Child Abuse, Abandonment, and Neglect: Mandatory Reporting
Every employee and contractor who knows, or has reasonable cause to suspect, child abuse, abandonment, or neglect must report immediately to the Florida Abuse Hotline (s. 39.201(1)(a), F.S.). Nurses and other health care professionals must give their names when they report (s. 39.201(1)(b)2., F.S.), and telling a supervisor does not relieve a person of the duty (s. 39.205(11), F.S.). Applies to pediatric patients, including children cared for by home health aides for medically fragile children, and to any child staff see in a patient's home.
- Policy number
- FL-HH-SG-02
- Version
- 1.0
- Main rule
- s. 39.201, F.S.
- Library
- Florida home health · 57 policies
- Category
- Safeguarding
- Sections
- 19
In short
- If you suspect a child is being abused, abandoned, or neglected, report it immediately.
- Call the Florida Abuse Hotline yourself: 1-800-96-ABUSE (1-800-962-2873). If the child is in danger, call 911 first.
- As a health care worker you must give your name. The hotline keeps it confidential.
- Telling your supervisor does not meet your duty. Make the call, then tell the director of nursing.
- Do not question the child in detail or confront the family.
What's inside
19 sections. The full text comes with the One-time Policy Pack.
- Terms of Reference
- 1. Purpose
- 2. Scope
- 3. Definitions
- 4. Policy Statement (s. 39.201, F.S.)
- 5. Warning Signs
- 6. What to Do
- 7. Death of a Child
- 8. Children Cared For by Home Health Aides for Medically Fragile Children
- 9. Allegations Against Agency Staff
- 10. Cooperating With the Investigation and Sharing Information
- 11. Protections and Penalties
- 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
- You visit an adult patient and notice the patient's grandchild has burns that the family cannot explain. What do you do?
- Do you have to give your name when you report to the hotline?
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