1.3.1 Chief Investigator
Missouri law identifies the role of a Chief Investigator. The Division Director shall name at least one Chief Investigator in each county CD office. The person(s) in each county office who is responsible for supervising staff responding to hotline reports shall be considered a Chief Investigator. Each county must develop procedures to ensure the tasks listed below are completed by the Chief Investigator, or substitute, in the Chief Investigator’s absence. Substitutes might include the circuit manager, social work specialist, or other experienced supervisor.
Within 72 hours of receiving a hotline report, the Chief Investigator will review the first two pages of the CPS-1, and approve and date the CPS-1A on FACES. The Chief Investigator is expected to communicate with the worker to discuss the case whenever possible. County offices must develop local protocol to ensure required information obtained for reports received on weekends and holidays is made available to the Chief Investigator for review within 72 hours of the report.
Tasks of the Chief Investigator include:
- Verifying the report was appropriately screened as an investigation or family assessment;
- Verifying reporter contact was initiated;
- Verifying, within 72 hours of the report, that all children in the household have been seen;
- Verifying that any history the family has had with the agency is considered as it relates to the hotline report and/or the overall assessment of the family;
- Supporting the workers as they establish and maintain relations with multidisciplinary team members; and
- Ensuring information regarding the status of reports, when the report involves a child enrolled in school, is provided to the public school district liaison. Should the subject child attend a nonpublic school, the principal of that school will be notified of the report.
Chapter Memoranda History: (prior to 1/31/07)
CS03-51, CD05-35, CD05-77, CD06-07, CD06-12, CD06-16, CD06-32, CD06-50, CD06-57, CD06-69, CD06-81