Oklahoma Administrative Code
Title 340 - Department of Human Services
Chapter 5 - Adult Protective Services
Subchapter 1 - Adult Protective Services Reports
Section 340:5-1-4 - Adult Protective Services (APS) ethical considerations
Universal Citation: OK Admin Code 340:5-1-4
Current through Vol. 42, No. 1, September 16, 2024
(a) Ethical principles guide all client-related contact.
(1) The APS
specialist must obtain prior approval from the district director, program field
representative, APS specialist IV, or designee to:
(A) handle the vulnerable adult's personal
resources, such as bank accounts, cash, checks, notes, mortgages, trusts,
deeds, sales contracts, stocks, bonds, certificates, or any other
assets;
(B) obtain or initiate
repairs, personal services, and other necessary actions to provide health care,
food, or shelter for a vulnerable adult. Verbal approval is authorized in
emergency situations where immediate action is required to protect the
vulnerable adult from imminent harm or significant loss of property. The APS
specialist must document all plans and the approval in the case record as soon
as possible; and
(C) re-enter a
client's residence that was secured, and may only enter when another person
from outside of Oklahoma Human Service, such as law enforcement, is present.
When a third party is unable to accompany APS staff, the district director may
approve entry when another specialist is present.
(2) The APS specialist must not:
(A) solicit, charge, request, or accept a
fee, gift, reward, or payment of any kind from individuals or staff for
services rendered as a volunteer, intern, or employee;
(B) use contact with the vulnerable adult or
any member of the vulnerable adult's support system for personal gain or
personal relationships;
(C) after
termination of any assignment, make personal contact with a former client or
any member of the client's support system or use former contact with a client
for personal gain;
(D) buy items
from a vulnerable adult;
(E) engage
in any employment or business interest that would constitute a conflict of
interest or impair the APS specialist's ability to carry out duties in an
impartial manner;
(F) give
diagnostic medical or legal opinions;
(G) refer the vulnerable adult to just one
physician, attorney, counselor, or other professional for services;
(H) have sexual contact with vulnerable
adults, his or her relatives, next of kin, or support system members; and
(I) make after hours home visits
unless specifically approved by the APS specialist IV or designee.
(b) Response to aggression in the field. If at any time, the APS specialist feels unsafe in the field or in a home, he or she has the authority to stop an interview and leave. The APS specialist contacts the APS specialist IV or designee immediately when the vulnerable adult or the APS specialist leaves the home or is threatened or injured in the course of the investigation.
Added at 20 Ok Reg 840, eff 6-1-03; Amended at 25 Ok Reg 892, eff 6-1-08; Amended at 27 Ok Reg 990, eff 6-1-10
Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. Oklahoma may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
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