MALTREATMENT of VULNERABLE ADULTS REPORTING POLICY (February 2017)

MALTREATMENT OF VULNERABLE ADULTS REPORTING POLICY (February 2017)

·  If you know or suspect that a vulnerable adult has been maltreated, you must report it immediately (within 24 hours). For ICF-DD Programs, you must immediately report it to the Executive Director.

·  You can report externally to the Minnesota Adult Abuse Reporting Center (MAARC):

New (July 1, 2015) single, toll-free number the general public can call to report suspected maltreatment of vulnerable adults. The toll free number to the Minnesota Adult Abuse Reporting Center (MAARC) is: 1-844-880-1574

For Douglas County (Superior, WI), contact Douglas County Health and Human Services at 715- 395-1304.

Mandated reporters, including law enforcement, educators, doctors, nurses, social workers and other licensed professionals, will also be able to use the web-based reporting system of the Minnesota Adult Abuse Reporting Center (MAARC) located at: http://mn.gov/dhs/reportadultabuse/

·  Or, you can report internally to Program Director or Program Manager. If the individual listed above is involved in the alleged or suspected maltreatment, you must report to the Program Manager or Executive Director.

·  When an internal report is received, the Program Manager and Program Director are responsible for deciding if the report must be forwarded to the Minnesota Adult Abuse Reporting Center (MAARC). If that person is involved in the suspected maltreatment, the Executive Director will assume responsibility for deciding if the report must be forwarded to the Minnesota Adult Abuse Reporting Center (MAARC). The report must be forwarded within 24 hours.

·  If you have reported internally, you will receive, within two working days, a written notice that tells you whether your report has been forwarded to the Minnesota Adult Abuse Reporting Center (MAARC). The notice will be given to you in a manner that protects your identity. It will inform you that, if you are not satisfied with the facility’s decision on whether or not to report externally, you may still make the external report to the Minnesota Adult Abuse Reporting Center (MAARC) yourself. It will also inform you that you are protected against any retaliation if you decide to make a good faith report to the Minnesota Adult Abuse Reporting Center (MAARC).

·  An internal review of the report must be completed if the facility has reason to know that an internal or external report of alleged or suspected maltreatment has been made. The review will be completed by a Program Director or Program Manager. If this individual is involved in the alleged or suspected maltreatment, the Program Manager or Executive Director will be responsible for completing the internal review.

·  The internal review must include: an evaluation of whether related policies and procedures were followed, whether the policies and procedures were adequate, whether there is a need for additional staff training, whether the reported event is similar to past events with the vulnerable adults or the services involved, and whether there is a need for corrective action by the license holder to protect the health and safety of vulnerable adults.

·  The internal review must be documented, and made available to the Commissioner of the Department of Human Services upon request.

This reporting policy must be posted in a prominent location or in a common area that is accessible to all staff persons and must be made available upon request.