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Extracted from Consolidated Report
This investigation was originally published as part of a larger consolidated report containing multiple investigations. View the consolidated PDF for the complete document.
⚠️ Translation Notice: This content has been automatically translated. The original English text is the official version. Translation may contain errors.
⚠️ Este contenido ha sido traducido automáticamente. El texto original en inglés es la versión oficial. La traducción puede contener errores.
Findings 8 findings
F1
Page 141
Adult Protective Services (APS) social workers stated that an ide al workload is around 30 cases; however, they currently manage between 40 and 50 cases each.
F2
Page 141
APS social workers told th e Grand Jury that th ey are often concerned for their safety. Cell phone reception is poor i n some areas of the cities and no n-existent in many outlying communities such as Shingletown, Fall River Mills and Platina. Conse quently, a social worker who encounters a personal safety situation may be unable to call for help.
F3
Page 141
A Shasta Count y Sheriff’ s deput y or a city pol ice officer may accom pany a social worker investigating a case of alleged abuse who is aware of or suspects a threatening situation.
F4
Page 141
Through fiscal y ear 2007/2008 APS had a contract with the Redding Poli ce Dep artment for $92,000 to provide a specially trained investigator to assist social workers on cases as needed. APS also had contracts with the Shasta County Sheriff’s Office and the Anderson Police Department. However, due to County budget cuts this past fiscal y ear, the contract with the Redding Police Depart ment was terminated and substantia l reduc tions were made to the Shasta Count y S heriff’s Office and the Anderson Police Department contracts.
F5
Page 141
Staff interviewed by the Grand Jury stated that in their opinion elder abuse is under-reported. However APS has im plemented a media campaign using posters and advertisem ents to educate the public. APS offers training to report suspicious actions which might indicate abuse.
F6
Page 141
There is no formal sign-out mechanis m to indicate the destinations of soci al workers when they leave the APS office. Consequently, their locations and expected return tim es are often un known. If 141
F7
Page 142
According to staff the Grand Jury interviewed, APS social workers are expected to learn their jobs through unstructured on-the-job training. Social workers’ attendance at professional conferences offering knowledge and skill development has been curtailed because of budget restraints. Peace officers provide limited training on safety issues.
F8
Page 142
The Grand Jury learned that although any person is capable of abusing an elder, the typical abuser is a son, 40 to 50 years old, a substance abuser, w ho moves in with an elderly parent to act as the primary caregiver. Some indicators of abuse are disappearance of money, cars and person al property; irregularities with bank accounts; and i solation from friends and family. Frequently elderly people do not know what is happening or, if the y do, they are too embarrassed or humiliated to report the abuse. They also fear causing trouble for their son/caregiver.
Recommendations 4
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R1Page 140The Grand Jur y recommends that APS purchase tw o satellite phones for use by social workers traveling to areas of the count y where cell phone usage is limited. Satellite phones would provide a much needed measure of safety.
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R2Page 140The Grand Jur y recommends that APS provide a personnel sign-in/sign-out board on which all employees leaving the premises during work hours are required to post their times of departure, their destinations and their expected ti mes of return. In addition, the Grand Jury recommends integrating GPS capabilities into the cell phones used by social workers. In case of an emergency a GPS could pinpoint the location of a social worker.
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R3Page 140The Grand Jury recommends that APS provide formal, structured on-the-job training, utilizing a learning check list that articulates in detail what th e social wor kers must do to perform the job to expected standards. The training also should prepare social workers to meet and respond to threatening or emergency situations.
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R4Page 140The Grand Jur y recommends that Shasta County Adult Services re- evaluate its budget to make available funds for reinst ating law enforcem ent contracts which would pro vide specially traine d investigators to assist in abuse cases.