WASHINGTON STATUTES AND CODES

72.40.250 - Protection from child abuse and neglect -- Supervision of employees and volunteers -- Procedures.

Protection from child abuse and neglect — Supervision of employees and volunteers — Procedures.

In addition to the powers and duties under RCW 72.40.022 and 72.40.024, the director of the Washington state center for childhood deafness and hearing loss, or the director's designee, and the superintendent of the state school for the blind shall:

     (1) Develop written procedures for the supervision of employees and volunteers who have the potential for contact with students. Such procedures shall be designed to prevent child abuse and neglect by providing for adequate supervision of such employees and volunteers, taking into consideration such factors as the student population served, architectural factors, and the size of the facility. Such procedures shall include, but need not be limited to, the following:

     (a) Staffing patterns and the rationale for such;

     (b) Responsibilities of supervisors;

     (c) The method by which staff and volunteers are made aware of the identity of all supervisors, including designated on-site supervisors;

     (d) Provision of written supervisory guidelines to employees and volunteers;

     (e) Periodic supervisory conferences for employees and volunteers; and

     (f) Written performance evaluations of staff to be conducted by supervisors in a manner consistent with applicable provisions of the civil service law.

     (2) Develop written procedures for the protection of students when there is reason to believe an incident has occurred which would render a minor student an abused or neglected child within the meaning of RCW 26.44.020. Such procedures shall include, but need not be limited to, the following:

     (a) Investigation. Immediately upon notification that a report of child abuse or neglect has been made to the department of social and health services or a law enforcement agency, the superintendent or the director, or the director's designee, shall:

     (i) Preserve any potential evidence through such actions as securing the area where suspected abuse or neglect occurred;

     (ii) Obtain proper and prompt medical evaluation and treatment, as needed, with documentation of any evidence of abuse or neglect; and

     (iii) Provide necessary assistance to the department of social and health services and local law enforcement in their investigations;

     (b) Safety. Upon notification that a report of suspected child abuse or neglect has been made to the department of social and health services or a law enforcement agency, the superintendent or the director or his or her designee, with consideration for causing as little disruption as possible to the daily routines of the students, shall evaluate the situation and immediately take appropriate action to assure the health and safety of the students involved in the report and of any other students similarly situated, and take such additional action as is necessary to prevent future acts of abuse or neglect. Such action may include:

     (i) Consistent with federal and state law:

     (A) Removing the alleged perpetrator from the school;

     (B) Increasing the degree of supervision of the alleged perpetrator; and

     (C) Initiating appropriate disciplinary action against the alleged perpetrator;

     (ii) Provision of increased training and increased supervision to volunteers and staff pertinent to the prevention and remediation of abuse and neglect;

     (iii) Temporary removal of the students from a program and reassignment of the students within the school, as an emergency measure, if it is determined that there is a risk to the health or safety of such students in remaining in that program. Whenever a student is removed, pursuant to this subsection (2)(b)(iii), from a special education program or service specified in his or her individualized education program, the action shall be reviewed in an individualized education program meeting; and

     (iv) Provision of counseling to the students involved in the report or any other students, as appropriate;

     (c) Corrective action plans. Upon receipt of the results of an investigation by the department of social and health services pursuant to a report of suspected child abuse or neglect, the superintendent or the director, or the director's designee, after consideration of any recommendations by the department of social and health services for preventive and remedial action, shall implement a written plan of action designed to assure the continued health and safety of students and to provide for the prevention of future acts of abuse or neglect.