Investigations involving guardianship employees should be conducted objectively, with privacy and confidentiality that meet the public's expectation for accountability. The investigating region is responsible for all notifications outlined in this Standard of Practice (SOP). The procedures below are utilized when a referral is received where a Division of Guardianship Services (Guardianship) employee is identified as an alleged perpetrator of adult abuse, neglect, or financial exploitation of a person under state guardianship.
For the purposes of investigations, a guardianship employee is defined as any field staff member of the Division of Guardianship Services. State guardianship staff are not assigned as an individual's caregiver or custodian.