AGING AND DISABILITY SERVICES ADMINISTRATION
2006 CRS "Dear Provider/Administrator" Letters
February 15, 2006
ADSA: CCRSS 2006-001
INVESTIGATIONS OF ALLEGATIONS OF ABUSE IN
CERTIFIED SUPPORTED LIVING AGENCIES
Dear Service Provider/Administrator:
On February 1, 2006, Residential Care Services (RCS) Division began conducting investigations of alleged abuse, neglect, abandonment, and financial exploitation inside certified supported living programs. APS will continue to investigate if the alleged perpetrator of the abuse or neglect is not a provider, provider staff, or client.
Beginning March 15, 2006 you must call the RCS Complaint Resolution Unit (CRU) hotline to make mandated reports regarding allegations of client abuse and neglect. That number is 1-800-562-6078 (TTY 1-800-737-7931). You may begin calling that number before March 15, 2006, if you choose.
This does not change the current abuse and neglect reporting requirements for licensed nursing homes, boarding homes and adult family homes. This change only affects certified supported living providers and does not change your reporting responsibilities to law enforcement.
The CRU hotline is an automated system that cues you to provide information. Please use Option 2 to leave your report. It will ask questions specific to the type of incident you are reporting and will prompt you to leave the most complete information possible. When you call in a report, please be ready to provide the following information:
- The name of the client, please spell the client’s name
- Where the client lives, please provide a street address
- The name of the certified supported living provider
- The type of residential program
- The name of the person and telephone number to call for information (be sure to include an area code)
- Where (location) and when the incident occurred
- A description of the incident
- What intervention or treatment was given to the client
Do not delay calling in a report because you do not have all of the information; you may receive a call back for more specific information. A copy of the CRU hotline script and some tips for using the system are enclosed. The script includes questions you will be asked and information you should be ready to provide. This list is also available online.
You and your employees are mandated reporters as defined by chapter 74.34 RCW. If you, or any of your staff, have a reasonable cause to believe that a vulnerable adult has been abused, neglected, abandoned, or financially exploited, you must immediately report it to the department. Each provider must make sure that all of your staff are trained on how to identify and prevent abuse and neglect and the related reporting requirements. A copy of the chapter is enclosed for your convenience.
Also enclosed are two notices for calling the 1-800 number. One is for you and your staff; the other is for posting in the client’s home so that the client has the information necessary to call and report abuse or neglect.
If you have questions, please contact Tom Farrow, Compliance Facilitator, at (360) 725-2405 or by e-mail at farrotj@dshs.wa.gov.
Sincerely,
Joyce Pashley Stockwell, Director
Residential Care Services
Enclosures:
cc: Linda Rolfe, DDD Director
