5.1 Standards Authority
The Child Protection Team program operates in accordance with the standards and program rules established in s. 39.303, F.S., and Chapter 64C-8, Florida Administrative Code. Operational procedures and standards are further clarified in this handbook and in the annual CPT contract. Program rules and standards address issues of eligibility for services, provider qualifications, services, and record/data requirements. A formal assessment of team services and compliance with program standards and requirements is conducted through the quality assurance/improvement on-site reviews as identified in the CPT Program Quality Assurance/Improvement Handbook.
5.2 Performance Standards
A. Standards
By executing the contracts, CPT providers agree to comply with the conditions, standards, and indicators of performance set forth in the contracts. These requirements include but are not limited to:
Assessment Activities. For all children appropriately referred to and accepted
by the team, assessment activities will be completed within 20 calendar days following the date of referral, unless an appropriate exception is documented, 90% of the time. Achievement will be determined through a review of CPTIS statistical reports.
Abuse Report Review. All reports of abuse, neglect and abandonment received
by the team shall be reviewed by the Medical Director and the Team Coordinator (or their respective designees) to determine if the report meets the mandatory criteria for referral to CPT, 98% of the time. Achievement will be determined through a review of CPTIS statistical reports.
Final Case Summary. A formal written document will be sent to the CPI or CBC
case manager to provide pertinent case information at the time of case closure. Achievement will be determined through a review of CPTIS statistical reports.
Positive Findings – Verbal Notification. CPT will verbally communicate any
positive indication of abuse or neglect to the CPI, or his/her superior, within 24 hours of determination, 95% of the time. Achievement will be determined through a review of CPTIS statistical reports.
Assessment Report Timeliness. Written assessment reports will be provided
to the CPI or CBC case manager within the time frames, 90% of the time, and must contain all elements as specified in the CPT Handbook. Achievement will be determined through a review of CPTIS statistical reports.
Medical Training. The provision of a minimum number of training sessions for
abuse and neglect during the contract period. Achievement will be determined through a review of CPTIS statistical reports.
Child Protection Team Training. The provision of a minimum number of
training sessions for DCF, local sheriff’s offices and other local agencies, involved in child protective investigations or services, in mutually agreed upon subject areas of child abuse and neglect during the contract period. Achievement will be determined through a review of CPTIS statistical reports.
Child Protection Staff Training. The provision of a minimum number of hours
of training in child abuse, abandonment and neglect for appropriate Child Protection Team staff and subcontractors. Achievement will be determined through a review of CPTIS statistical reports.
The core contract for the teams identifies services that must be provided by each Child Protection Team and the required percentages for compliance with the above standards. Compliance with contract standards will be determined through CPTIS reports and team quarterly performance measure reports and, if applicable, quarterly conference calls with the contract manager. For this reason, the Team Coordinator and Medical Director must ensure that all services and activities are documented in CPTIS. On-site or desk reviews validate data in CPTIS.
If a team meets one or more of the following criteria, a weekly phone call will take place between the Team Coordinator or designee and the contract manager or designee until all issues necessitating the weekly call are cleared:
1. The team has 50% or more of their cases open over 60 days.
2. The team’s quarterly performance measures have been out of compliance for two (2) consecutive quarters.
3. The team has received a penalty on their monthly invoice due to noncompliance.
B. Monitoring
Child Protection Teams must meet the core performance standards set forth in the executed contracts. By execution of the contracts, providers acknowledge an understanding that the achievement of these standards will be reviewed, achievement reported, and corrective action made when performance standards have not been met. If the department affords the provider an opportunity to achieve compliance, and the provider fails to achieve compliance within the specified time frame, the department can terminate the contract in the absence of any extenuating or mitigating circumstances. The determination of the extenuating or mitigating circumstances is the exclusive determination of the department.
1. Scope of Review
At a minimum, all quality assurance reviews must include an assessment of compliance with the standards and requirements outlined in the contract.
2. Methodology
The provider’s program will be reviewed annually, unless otherwise determined by the program office, utilizingstandard statewide monitoring instruments.
3. Reports
The report resulting from the review will address the team’s performance in relation to minimum standards and CPT Handbook requirements. The report may include recommendations for addressing performance measures not met. Additionally,
t
he quarterly CPTIS Performance Measure report (emailed to providers and contract managers the 10th day of the month following the quarter) is used by the Team Coordinators to complete the Quarterly Report which is provided to the contract manager no later than 10 working days after the 10th day. Data from this report is used to address ongoing compliance with contractual performance standards. Appropriate follow up via a conference call, if needed, will be determined by the contract manager and Team Coordinator. C. WaiversIn the event that compliance with a standard established in Chapter 64C-8, Florida Administrative Code, is not attained, a team may request a waiver of that standard. The CMS program office will make final approval or disapproval of all requests for waivers. The CMS Program Office shall notify the team in writing that the request for waiver of a specific standard has been granted or denied. All requests for waiver involving personnel qualification must be submitted by the team and approved by the program office prior to hire. All requests for waivers to be submitted must follow the protocol established by the Program Office.