Professional background screening and information verification for individuals, businesses, legal professionals and organisations that need relevant information examined before important employment, commercial, personal or professional decisions are made.
A background check is a structured process for verifying relevant information about a person or, where appropriate, an organisation. The scope should be connected to a legitimate purpose and may vary depending on the decision being made. A professional check distinguishes information that can be verified from information that is incomplete, unavailable or unsupported.
Background screening can help determine whether relevant identity, employment, business, professional or other information corresponds with information that can reasonably be established from appropriate sources.
The purpose is not to search indiscriminately into a person's life. It is to examine information relevant to a legitimate decision and identify material matters that may warrant clarification or additional due diligence.
The appropriate checks depend on the purpose of the enquiry, the information available and the lawful sources that can be used. Not every category is relevant or available in every assignment.
Examination of relevant identifying information to help establish that the person being screened corresponds with the identity represented.
Where appropriate and reasonably verifiable, checking material employment information supplied in connection with a legitimate screening purpose.
Enquiries concerning relevant professional, occupational or business information where those details are material to the client's decision.
Appropriate enquiries to verify known address or location information where relevant to the authorised background check.
Review of relevant lawfully accessible records and sources where they can assist with verifying information within the agreed scope.
Appropriate verification enquiries with relevant sources where the purpose, consent requirements and circumstances permit.
Background enquiries concerning businesses, principals or relevant commercial relationships before a client proceeds.
Comparing material information across appropriate sources to identify inconsistencies, omissions or details requiring clarification.
Findings organised into a clear report identifying the scope, relevant information established and material limitations.
Relevant information supplied during recruitment may require verification before an employment decision is made.
Businesses may need additional information before engaging a supplier, contractor, partner or other commercial relationship.
Representations concerning experience, occupation or business activity may need independent checking.
Attorneys and investigators may require appropriately scoped background information relevant to a case or enquiry.
Where there is a legitimate purpose, verification may help a client assess material information before relying on it.
A targeted check can help establish which details can be verified and which require further explanation.
We establish why the check is required, what decision it supports and which information is genuinely relevant.
Identifying information, appropriate permissions and specific verification requirements are reviewed before enquiries begin.
Relevant information is checked using appropriate lawful sources and methods within the agreed scope.
Information is compared to identify corroboration, inconsistencies and matters that cannot reasonably be verified.
Findings are provided in the agreed format with relevant limitations identified so the information can be assessed in context.
Appropriate pre-employment or role-related screening designed around relevant organisational requirements.
Due-diligence support involving contractors, suppliers, partners, principals or other legitimate commercial relationships.
Appropriately scoped background research where information is relevant to a legal or investigative matter.
Relevant verification enquiries where background information forms part of an authorised insurance investigation.
Legitimate personal enquiries where important information needs independent checking before a significant decision.
Due-diligence and verification support for advisers acting for clients with a legitimate need for background information.
Accurate identifying information and a clearly defined purpose help reduce the risk of confusing one person or entity with another and keep the enquiry focused on relevant information.
A background check should not become an unrestricted search for private information. Six Paths will assess the purpose and proposed scope and may decline categories of enquiry that are not appropriate to the legitimate objective.
A structured report identifying the agreed scope and relevant information established through the enquiries.
Material information can be identified as verified, inconsistent, unavailable or requiring further clarification where appropriate.
Where appropriate, the nature of the source or verification method can be identified so findings can be understood in context.
Where information cannot reasonably be verified, those limitations are identified rather than presenting uncertainty as fact.
Background screening should be connected to a legitimate purpose, appropriately scoped and conducted using lawful methods. The fact that information may be of interest does not automatically make every form of access or enquiry appropriate.
Availability also varies. No background check can guarantee that every aspect of a person's history is discoverable, current or capable of independent verification.
The scope depends on the legitimate purpose, identifying information, applicable requirements and sources that can lawfully and appropriately be used.
No. Employment screening, corporate due diligence and private investigative checks may require very different scopes.
No. Sources vary in availability, completeness and currency. Material limitations should be identified rather than hidden.
Appropriate employment and commercial due-diligence screening may be available where there is a legitimate purpose and applicable requirements are satisfied.
Potentially, where there is a legitimate purpose and the requested scope is lawful and appropriate.
Material inconsistencies should be identified rather than silently resolved. Further verification may sometimes be appropriate.
Timing depends on the scope, number of checks, information supplied and availability or responsiveness of relevant sources.
Start with the purpose, identifying information, details requiring verification and any relevant documentation or authorisation information.
Tell Six Paths what information needs to be checked and why it matters. We can assess the appropriate background-check scope and explain the next step.