Report 2013-110 Recommendation 14 Responses

Report 2013-110: Child Welfare Services: The County Child Welfare Services Agencies We Reviewed Must Provide Better Protection for Abused and Neglected Children (Release Date: April 2014)

Recommendation #14 To: Butte County Department of Employment and Social Services

To improve the timeliness and accuracy of SDM assessments, the Butte County CWS agency should ensure that its supervisors are promptly reviewing assessments.

1-Year Agency Response

Audit results were reviewed with supervisors and social work staff. Butte County revised the Structured Decision Making (SDM) Policy and Procedure (No. CSD-05-04), effective September 25, 2014, to provide clear guidelines regarding which assessments are required in different situations. Training regarding the new Policy and Procedure was provided to Child Welfare staff and Supervisors at the October 2, 2014 Program Meeting.

Copies of the October 2, 2014 Program Meeting agenda and the revised SDM Policy and Procedure No. CSD-05-04 were submitted as part of the six-month review.

Due to new state requirements regarding the CFSR Review Process (implemented following the Audit), Butte County adjusted staffing requirements for the new CQI Unit. Two new QA Staff positions were authorized by the Butte County Board of Supervisors on March 23, 2015, and the hiring process has been initiated. It is anticipated that full staffing for the CQI Unit will be in place by June 15, 2015. The QA Policy and Procedure (No. CSD-14-21) has been completed and approved, effective April 1, 2015, and training of supervisory staff has been completed. Policy will be submitted.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 1-Year Status: Fully Implemented

6-Month Agency Response

Audit results were reviewed with supervisors and social work staff.

Butte County revised the Structured Decision Making (SDM) Policy and Procedure (No. CSD-05-04), effective September 25, 2014, to provide clear guidelines to ensure supervisors are promptly reviewing assessments. Training regarding the new Policy and Procedure was provided to Child Welfare staff and Supervisors at the October 2, 2014 Program Meeting.

Copies of the October 2, 2014 Program Meeting agenda and the revised SDM Policy and Procedure No. CSD-05-04 is attached.

A new Quality Assurance Policy and Procedure is under development which will also address these issues. This policy will be completed by January 31, 2015

California State Auditor's Assessment of 6-Month Status: Partially Implemented

60-Day Agency Response

Audit results were reviewed with supervisors and social work staff. Butte County has identified an interim team consisting of a Program Manager, two Administrative Analysts and the staff trainer to update policies and procedures, pending new staff to be hired for this function, anticipated to be hired by September 2014. This will include one Administrative Analyst position that will be responsible for the oversight, development and review of all Policies and Procedures for Child Welfare. At this time, this policy and procedure is in the process of being updated, but is not yet completed.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 60-Day Status: Pending

All Recommendations in 2013-110

Agency responses received are posted verbatim.