Skip to content

Child Abuse and Neglect: Mandated Reporting

Licensed nurses, therapists, and social workers are mandated reporters of child abuse and neglect under the Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act (Cal. Penal Code §11165.7(a)(21)), and the Agency requires every other employee to report in the same way. This policy covers children who are patients and children staff meet in a patient’s home: what to report, the telephone report to county child protective services or a police or sheriff’s department immediately or as soon as is practicably possible, the written follow-up report within 36 hours (§11166(a)), the rule that telling a supervisor is never a substitute, the signed statement before employment (§11166.5), and the confidentiality of reporters (§11167(d)).

Preview: full text with a package
About this policy
Policy number
CA-HH-SG-02
Version
1.0
Main rule
Cal. Penal Code §11166
Library
California home health · 58 policies
Category
Safeguarding
Sections
19

In short

  • If you see, are told about, or suspect abuse or neglect of any child under 18, in any home you visit, you must report it.
  • Call the county child protective services line or the police right away. Call 911 if a child is in danger.
  • Send the written report (form BCIA 8572) within 36 hours.
  • You must make the report yourself. Telling your supervisor is not a report, and your supervisor cannot make it for you.
  • Do not question the child in detail or confront the parents. Write down what you saw and heard.
  • Your name is kept confidential, and you cannot be punished for reporting.

What's inside

19 sections. The full text comes with the One-time Policy Pack.

Full text with a package
  • Terms of Reference
  • 1. Purpose
  • 2. Scope
  • 3. Definitions
  • 4. Policy Statement (Cal. Penal Code §11166)
  • 5. Signs That Must Be Taken Seriously
  • 6. What to Do
  • 7. What the Report Contains
  • 8. More Than One Staff Member
  • 9. After the Report
  • 10. Confidentiality and Protection of Reporters
  • 11. What Happens if a Report Is Not Made
  • 12. Responsibilities
  • 13. Records and Compliance Monitoring
  • 14. Staff Training
  • 15. References
  • 16. Related Policies and Forms
  • 17. Approval
  • 18. Revision History

An inspector may ask

  • A nurse visiting an adult patient sees a young child in the home with burn marks. What does the nurse do?
  • Who makes the report: the nurse or the supervisor?

See Cura Core with your agency's name on it.

Choose your state and type of agency, buy your Policy Pack online and get your sign-in by email. Already a customer? Sign in to your portal.

Get startedSign in