7/15/2024
2. Upon request, provides the director of
guardianship services DAIL a copy of the completed investigation.
1/2026
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).
2/9/2026
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 to be utilized when a report is received and a Division of Guardianship Services (Guardianship) an employee is identified as an alleged perpetrator of adult abuse, neglect, or financial exploitation of a person under state guardianship or when an employee resides in the home where the allegations occurred.
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.
The SSW:
Follows guidelines in SOP Chapter A.2 regarding the completion of investigation and distribution of the notifications of findings.
Sends the DPP-242 to the employees division director
The SSW:
- Follows guidelines in SOP A2.1 APS Investigations and Assessment, item numbers one (1) and two (2);
- Consults with the guardianship employee subject to an investigation concerning the location of any interviews or meetings to maintain confidentiality;
- Complies with guidelines in SOP A2.1 Introduction to APS Investigation and Assessment, item number nine (9) regarding timeframes for completion of the investigation; and
- Consults with the Adult Protection Services (APS) Branch as needed during the investigation.
The Service Region Administrator (SRA) or designee:
- Consults with the APS Branch as needed during the investigation.
The FSOS or Designee regional management:
- Provides a copy of the DPP-115 to the SRA;
- Consults with the SRA, or designee, and the Division of Service Region (DSR) director or designee regarding the assignment of the investigation within prescribed timeframes
- Ensures the investigation is assigned to a staff member who does not have prior knowledge of the identity of the employee under investigation;
- Assures that the assigned SSW has no knowledge of the guardianship employee being investigated;
- Ensures that support and technical assistance are readily available;
- Contacts the APS branch manager, or designee, to advise of the APS team assignment;
- Consults with the APS Branch as needed during the investigation; and
- Notifies the APS Branch if an extension is granted.
Notifies the DSR director or designee if an extension is requested; and
- Submits the drafted ADT to the DSR director or designee for review and final approval.
The APS branch manager or designee: - Maintains a process to track investigations involving guardianship employees; and
- Upon request, provides the director of guardianship services DAIL a copy of the completed investigation.
SRA or Designee:
- Contacts the director of DSR within one (1) hour upon receipt of an investigation involving a DCBS employee and;
- Presents the allegations of the report to the DSR director;
- Consults with the Office of Human Resource Management (OHRM); and
- Follows all recommendations regarding personnel matters, such as desk duty.
- Notifies the investigating staff and DSR director or designee if the employee is placed on desk duty.
DSR Director or Designee:
- Contacts the division director for the employee within one (1) hour upon notification of a report involving an employee;
- If the employee’s regional SRA has placed the employee on desk duty:
- The decision is reviewed by the DSR director or designee and the division leadership designee every ten (10) working days until the completion of the investigation; and
- The decision to return the employee to regular duty is reviewed by the DSR director in consultation with Office of Legal Services (OLS), the DCBS commissioner, OHRM, and other appropriate division director(s) (if applicable);
- Provides written updates regarding the follow-up tasks in need of completion and the projected date of completion every ten (10) working days via email, for employees placed on desk duty.
- Upon completion, submits a memorandum (through supervisory channels) to the appointing authority setting forth a summary of allegations and findings, and attach the assessment for review.
- The appointing authority, DCBS commissioner, and appropriate director or designee will consult and review the assessment to determine if disciplinary or other personnel action is appropriate.
- Upon request, provides the appropriate division director a copy of the completed investigation.
Upon completion of the Investigation or assessment:
- The FSOS or designee submits the assessment to the APS branch manager or designee for review before approval;
- The APS branch manager or designee recommends when final approval of the assessment is to occur and notifies the FSOS or designee;
- The SSW, after notification of the APS branch manager or designee’s final approval of the assessment:
- Sends the Notice of Protective Services Investigative Findings-Adult Abuse, Neglect or Exploitation to the director of guardianship; and
- Follows procedures outlined in SOP A2.9 Completion and Distribution of Investigative Findings Notification.