Comprehensive Guide to 2nd Tier Consultations for Child Protective Investigations

1. 2ND TIER CONSULTATIONS

2. Learning Objectives • Discuss the purpose of 2nd Tier Consultations. • Identify and explore the different types of 2nd Tier Consultations. • Review what sufficiency of information really means. • Review the preparation needed for 2nd Tier Consultations. • Apply the concepts of preparation and implementation of 2nd Tier Consultations. • Discuss documentation required for 2nd Tier Consultations.

3. Purpose • Broaden the scope of review activities to support a more comprehensive and collaborative decision making process. • Guide or help determine actions to be taken. • Support, validate, or when necessary, modify safety actions already completed. • Provide additional direction, guidance and feedback during an open child protective investigation.

4. Benefits • Helps CPI gather sufficient information. • Helps CPI appropriately assess danger threats. • Validates/helps supervisors understand the guidance needed for a successful investigation. • Helps establish sufficient safety plans. • Encourages mutual respect and ownership of the case. • Allows you as the PA to model consultation skills for your supervisors. • Ensures the best possible decisions are made on behalf of the family.

5. When are 2nd Tier Consultations Required? • Family made arrangements are a component of an agency made safety plan. • An in-home present danger safety plan is initiated with the family. • An impending danger plan is initiated with the family and a dependency petition is not filed with the Court. • No danger threats have been identified in the home (i.e., safe child), but the overall risk assessment score is high or very high. • Child death cases where there are surviving siblings or other children in the home.

6. Preparation: What does it entail? • Taking the necessary time to review the case BEFORE the consultation. The PA will review the components completed on the case thus far including: • Priors and relevant criminal history • PDA • Present Danger Plan or Safety Plan, if warranted • Chronological notes • FFA • Supervisory consultations

7. Preparation: What does it entail? Cont’d. • Preparation will allow the PA to determine if: • The information gathered is sufficient. • The guidance provided by the supervisor was appropriate. • A 2nd Tier is required. • The case is on target and, if not, what guidance needs to be provided.

8. Preparation: Why is it important? • Allows the time needed to review the case for: • Potential danger threats & safety issues • Patterns in criminal history, abuse/neglect history and behavior • Potential supports and resources • Approach with the family • Information collection including gaps in information • Collateral sources available. • Ensures a succinct well thought out discussion with the CPIS & CPI. • Helps with time management as discussion is focused and not consumed with information all parties already know about the family. • Ensures that guidance is on target. Best decisions are made on behalf of the family!

9. What does sufficiency really mean? “Having or providing as much as is needed.” (Source: Merriam-Webster's Learner's Dictionary) The information documented in the domains will be considered sufficient when it: • Fully describes what has or is happening in each domain, providing a clear picture and accurate understanding of the domain without having to refer to additional material (e.g., FSFN notes, CPT report, completed assessments, etc.). • Is relevant to that domain only (for example, aspects of child functioning are not described in the adult functioning domain, etc.).

10. What does sufficiency really mean? Cont’d. The information documented in the domains will be considered sufficient when it: • Is essential to gaining a full understanding or complete picture of the domain (e.g., “child has numerous healthy peer relationships” is relevant; providing names of friends is not relevant). • Covers the core issues associated with the domain (e.g., Extent of Maltreatment – there is information on severity, maltreatment history, description of specific events, behaviors, emotional and physical symptoms, and identification of maltreating parent, etc.).

11. What does sufficiency really mean?(CONT’D) • Adequately describes the role of other persons in the home or the family resource network in the context of their relationship with the parent/legal guardian. • Provides a clear rationale for the decision and provides confidence that the correct conclusion was reached. • Supports the impending danger threshold criteria. • Supports protective capacity assessment.

12. CFOP IntegrationTeach Back • Each group or person will be assigned one of the five conditions when a 2nd Tier Consultation is required. • Using CFOP 170-5 and CFOP 170-7 prepare to present on your assigned condition using the following questions as a guide: • What CFOPS/Chapters should the PA be familiar with in order to provide appropriate guidance regarding the assigned 2nd Tier required condition? • What documents should the PA review before the consultation? • What discussion points need to be included in the consultation? • BE SPECIFIC!

13. Documentation of your 2nd Tier Consult • Purpose • Person’s involved in the consultation • Type of Contact (i.e. face to face) • Discussion overview • Are CPI and/or CPIS on track/Decisions made • Follow-up

14. Pulling it all together – Part One • Listen to and observe the 2nd Tier Consultation based on an actual case. • Observer role- Answer the following questions: • Did it appear that the PA was prepared? Could there have been any other items that the PA could have reviewed prior to the consultation? • Was the purpose of the 2nd Tier clearly articulated? • What relevant discussion points were included in the consultation? Were any missing? • Were any follow up actions discussed? Were they appropriate and were any missing? • Was the tone, questions asked and demeanor engaging?

15. Pulling it all together – Part Two • Work with your classmates to build a consultation note that reflects the consultation just observed. • Ensure the following components are included: • Purpose • Person’s involved in the consultation • Type of Contact (i.e. face to face) • Discussion overview • Are CPI and/or CPIS on track/Decisions made • Follow-up

16. Before you CLOSE the case, CLOSE the loop… The supervisor and the 2nd Tier Consultant should consider four key information elements to determine the investigation is complete and appropriate for closure: THOROUGHNESS OF INFORMATION • Has sufficient information been collected in all information domains to gain a full understanding of what happened (or is happening) in the family and to accurately assess family functioning? VALIDATION OF INFORMATION • Does any of the information provided by the investigator need to be corroborated by direct observation or obtaining additional statements from collateral sources?

17. Before you CLOSE the case, CLOSE the loop… Cont’d. DEMONSTRATION OF CRITICAL THINKING • Do all decisions reflect the use of critical thinking as evidenced by the rationale provided to justify or explain the conclusion reached? RECONCILIATION OF INFORMATION • Does any of the information provided by the investigator need to be reconciled because of unaddressed discrepancies?

18. Questions or Comments?