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  • C2.14.6 Investigations of Supports for Community Living (SCL) and Community Mental Health/Intellectual Disability (CMHC)
Effective: 5/28/2021

C2.14.6 Investigations of Supports for Community Living (SCL) and Community Mental Health/Intellectual Disability (CMHC)

Legal Authority

Introduction

​​​​​​​In addition to the guidelines specified in SOP C2.15 Specialized Investigations, the SSW uses the following procedures in conducting investigations involving a certified supports for community living (SCL) provider or community mental health/intellectual disability center (CMHC) of a:


  • Child under 18 years of age; or
  • Youth age 18 up to 21 years of age and older on extended commitment with the Cabinet for Health and Family Services (Cabinet/CHFS).

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Practice Guidance

Procedure

Upon accepting a report, the SSW: 

  1. Provides copies of the DPP-115 to the parties listed on the CPS Investigative Distribution Chart and immediately notifies the Department for Behavioral Health, Developmental and Intellectual Disabilities (DBHDID), Division of Developmental and Intellectual Disabilities (DDID), incident manager:
    1. Via fax; or  
    2. Via telephone (When the allegation was made by telephone, the DPP-115 is faxed within 24 hours (exclusive of weekends and holidays));
  2. Shares joint responsibility with DDID staff for investigating these reports, and if possible, an investigation is conducted jointly;
  3. Proceeds with the investigation, following procedures and timeframes outlined in SOP C2 Child Protective Services (CPS) Intake and Investigation, when a joint investigation cannot be conducted;
  4. Conducts, with DDID staff (to the extent possible), an entrance interview with the facility administrator or designee: 
    1. Outlining the nature of the report of child abuse or neglect without disclosing the name of the reporting source; and
    2. Providing only enough information to the administrator or designee to indicate that there has been a report and which child(ren)/youth and adult wards are to be interviewed.  
  5. Provides written or verbal notification to DDID as soon as practical if the SSW finds at the time of investigation that a child/youth is in imminent danger or that a child/youth needs to be removed;
  6. Consults with the Child Protection Branch or Adult Protection Branch staff as needed during the investigation and within 30 working days of receiving the referral/report to discuss the provider's employee's ability to return to work.​
  7. Provides written findings to the administrator of the facility and license holder within thirty (30) working days of receiving the referral/report, unless an extension is granted by the supervisor, when there is a finding by the SSW of substantiation of child/youth abuse or neglect, and the alleged perpetrator is an employee of the facility;
  8. Confers with DDID staff on the investigation, to the extent possible, prior to issuing any notification of findings;
  9. Sends, upon approval, copies of the assessment for SCL provider agencies and CMHC facilities investigations to:
    1. DDID; and
    2. SRA or designee;
  10. Discusses privately with DDID staff the findings prior to conducting an exit interview with the license holder, administrator, or designee;
  11. Conducts, with DDID staff to the extent possible, an exit interview no later than ten (10) working days after the assessment has been completed and approved with the facility/agency administrator or designee, regardless of the finding;​
  12. Collaborates and prepares a final report with DDID staff in joint investigations; 1
  13. Incorporates comments and recommendations based on findings justified in the assessment documentation that may be incorporated into the joint investigation report;
  14. Follows procedures outlined in SOP C2.14 Specialized Investigations and SOP C2.12 Structured Decision Making Safety and Risk Assessments when sending notification of a substantiated or unsubstantiated finding; and
  15. Provides notification to the agency/facility and license holder (Refer to the CPS Investigative Distribution Chart for a complete listing).​


Related Information

Department for Behavioral Health, Developmental and Intellectual Services
Division of Developmental and Intellectual Disabilities 
275 East Main Street, 4C-F 
Frankfort, KY 40621
Phone: 502-564-7702
Fax: 502-564-8917
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Footnotes

  1. If upon collaboration, DDID staff and the SSW do not agree on issues of concern, the report would reflect the findings of each with the points of contention addressed accordingly in a professional manner.

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Documents

Revisions