| Definitions |
Department operated
facilities include the State Receiving Home, Long Lane School, High Meadows,
RiverView Hospital for Children and Youth and the Wilderness School. The Special Review Unit, located within the Commissioner’s
Office, is responsible for coordinating the investigation. |
| Notification of Incident to Hotline |
Any Department employee who has knowledge or
suspicion of a situation as described in the above policy statement shall report the
allegation immediately to the Hotline. |
| Special Review Unit Procedures Prior to an
Investigation |
Upon receipt of a report from the Hotline, the
supervisor of the Special Review Unit shall
- review the Hotline report
- assign the investigation as specified in the above table, and provide the designated
Regional Administrator or SRU investigator with a copy of the CPS Report Protocol,
(DCF-2073a &b)
- notify the following persons:
| If the report involves the employee and ... |
Notify the following persons of the allegation: |
| a child receiving services from the
Department |
- the employee’s Regional Administrator
- the Regional Administrator of the child’s region of origin
- the child’s regional office Social Worker
- the facility Superintendent
- the Superintendent of the USD II, when a USD II employee is involved
- the Directors of Child Welfare Services and Juvenile Justice, as applicable
- the Director of Human Resources
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| the employee’s own child |
- the employee’s Regional Administrator
- the Superintendent of USD II when a USD II employee is involved
- the appropriate Bureau Chief(s), who will determine if the Director of Human Resources
will need to be notified.
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| Regional Administrator or Superintendent
Responsibilities |
Upon being notified of the report, the Regional
Administrator who supervises the employee or Superintendent shall
- immediately place the employee on leave or non-client duty, dependent upon the effect of
the allegation on the Department’s mandate and the safety and well-being of children
and staff
Cross-Reference: "Employee Conduct: Neglect of Duty," 7-4-3.1 and 31-6-3.4
If the child resides in a DCF facility, the Superintendent shall
- obtain basic information from the child relating to the allegation in order to ensure
the child’s immediate safety, and
- take any actions deemed necessary to ensure the safety of the child
- obtain an emergency medical examination and care of the child, as appropriate
- coordinate with the Special Review Unit to notify the child’s parents, as
appropriate
- ensure that the police are notified, when required
- cooperate with the assigned investigator by making all records, documents, staff
members, and residents available, as appropriate, for a complete investigation.
Note: If the Regional Administrator or Superintendent first receives a
report of abuse or neglect, they shall immediately notify Hotline and then complete the
above procedures. |
| Regional Office Social Worker Responsibility |
When the investigation involves a child in a
Department facility, the child’s regional office Social Worker shall cooperate with
the facility Superintendent and the assigned investigator to ensure the child’s
safety and meet the child’s needs. |
| Notification to the Director of Human Resources |
When notified of a report involving a DCF
employee, the Director of Human Resources shall work cooperatively with the assigned
investigator to ensure that proper personnel procedures are followed. |
| Procedures for a Regional Office Investigation |
When the investigation will be conducted by a
regional office, the Regional Administrator shall assign an investigator who will initiate
the investigation in accordance with response time criteria. The Regional Office
investigation shall be conducted in accordance with procedures detailed in 34-3-4 through 34-3-6.
Upon completion of the investigation, the Regional Administrator shall
- review the investigation report
- forward the report to the supervisor of the Special Review Unit.
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| Follow-Up by Supervisor of the Special Review
Unit |
Upon receipt of the completed investigation
report from either the Regional Administrator or the Special Review Unit investigator, the
Supervisor of the Special Review Unit shall:
- review the report
- for investigations conducted by the SRU investigator,
- ensure the entry of the investigation results in LINK
- ensure that the mandated reporter letter is sent out
- file the original report in the Special Review Unit
- provide notification of the findings and transmit copies of the report to those
specified below
- coordinate with the Regional Administrator or Superintendent to provide notification to
the child’s parents.
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| Notification of Investigation Determination |
The supervisor of the Special Review Unit shall
provide notification of the investigation determination and copies of the investigation
report, as follows: |
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If the report
involves... |
And the
report is... , |
Then,... |
| a child receiving services from the Department |
substantiated |
A copy of the investigation report will be transmitted to
- the employee’s Regional Administrator or facility Superintendent who will
coordinate any personnel action with the Director of Human Resources
- the Regional Administrator of the child’s region of origin, who will notify the
child’s Social Worker
- the Superintendent of Schools when a Unified School District II employee is involved.
- the Directors of Child Welfare Services or Juvenile Justice, as applicable.
|
| not substantiated |
All of the above persons will be notified of the
determination. |
| the employee’s own child |
substantiated |
A copy of the investigation report will be transmitted to
- the employee’s Regional Administrator
- the appropriate Bureau Chief(s).
The Director of Human Resources will be notified as determined by the Bureau Chief(s)
and will provide consultation on any personnel action. |
| not substantiated |
The above persons who received notification of the Hotline
report will be notified of the investigation determination. |
