Failure to Separate Accused Employee During Abuse Investigation
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to implement immediate protective measures after receiving allegations of potential theft by an employee involving two residents' trust accounts. Upon being notified of the allegations, the facility initiated an internal investigation by reviewing receipts and checking account statements, and by physically verifying the purchased items in the residents' rooms. However, the employee accused of the misconduct was not suspended or separated from resident contact during the investigation. Instead, the employee remained in the facility and participated in the investigation process, including assisting the facility Administrator in identifying items in the residents' rooms. The facility's policy required immediate action to prevent further potential abuse by separating the accused employee from all residents during an investigation, either by suspension or reassignment. Despite this, the accused employee continued to have access to the facility and was not restricted from resident contact while the investigation was ongoing. The facility's census at the time was 45 residents, and the failure to follow policy was confirmed through interviews, review of the abuse investigation, and policy documentation.