§ 15.26. Screening and referral of reports received.
(a) Screening. A person meeting the qualifications in § 15.121(c)(3) (relating to protective services staff qualifications) who receives a report shall screen the report during and immediately following receipt of the report to assign it to one of the following referral categories:
(1) Emergency.
(2) Priority.
(3) Nonpriority.
(4) Another planning and service area.
(5) No need for protective services.
(b) Referral categories and actions.
(1) Emergency. A report placed in this category requires immediate attention because specific details in the report indicate the possibility that the older adult reported to need protective services is at imminent risk of death or serious physical harm. The person receiving an emergency report shall immediately contact a protective services caseworker designated under § 15.23(b) (relating to receiving reports; general agency responsibility) and provide that caseworker with the information contained in the report.
(2) Priority. A report placed in this category contains details which clearly suggest that the need for protective services is serious enough to require early intervention. The person receiving a priority report shall immediately contact a protective services caseworker designated under § 15.23(b) and provide that caseworker with the information in the report.
(3) Nonpriority. A report shall be placed in this category when it does not appropriately fall within the emergency or priority categories and, therefore, does not require immediate attention by the agency. A report in this category shall be referred to a protective services caseworker of the agency within the normal business hours of the agency’s current or next day of business under the agency’s established procedures for referring these reports.
(4) Another planning and service area. A report which is covered under § 15.23(d) shall be placed in this category. It shall be referred to the agency which has the designated responsibility for protective services in the planning and service area in which the older adult reported to need protective services is located at the time of the report. A report in this category will also meet the criteria for placement in one of the other categories in this subsection. The provisions for referral for the other category shall apply to a referral to another planning and service area.
(5) No need for protective services.
(i) A report shall be placed in this category when the person reported to be in need of protective services meets one or more of the following criteria:
(A) Is under 60 years of age.
(B) Has the capacity to perform or obtain, without help, services necessary to maintain physical or mental health.
(C) Has a responsible caretaker at the time of the report.
(D) Is not at imminent risk of danger to his person or property.
(ii) A report in this category shall be referred to a protective services caseworker of the agency within the normal business hours of the agency’s current or next day of business. The protective services caseworker shall review the details of the report and take whatever steps necessary to confirm or reject the categorization of no need for protective services. If the caseworker confirms the screening categorization, appropriate referrals shall be made to the area agency on aging care management system or, if concerning an adult under 60 years of age, to another community agency. If the caseworker rejects the categorization, the report shall be placed in the appropriate category and be handled accordingly.
(iii) A report may not be placed in this category if the older adult is temporarily relocated to a safe environment and will return to the original abusive situation or to a new location which has not been determined to be safe.
Source The provisions of this § 15.26 amended May 17, 2002, effective May 18, 2002, 32 Pa.B. 2412. Immediately preceding text appears at serial pages (228901) to (228902).
Cross References This section cited in 6 Pa. Code § 15.23 (relating to receiving reports; general agency responsibility); 6 Pa. Code § 15.27 (relating to handling of completed reports); 6 Pa. Code § 15.41 (relating to reports required to be investigated); 55 Pa. Code § 2600.15 (relating to abuse reporting covered by law); and 55 Pa. Code § 2800.15 (relating to abuse reporting covered by law).
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