4.1.5  Safety Assessment

Conduct a safety assessment.

Safety of the child(ren) in the home shall be an ongoing concern during investigations.  Staff must complete the SDM safety assessment on the second page of the CPS-1 and the CPS-1A, Safety Assessment (Part B) during or immediately following the initial visit with a family in response to a report of child abuse/neglect.

Related Subject:  Section 2, Chapter 9.2, Assessment of Safety

Assess level of family functioning.

In addition to the reported incident, the Children’s Service Worker shall assess the existence of other types of abuse/neglect, including physical violence, of any other household or family member.  Assess for domestic violence and risk it poses to child and adult victim.  Staff should make a careful assessment to determine whether the child(ren) is unsafe and/or at serious risk of harm due to physical violence in the home.  If domestic violence is occurring, provide information regarding available alternatives, i.e., community shelters or other available safe shelter, legal options, etc.

Related Subject:  Section 2, Chapter 4, Attachment I, Indicators of Physical Violence in the Home

Identify active family stressors, i.e., interaction, economic, and social and determine if they are situational or of a longer duration.

NOTE:  The CSW should be continually assessing the safety and risk to the child(ren) throughout the investigative process.  A safety re-assessment is necessary whenever new information becomes available that may indicate a threat to the safety of the children.  CA/N checks and a risk re-assessment is necessary whenever household composition changes.  For this purpose, “household” includes any persons who have significant in-home contact with the children, including those who have a familial or intimate relationship with any person in the home.

Related Subject:  Section 2, Chapter 9, Safety Analysis and Risk Assessment

The Juvenile Officer should be notified immediately if the parent(s) have not made satisfactory arrangements for the safety of the child(ren) and his/her physical environment.  A recommendation should be made to the Juvenile Officer that a determination be made that protective custody of the child(ren) is warranted.  If the Juvenile Court issues a protective custody order, the child(ren) should be removed from the home and placed in the least restrictive, most family-like placement available.

Related Subject:  Section 4, Chapter 4, Attachment B, Guidelines to Placement Options, Criteria and Selection

If, during an investigation, new information comes to light, which constitutes another allegation of child abuse or neglect, that information may be included in the ongoing investigation.

The investigator shall document his/her finding on this new allegation in the record.  A new hotline report does not have to be made.

4.1.5.1  Chief Investigator

Meet with Chief Investigator to verify contact with children, reporter, school liaison, and to review the safety assessment and investigation plan.

For all CA/N reports, the Chief Investigator must review and sign first two pages of the CPS-1 and the CPS-1A within 72 hours of the report.