Wash. Admin. Code § 388-60A-0510 - Complaint investigations-How must an investigation get initiated and what is the process of the investigation?
DSHS investigates complaints regarding domestic violence intervention treatment programs that provide assessments or any level of intervention services.
(1) Any person
may submit a written complaint to DSHS if the person has the following concerns
about a certified program:
(a) The program has
acted in a way that places the identified victim, current partner, or children
at risk; or
(b) The program has
failed to follow standards in this chapter.
(2) Once it receives a complaint about a
certified program, the department will:
(a)
Determine that the complaint includes sufficient information to be deemed
valid;
(b) Notify the program
within fourteen days of the complaint being determined valid that the
department has received a complaint about the program; and
(c) Notify the program by US Mail that an
investigation has been initiated.
(3) The department may begin an investigation
of a domestic violence intervention treatment program without a written
complaint if the department believes that the program:
(a) Has placed the identified victim, current
partner or children at risk; or
(b)
Failed to follow the standards of this chapter.
(4) The investigation of a complaint against
a domestic violence intervention treatment program may include:
(a) Contact with:
(i) The person making the
complaint;
(ii) Other persons
involved in the complaint; and
(iii) The treatment program;
(b) A request for written
documentation of evidence; and
(c)
An on-site visit to the program to review files or interview program
staff.
(5) The department
must complete its investigation within sixty days of beginning the
investigation, unless circumstances warrant a longer period of time.
(6) The department will prepare written
results of the complaint investigation.
(7) If the department decides that the
treatment program behaved in a way that placed victims at risk or failed to
meet the standards outlined in this chapter, the written results must include a
decision regarding the status of the program's certification.
(8) If the department determines that a
complaint against a domestic violence intervention treatment program is
founded, the department may:
(a) Send a
written warning to the treatment program;
(b) Suspend the treatment program's
certification;
(c) Revoke the
treatment program's certification; or
(d) Temporarily or indefinitely remove a
program staff's designation as a trainee, staff, or supervisor.
(9) The department must send the
written results of its investigation to the program.
(a) If any allegations were founded, the
written results must be sent by certified mail, return receipt requested,
within twenty days after completing the investigation; and
(b) If all allegations were unfounded, the
written results may be sent to the program by electronic mail.
(10) The department will send a
copy of the written results of the investigation to the person who made the
complaint against the domestic violence intervention treatment program either
by United States mail or electronic mail when feasible.
Notes
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