background record help ?

[serpico]

Hi all,
I work for a company that hires personal care workers to work with elderly and the sick. Before the new regime we used to meet with the potential worker, have them fill out an app, then fill out form for State Police arrest record check and a drivers license check.
Now the new regime says we can't ask for any personal information before we offer them a letter of employment. They want us to send the potential worker into an elderly persons home w/o any background checks.
Does anyone know if there is A way around this or how we can handle this? I have reservations about sending someone who may have a bad record into a vulerable persons home.

Thanks,

Kevin