Report 2018-126 Recommendation 12 Responses

Report 2018-126: Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services: It Has Not Adequately Ensured the Health and Safety of All Children in Its Care (Release Date: May 2019)

Recommendation #12 To: Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services

To strengthen and improve its quality control processes, by November 2019 the department should broaden its case reviews to include an evaluation of the quality of supervisor reviews.

Annual Follow-Up Agency Response From October 2021

The CQI Qualitative Review Tool containing the questions evaluating the quality of supervisory review will be implemented in October 2021. Departmental priorities prevented the implementation of the tool as planned during the month of August 2021. The questions specific to the quality of supervisory review will be consistently included in on-going reviews conducted by the CQI Division.

California State Auditor's Assessment of Annual Follow-Up Status: Fully Implemented

We confirmed that the review tool described in the department's response includes a series of questions on the quality of supervisor review and was implemented in October 2021.

Annual Follow-Up Agency Response From May 2021

To address the quality component of supervisory reviews, the Department assembled a workgroup with representatives from its Executive Team, Continuous Quality Improvement Division (CQID), Core Practice Model section, and other divisions to evaluate case/referral practices and assess existing review tools and practice guides. Consequently, CQID added a qualitative review process, to accompany the quantitative portion of the case/referral review tools. CSW and SCSW interview components will capture aspects of the quality of supervisor reviews. The following discussion points will be included to help assess supervisory interactions between CSWs and SCSWs on a given referral or case:

SUPERVISORY SUPPORT AND KNOWLEDGE

- Tell us about safety practice consultations/discussions between you and the SCSW regarding this family.

- Tell us about any safety-related work plans that were developed or changed as a result of these consultations.

- Describe any safety-related guidance provided to you by the SCSW regarding your work with this family.

Further development of these tools between now and June 30, 2021, will be done in collaboration and consultation with the Service Employees International Union. Upon finalization with the Union, the Department's CQID, along with the Department's Internal Controls Assurance Services (ICAS) section, will begin use of the updated review tools on June 30, 2021. The Department will strongly monitor implementation. Together, ICAS and CQID will present their findings to the Department's Executive Team, Regional Offices, and special programs, to promote meaningful, interactive, and engaging supervisory oversight and ultimately enhance the quality of services rendered to its children and families.

California State Auditor's Assessment of Annual Follow-Up Status: Pending

1-Year Agency Response

In January 2020, the Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) Division collaborated with various DCFS sections to evaluate case and referral review tools that had been in use throughout the Department. Feedback was incorporated and the tools were revised; questions evaluating the quality of supervisor reviews were added. One goal of the revision effort was to evaluate practices and identify enhancements and/or necessary system changes to improve upon case supervision practices. The CQI Division managers in each of the regional offices began use of the revised tools on February 3, 2020.

It should be noted that the efficacy of the review tools is under continual evaluation, and that the tools will be updated as necessary to ensure the reflection of CQI's goals.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 1-Year Status: Partially Implemented

The case review tools and referral review tools submitted to us by the department include verification that the supervising social workers reviewed SDM tools and that any consultation with supervising social workers was documented, but they do not include a review of the quality of supervisor reviews.

6-Month Agency Response

Upon full implementation of the new Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) Division, the Department will continue with its current efforts to broaden its case reviews to include an evaluation of the quality of supervisor reviews. Components of the new quality control review process was initiated as a part of DCFS' efforts to address critical needs for the Antelope Valley (AV) offices. In August 2019, DCFS assigned the CQI AV Strike Team to begin completing 100 case reviews and referrals for the two AV offices. These reviews, which were successfully completed in September 2019, included an assessment of the reviews conducted by supervisors at the regional offices and examined a number of practice elements.

DCFS has selected and hired the CQI Division Chief and she reported to this new assignment on October 16, 2019. The CQI Division will continue with the ongoing reviews of cases with a focus on the quality of the supervisor reviews and will partner with DCFS regional offices to implement strategies that support quality supervision and coaching, and enhance practices identified through regional case reviews.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 6-Month Status: Pending

60-Day Agency Response

Upon establishment of the new Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) division, the division's managers will evaluate the referral/case review tools in use and build in, as necessary, additional components that examine the quality of Supervising Children's Social Worker (SCSW) assessments and oversight on investigations and casework.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 60-Day Status: Pending

All Recommendations in 2018-126

Agency responses received are posted verbatim.