Ky.gov
Effective: 6/11/26

G1.3 Safety and Transportation

Legal Authority

Introduction

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​The safety of staff and clients is always paramount when working with families. Whether on an ongoing basis or during an investigation, ensuring the safety of staff and clients should always be at the forefront. 


Practice Guidance

  • Staff are encouraged to review case history and criminal history, as well as follow safety measures related to observation of the environment, and ensuring their cell phone and exits are easily accessible. ​
  • A non-state employee may include, but is not limited to:
    • Birth parents;
    • Relatives;
    • Community partners;
    • Adult clients in an adult protective services (APS) case; or
    • Spouses of state employees.
  • Prior approval from the Division of Fleet Management is not required to transport children in out-of-home care (OOHC). 

Procedure

​The SSW: 
  1. Uses non-physical interventions, such as verbal de-escalation techniques, as the first choice of intervention when at all possible and utilizes law enforcement assistance as needed;
  2. Reviews any safety issues noted by central intake (CI) staff prior to initiating a report; 
  3. Checks for prior criminal history and TWIST records for all adult household members, following procedures in SOP C2.7 Initiating the Report;​ 
  4. Consults with the FSOS before the report is initiated when safety threats are identified;
  5. Considers, with FSOS assistance, if a situation appears dangerous and determines if any of the following steps need to be taken to ensure safety:
    1. Requesting law enforcement assistance;
    2. Asking another Division of Protection and Permanency (DPP) staff person to accompany the investigative worker; or
    3. Conducting an office visit with the family, after unsuccessful attempts to locate the family in their home, or well-documented safety threats that should be documented in the assessment;
  6. Uses the sign-out process in their office to document the date, time leaving, estimated return time, and destination;
  7. Is only permitted to transport a non-state employee, in a fleet-owned vehicle, after completing the FM-6 Authorization​ to Transport Non-State Employee Passengers in a Commonwealth Owned Vehicle ​and receiving all appropriate signatures, following procedures in the Kentucky Finance and Administration Cabinet's 'Guide for Drivers of the Commonwealth's Vehicles' (page five (5))​. 
  8. May transport children in OOHC in their personal or fleet-owned vehicle without prior authorization, ensuring that the child(ren) is appropriately restrained using seat belts or approved car seats suitable for the child's age and size.  


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Documents

Revisions

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