20.10 Determining the Findings of an Alternate Care Investigation

Legal Authority

The SSW:

Makes a written report of the investigative findings and, if necessary, a recommendation for further action upon completion of a thorough investigation, which may include interviewing all relevant parties, gathering supportive facts, obtaining written documentation and assessing risk; ¹
Documents the investigative findings as follows once the investigation is complete:

Substantiated-Substantiated means that a SSW determined that a resident of an alternate care facility was the victim of abuse, neglect or exploitation. A substantiated finding is made as a result of a personal interview with the resident and one of the following conditions:

An interview with the alleged perpetrator, if conducting the interview does not pose a threat to the victim, in which the individual admits to abusing, neglecting or exploiting the resident;
The presence of evidentiary or supportive facts, such as medical evidence, observation of injuries or witness testimony that reveals a preponderance of evidence. These examples are combined with other strong collaborating facts and documented; or
A systems failure that may have contributed to the occurrence of abuse, neglect or exploitation;

Found and Substantiated-An investigative finding is found and substantiated when a SSW discovers during the course of an investigation, or through a routine service contact, that a resident of an alternate care facility was the victim of abuse, neglect or exploitation, and the incident was not previously reported through the department’s intake process. The SSW uses the same standards for a finding of found and substantiated as for a substantiated finding;
Unsubstantiated-A finding of unsubstantiated is used when contact with the alternate care facility resident or other party that reveals no evidence, facts, indicators or justification for suspicion of abuse, neglect or exploitation.

The FSOS or designee:

An abbreviated assessment may not be utilized for investigations involving alternate care settings.
The investigative findings are only used to determine whether an adult has been abused, neglected or exploited and whether department services are necessary.