Handbook Revision, September 1, 2022
This revision of the Adult Protective Services Handbook was published on September 1, 2022. Summaries of new or revised items are provided below.
FY 2023 APS Policy Release That Addresses APS Regional Staff and Stakeholder Concerns (PATS 13793)
This is the first APS policy release for FY 2023. The changes address requests from external stakeholders and regional APS staff.
This revision does the following:
- Adds procedures for how to handle I&Rs.
- Adds procedures for how to handle Intakes routed to the wrong county.
- Adds policy for automatic eligibility to include individuals diagnosed with an intellectual disability or an IQ below 70.
- Adds procedure for determining substantial impairment with an individual who has a temporary guardianship, is currently employed, or able to work.
- Adds information regarding self-neglect and caretaker neglect when mental health issues may also exist.
- Adds information regarding Financial Exploitation allegations against HCSSA and Non-HCSSA employees.
- Adds language regarding APS jurisdiction when a client is under the care of a hospital.
- Adds language that the APS specialist requests to interview the client alone anytime the allegations are being addressed.
- Removes the 10-day time frame to interview the alleged perpetrator.
- Adds requirement to make two or more attempted contacts to interview appropriate law enforcement personnel and re-interview, as necessary, to resolve discrepancies.
- Adds information regarding releasing criminal history records information obtained from the FBI.
- Adds procedures for documenting information from criminal history reports that are completed in IMPACT or received from external sources.
- Adds procedure for the APS supervisor to consult with the regional attorney to determine whether a joint staffing is appropriate.
- Adds procedures for completing the Safety Assessment, either while in the client’s home during the initial face-to-face, or from a safe location immediately after the initial face-to-face.
- Removes the requirement to complete a Safety Reassessment in certain situations.
- Adds that an allegation involving a client in the hospital with serious injuries or at risk of death cannot be downgraded from a priority I.
- Adds a timeframe of seven calendar days for sending the AV/CL Request for an Interview letter, located in IMPACT.
- Adds requirement for immediate notification to law enforcement when APS is aware of potential offenses against a person, including attempted offenses, or offenses outside APS jurisdiction to investigate.
- Adds policy that a finding of Valid/No Fault may be used for an allegation of neglect when a professional guardian is the alleged perpetrator.
- Adds elements charts for allegations of neglect by a caretaker, self-neglect, sexual abuse, physical or emotional/verbal abuse, and financial exploitation.
- Clarifies that a discretionary override is only used on a Risk of Recidivism Assessment (RORA) to merge cases that have different, final risk levels.
- Adds procedure for completing the discretionary override on the Risk of Recidivism Assessment (RORA).
- Adds procedure to consult with a supervisor or SME when a caretaker or other individual refuses services offered to a client, regardless of the client’s capacity.
- Updates language to reflect that a financial institution may place a hold on a transaction when requested by APS, regardless of who reported the allegation of Financial Exploitation.
- Adds procedure for how to proceed after the APS specialist obtains a court order to prevent interference or an Emergency Order for Protective Services (EOPS).
- Clarifies that cases that fall under the jurisdiction of HHSC PI or HHSC CCR are closed using the Other Agency or Out of State closure code instead of Reclassification.
- Identifies appropriate chain of command for case closure.
- Identifies additional APS staff who can approve cases on his or her own workload.
- Adds that a designated perpetrator may be offered additional due process after completion of a State Office of Administrative Hearings (SOAH), including a rehearing or judicial review.
Note: Sections marked with asterisks (*) below have been renumbered but not revised.
See:
2200 Information and Referrals (I&Rs)
2210 How to Handle I&Rs
2200 2300 Case-Related Special Requests *
2210 2310 How to Handle CRSRs *
2300 2400 Case Assignment *
2310 2410 Priority I (P1) Intakes after Hours *
2320 2420 On-Call Information in IMPACT for Case Assignment *
2330 2430 Intakes with Special Considerations *
2331 2431 Recidivistic Cases *
2332 2432 High-Profile Cases *
2340 2440 Assignment of Secondary APS Specialists *
2450 Misrouted Intakes
2400 2500 Chronic Callers *
2410 2510 Notifying SWI about Chronic Callers *
2420 2520 Tracking the Chronic Caller List *
2430 2530 Removing a Person from the Chronic Caller List *
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3110 Automatic Eligibility
3120 Substantial Impairment
3200 Allegations
3210 Neglect Allegations
3220 Abuse Allegations
3230 Financial Exploitation (EXPL) Allegations
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4110 Allegations in Hospitals
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6121 Interviewing a Client
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6122 Interviewing an Alleged Perpetrator
6123 Interviewing a Collateral
6123.1 Interviewing the Reporter
6123.2 Interviewing Medical or Mental Health Staff
6123.3 Interviewing Law Enforcement
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6412 Criminal History Records Checks
6412.1 Required Criminal History Records Checks
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6412.5 Process of Obtaining Criminal History Information
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7350 Joint Staffing of Referrals to HHSC OGS
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8100 Safety Assessment
8110 Changes in Client’s Location
8120 8110 Documentation of the Safety Assessment *
8130 8120 Changes in Allegation Priorities
8140 8130 Current Danger Factors and Immediate Interventions *
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8210 Client Refuses to Cooperate with APS Investigation
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8400 Referrals to Law Enforcement
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8600 Determination of Findings
8610 Allegation Disposition (Finding)
8620 Determination of the Validity of the Allegation
8621 Neglect Allegations
8622 Abuse Allegations
8623 Financial Exploitation Allegations
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8700 Risk of Recidivism Assessment (RORA)
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9400 Initial Face-to-Face Contact with the Client
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9420 Client Is Inaccessible for Initial Face-to-Face Contact
9500 Safety Contacts
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9700 Supervisor Case Status Review
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10320 Client Refusing or Withdrawing from Services
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12160 Requesting a Transaction Hold from a Financial Institution
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12400 Interference with Investigation or Protective Services
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12540 Court Proceedings for Emergency Order for Protective Services (EOPS)
12541 When the Court Issues an Order for an EOPS
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13000 Case Closure
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13110 Rapid Closure Codes and Disposition of Other
13200 Supervisory Review of Case Closure
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14300 Due Process for Non-EMR (Employee Misconduct Registry) Cases
14310 Emergency Release of Findings in Non-EMR Cases
14320 Notification of Intent to Release Findings in Non-EMR Cases
14330 Administrative Review in Non-EMR Cases
14331 Requesting an Administrative Review in Non-EMR Cases
14332 Conducting an Administrative Review in Non-EMR Cases
14340 Release Hearings for Non-EMR Cases
14341 Notification of Judge’s Decision
14350 Release of Findings in Non-EMR Cases
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14411 EMR-Eligible Employee
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14476 Judicial Review
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15124 Case Information in Connection with a Court Action
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15127.1 Release of Information to State Supported Living Centers (SSLC)
15128 Release of Records to Office of Court Administration
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15252 Merging Cases
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Definitions of Terms