Upon receipt of an oral or written report (whichever is
received first), a Protective Services Agency shall ensure that all reports are
evaluated immediately by a Protective Services Supervisor or designated backup
supervisor, in order to determine the immediacy and severity of the alleged
harm or risk, and the appropriate initial response.
(1)
Purpose of
Screening.
(a) To determine
whether the allegation constitutes a Reportable Condition to the Protective
Services Program/Agency, and
(b) To
determine whether or not an Emergency, Rapid Response, or Routine response is
needed.
(2)
Screening Decisions.
(a) In determining whether there is a
Reportable Condition and the level of response needed, in accord with 651 CMR
5.09(1)(a) and (b), the Protective Services Supervisor, or designated backup
supervisor shall apply the facts which are alleged to the definitions of
Abuse/Reportable Condition, Caretaker, Emergency and Rapid Response set forth
in
651 CMR 5.02 and
shall utilize any other information obtained during screening. Such information
may be obtained through discussion with the reporter, examination of Protective
Services Agency files and any collateral contacts necessary to clarify/verify
the reported information.
(b) If
the Protective Services Supervisor, or designated backup supervisor, determines
that the allegation(s) constitute a reportable condition and that:
1. an Emergency exists, said supervisor shall
immediately screen the report as an Emergency and assign it for an immediate
Investigation as provided in
651 CMR 5.10;
or
2. a condition requiring Rapid
Response exists, said supervisor shall immediately screen the report as a Rapid
Response and assign it for an immediate Investigation as provided in
651 CMR 5.10;
or
3. no Emergency or Rapid
Response condition exists, said supervisor shall complete the screening
decision in a timely way, but no later than 48 hours from the time of intake.
When the report is screened in, it shall be assigned for Investigation as
provided in
651 CMR
5.10.
(c) If the Protective Services Supervisor or
designated backup supervisor determines, based on information available in the
report and obtained during screening, that there is no Reasonable Cause to
Believe that the allegation constitutes a Reportable Condition, the report of
abuse shall be screened out and the intake record shall be subject to
expungement from the records of a Protective Services Agency in accordance with
651 CMR
5.20(12).
Where there is no Reportable Condition, said supervisor shall
determine in a timely fashion, the appropriate course of action, consistent
with Protective Services Agency requirements. This may include assistance to
the reporter in obtaining services, including emergency services, referral for
other ASAP services, and/or the provision of information and referral to the
reporter regarding social, legal, health or other services which may be
available to the Elder.
1. In cases
involving reports from Mandated Reporters Subject to Fine and Mandated
Reporters Not Subject to Fine, the Protective Services Supervisor or designated
back-up supervisor shall not determine that no Reportable Condition exists
without direct discussion with the reporter of Abuse.
2. The Protective Services Supervisor or
designated back-up supervisor may determine that no Reportable Condition exists
regarding a report from a non-mandated reporter, pursuant to M.G.L. c. 19A,
§ 15(c), based upon:
a. a pattern of
prior reports from the reporter which, upon Investigation by a Protective
Services Agency, have proved unsubstantial; or
b. persuasive information obtained by the
screener from reliable sources that the report cannot be
substantiated.
