Handbook Revision, April 3, 2023
This revision of the Adult Protective Services Handbook was published on April 3, 2023. Summaries of new or revised items are provided below.
Fiscal Year 2023 Second Release (PATS 13921)
This revision does the following:
- Clarifies that autism is a neurological and developmental disability, and APS provides language services, as necessary.
- Adds examples of when an adult with a sensory impairment may or may not be substantially impaired.
- Clarifies that APS does not investigate chronic substance abuse but may address chronic substance abuse when it is a contributing factor to or a root cause of abuse, neglect, or financial exploitation.
- Updates policy to include placement of a client in an unlicensed boarding home facility when another placement is unavailable.
- Clarifies policy for completing a Strengths and Needs Assessment (SNA).
- Updates language to reflect that speaking with a client by phone when an alleged perpetrator may be in the home is a non-preferred method for case initiation, for all allegations, not just abuse.
- Updates language to reflect that calling law enforcement for a welfare check for the APS specialist’s convenience is not acceptable.
- Adds that a Self-Neglect Conclusion Summary must be completed when closing a case with the closure reason Resolved Before Initial Face-to-Face.
- Adds that a face-to-face contact with a client is considered successful even if the APS specialist cannot speak or otherwise communicate with the client.
- Adds that an attempted face-to-face contact is when the APS specialist is unable to see the client.
- Adds procedures for when a facility prevents access to a client for an initial face-to-face contact.
- Adds procedures for when APS uses purchased client services (PCS) funds to pay for placement in an unlicensed boarding home facility.
- Adds procedures for when a client’s death may involve Valid allegations of abuse, neglect, or financial exploitation by a perpetrator.
- Clarifies that APS sends the notice of finding upon reaching a finding for each allegation against a DFPS employee.
- Updates the Emergency Release section to require that the Emergency Release of Findings notification is sent by certified mail with return receipt requested.
- Adds elements charts for determining reportable conduct for physical abuse or neglect, emotional, verbal, or psychological abuse, sexual abuse, and financial exploitation.
- Updates the description of what information APS provides when someone requests case records.
- Updates the information about facilities that house and provide care to four or more residents and moves these facilities to the Assisted Living Facilities section instead of Adult Foster Care.
See:
1220 Interpreter Services for Principals
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3120 Substantial Impairment
3200 Allegations
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4310 Allegations in Boarding Home Facilities
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8800 Strengths and Needs Assessment
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9200 Case Initiation
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9300 Self-Neglect Resolved Before Initial Face-to-Face
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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
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10400 HHSC Community-Based Services Long-Term Care and APS Service Delivery
10410 HHSC Service Planning and Community-Based Long-Term Care and Service Planning
10420 Access to HHSC Community-Based Long-Term Care Services
10430 HHSC Community-Based Long-Term Care Services Not Available
10440 10500 HHSC Community-Based Services for Clients with Intellectual Disabilities or Mental Health Diagnoses Receiving Services from HHSC
10500 Boarding Home Facilities and Service Delivery
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11220 Perpetrator’s Actions May Have Contributed to the Client’s Death
11221 Client’s Death May Involve Valid Allegations Against a Perpetrator
11222 Client’s Death May Involve New Incidents Related to Allegations Investigated or Validated During the Case
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11223 Client’s Death May Involve New Allegations Against an Alleged Perpetrator
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14120 Notifications to the Designated Perpetrator
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14210 Notification of Findings to a DFPS Employee, Intern, Volunteer, or SSCC Employee
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14310 Emergency Release of Findings in Non-EMR Cases
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14410 EMR Eligibility
14411 EMR-Eligible Employee
14412 Reportable Conduct
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15110 Release of the Case Record
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15123 Case Information to Prospective Guardians
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15252 Merging Cases
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Appendix I: Facilities and Jurisdictions
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Definitions of Terms