How it works
One standard for checking carers, shared by everyone.
Today, every family and care provider checks carers in their own way, and what they learn stays with them. FIDES brings it together, so "checked" means the same thing wherever you see it.
- 01
Every worker proves who they are
A worker's record is tied to their legal name and date of birth, confirmed with a quick ID document and selfie check. A record belongs to a real, verified person, not just a name and a phone number.
- 02
Past employers answer the same questions
Families and organisations who've worked with someone answer a short set of standard questions. Would they hire them again? Did they meet the standard? Were there any concerns? Every employer answers the same questions, so answers can be compared fairly. A reference only counts once the engagement is confirmed — matched to the worker's employment history, or confirmed by the worker — and a worker can dispute an engagement that never happened.
- 03
A deeper reference, when it matters
Workers list their full employment history and back each employer with a payslip or IRD summary, which we check and then delete. With a Verified profile, every verified employer is invited to complete a structured reference check — not a list the worker picks. Anything concerning goes to our review team, not straight onto the record.
- 04
The worker says who can look
A verified organisation or family can search a worker's exact legal name and date of birth. That only confirms the worker has a verified FIDES profile. To see their record, they ask the worker's permission; the worker can say no, change their mind later, or switch off being findable altogether.
- 05
Criminal record checks — coming soon
Once FIDES is registered with the Ministry of Justice, families and organisations will be able to request a criminal record check through us, with the worker's consent for each request. A Ministry of Justice criminal record check is not an NZ Police vet. On its own it doesn't meet the Children's Act 2014 safety-check requirements for children's workers.
- 06
Leaving mid-review is recorded
If employment ends while a matter is under review, that's recorded with the date. It shows the timing only, not what the matter was. The worker can respond.
- 07
The next employer benefits
Each employer's answers add to the worker's record. Good carers build a track record that follows them, and serious concerns can't be left behind at the last job.
Serious concerns get a careful look
When an employer raises a safety concern, a person on our team reviews it before it's used. The worker sees what was raised, without being told who raised it, and can respond. The flag is kept while it remains relevant to safety. A flag found on review to be inaccurate, or about the wrong person, is corrected or removed. Read our safety commitments.