There may be convictions in other jurisdictions not included in the WSP report such as Federal Court
There may be convictions not yet posted by the WSP

Some entities have developed policy that require a background check to be completed on a regular interval for all staff.

Are felony crimes/convictions more important than others?
Not always. Some crimes may be misdemeanors or gross-misdemeanors but are considered relevant to the care of vulnerable adults and children, such as fourth degree assault and domestic violence.

What are the confidentiality requirements for handling results?
Only designated and trained staff responsible for the screening, faxing, mailing and receipt of background checks results should have access to these records. Applicants have the right to expect all background check information will be kept private.

Can the results be shared with an applicant?
Results are shared based on WSP regulations and program guidelines. Check with your DSHS contact person.

Can results be shared with other requesters?
The law requires that results are shared only between specific health care providers under certain conditions. Prior to sharing results with anyone, check with your DSHS contact person.

What if the applicant denies the result is accurate?
The WSP is required by law to correct results that incorrectly show a conviction record. The results can be corrected easily and on the same day that the applicant contacts the WSP.

What if the applicant’s identity has been stolen or the wrong person was identified on the results?
These problems are easily and quickly settled by a review oaf the result at BCCU or the WSP. WSP and BCCU have an agreed process taking less than 5 days.

What if the requester receives results belonging to a different requester?
Send the result and letters back to BCCU, attention: Supervisor. Include a note with the reason for the return. BCCU staff do not always know if a problem has occurred in faxing or mailing. Any information you can provide leads to a faster correction and re-directing of results.

If I have not received the background check result, who should I call?
If BCCU returns results to your DSHS program: Call your DSHS contact person first, it may be at the DSHS office awaiting program action.

If BCCU returns results directly to you or your DSHS contact person has not received the results: Contact BCCU by email at bccuinquiry@dshs.wa.gov. To provide an accurate and prompt response, we ask that you include as much information as possible in your email:

DSHS form number and/or program type;
Date the forms were sent to BCCU;
Location name appearing in box 1 of the form;
Applicant's name;
Date of birth, and

What information is needed to check on the status?
Be ready to provide the following information:

Requestor name and location
Date the form was faxed or mailed
Applicant’s full name
Applicant’s date of birth

Does BCCU provide background check result information over the telephone?
NO. A background check result is written and documented information.

Should a background check result be accepted directly from an applicant?
NO. Background check results are easily changed on paper. DSHS background check letters and WSP results have been forged in the past.