Oregon Administrative Rules
Chapter 877 - BOARD OF LICENSED SOCIAL WORKERS
Division 40 - PROCEDURES FOR HANDLING COMPLAINTS TO THE BOARD
Section 877-040-0000 - Management of Complaints

(1) The board intends to provide fair, expeditious response to complaints.

(2) A board member who is unable to render an impartial, objective decision regarding a complaint must abstain from participating in the preparation, hearing, deliberation and disposition of the complaint. An abstention is effective at the time a board member announces a decision not to participate.

(3) A board member who is a complainant or respondent in a complaint is disqualified from participating in the preparation, hearing, deliberation and disposition of the complaint.

(4) The board may initiate a complaint.

(5) The Consumer Protection Committee oversees investigations of complaints received by the board. The committee may conduct investigations, prepare reports, require evaluations, and negotiate proposed agreements and may perform other duties prescribed by the board. In carrying out these duties, the committee may assign to the board's staff the duties of conducting investigations and preparing reports. Subject to the approval of the committee, the board Executive Director may assist in negotiating a proposed agreement with a respondent.

(6) If the complainant is a client or former client of the respondent, the complainant must sign a waiver of confidentiality granting the board and its counsel access to records and other materials that are the ethical and legal responsibility of the respondent. Refusal by a complainant to comply with this requirement may result in the dismissal of the complaint.