Mandatory Reporting Question

[BabyLady, BSN, RN]

I am sure most facilities have a Hospital Social Worker that you send reports to when warranted that may affect the safety/environment of infants after discharge or while they are still in the hospital.

However, our social worker, I am virtually certain, has not reported instances to the Department of Children's Services that should have been reported.

I don't want to post details because they are too specific...but I will say that it wasn't because there wasn't proof or was not a matter for DCS...I can assure you these events were.

How should these things be handled?

[babyNP., APRN]

I've had a couple of kids that have been warranted to have a call to CPS. One of my kids I was very concerned about and had a long chat with our SW and she told me that ANYONE can make a report to CPS.

Have you tried talking with your nurse manager, social worker, or case manager about the child?

[BabyLady, BSN, RN]

No..not yet...there has just been some isolated incidents that I question on how they were handed...for obvious reasons, would be afraid to post an example.

I just didn't know if anyone here had ever went over the social workers head and called CPS directly...obviously, it would be an extreme case and if those calls would be considered confidential, as I would hate to cause a rift with my employer.

[kids]

Reporting your concerns to the social worker may not satisfy your obligations as a mandater reporter. Depending on your State reporting your concerns to the social worker is merely a courtesy, you're still required to make a report of your own to the appropriate agency.

http://www.childwelfare.gov/systemwide/laws_policies/state/

[BabyLady, BSN, RN]

Reporting your concerns to the social worker may not satisfy your obligations as a mandater reporter. Depending on your State reporting your concerns to the social worker is merely a courtesy, you're still required to make a report of your own to the appropriate agency.

http://www.childwelfare.gov/systemwide/laws_policies/state/

See, our hospital policy dicates that we have to go through our social worker..which is why I am asking the question.

It is to prevent, let's say, 15 nurses calling DCS that worked with the same patient filing separate reports as our babies stay with us for weeks, sometimes, months...that can add up to alot of nurses.

I am asking what others would do that has a similar policy and IF DSC keeps such calls confidential. I always chart appropriately...all they would have to do is look through my charting...but I would not want my employer to know that i would be going over the head of my social worker unless it was truly warranted.

[dawngloves, BSN, RN]

Reporting your concerns to the social worker may not satisfy your obligations as a mandater reporter. Depending on your State reporting your concerns to the social worker is merely a courtesy, you're still required to make a report of your own to the appropriate agency.

http://www.childwelfare.gov/systemwide/laws_policies/state/

Only if you witness abuse and neglect, which is difficult in the hospital setting.

Have you asked them if they've talked to CPS? Can you talk to their supervisor about your concerns?

[BabyLady, BSN, RN]

Only if you witness abuse and neglect, which is difficult in the hospital setting.

Have you asked them if they've talked to CPS? Can you talk to their supervisor about your concerns?

There isn't a pressing concern at this time...just here and there since I have been employed.

Our social worker, sometimes, posts a note in the chart to let you know that DCS is involved...but not always. I would like to see that changed.

I never contact our social worker unless I have charted direct observations...we don't see cases of abuse, we see cases of neglect or drug impairment, lack of involvement (ie. Infant admitted to the NICU and never comes to visit the infant nor calls for two months until the baby is ready to go home).

I understand that it is not necessary for me to know what is going on with the DCS case in order to care for the infant, nor is it any of my business, or what kind of action is to be taken...that isn't for me to decide.

However, I do feel that we need to know if they have been contacted and if they are actively involved in a case...after that, it is up to another agency to make those decisions.

We have a huge number of drug-exposed infants in the NICU in my geographical area and mothers with a significant drug history.

[dawngloves, BSN, RN]

Our SW will make contact with every MOB. Make sure they have no immediate needs, ask them if they have ever been involved with CPS, ect. They will contact CPS if they admit to having had investigations done, if they are drug positive, a variety of other reasons. They will chart this in the progress notes.

If you have concerns that are feel aren't being addressed, then by all means contact CPS yourself to see if they are actively investigating your pts home. If you find your SW isn't doing their job you need to talk to your NM and/or their supervisor. If they are falsely documenting, they will have heck to pay.