Child Welfare Policy Guidance

Safety Assessment Comprehensive Field Guide

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Category: Field Guides

Published on Thursday, 11 July 2013 00:00

Written by CPS Policy

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SAFETY ASSESSMENT FIELD GUIDE

To document the assessment of safety, at a minimum, the alleged child victim(s) and at least one of his/her caretakers must be interviewed face-to-face. The tool is completed within four (4) working days from the receipt of the report. The supervisor’s signature marks completion of the Safety Assessment tool. If the initial attempt to make face-to-face contact is unsuccessful, the caseworker shall make an additional attempt within the first four (4) working days of the assessment/investigation. If these attempts are unsuccessful, the caseworker shall continue to attempt face-to-face contact at least every five (5) working days until the child and minimally, one caretaker, is seen, or until the PCSA is required to make a case disposition.

The Safety Assessment is completed on the family who is subject of the report. For the purpose of completion of the Safety Assessment, family includes the following individuals, as applicable:

• ACV(s)
• Siblings of ACV(s)
• The parent(s) or caretaker(s) of the ACV(s)
• Step/Half siblings of the ACV(s) living within the ACV’s home
• Paramour of the parent/caretaker
• Children of the paramour residing in the home
• Other children residing in the home of whom the parent/ caretaker has custody/guardianship
• A related or unrelated adult residing in the home who has routine responsibility for the care of the ACV(s) and his/her sibling(s) (e.g., provides supervision or assists in meeting the basic needs, such as feeding and/or bathing the child)

“Others” residing in the home, but not included within the definition of family are the other adults residing in the household who have no responsibilities for the care of the ACV(s) and his/her sibling(s) and/or other children residing in the home regardless of their parent/caretaker’s status or involvement in the report. These identified “others” will be interviewed and assessed, but will not be listed as members of the family on the Safety Assessment. Instead, their presence and impact on the family will be recorded within the rationales in Section 2 of the Safety Assessment tool. These “Other” individuals are considered “others persons having access” within this section as well as other individuals, related or unrelated, who have sanctioned access to a child (e.g., biological father, boyfriend, relative, or friend who resides outside the home.)

There are fifteen (15) different safety factors that need to be assessed to determine whether or not they are active. The caseworker will respond “Yes” or “No” to each safety factor. The determination of whether a safety factor is actively present is based upon credible information available at the time of the safety assessment’s completion. A “Yes” response would indicate there is some credible evidence to support the safety factor. A “No” response would indicate there is evidence that the safety factor does not exist; that there is a lack of credible evidence that it does; or that information regarding a particular safety factor is currently unknown or incomplete. An explanation is required for all responses, regardless if marked “Yes” or “No.” An explanation shall include documentation on how the information was obtained (e.g., statements, observations), how the information supports the provided response, and/or why this information may be unknown or incomplete.

The Safety Assessment Field Guide includes suggested questions and observations designed to assist caseworkers in obtaining the necessary information to document each safety factor. It also provides guidelines and case examples to further assist the caseworker.

When using the examples, caseworkers must take into consideration the unique characteristics of the family, adult, and child and the specific dynamics of the case. The Field Guide is ONLY a guide and professional judgment must be applied in every case.