Section 388-61A-0380. What written policies or procedures do you need to have?

The domestic violence agency must have written policies or procedures that cover the following issues:

(1) Procedures for the emergency shelter intake process, including that victims in immediate danger or immediate risk of harm will receive first priority for shelter.

(2) Confidentiality and protection of client records and communication.

(3) Nondiscrimination relating to staff, clients, and provision of services.

(4) The provision of bilingual and interpreter services to clients.

(5) Procedures for responding to calls on the crisis hotline/helpline from non-English speaking and hearing impaired callers.

(6) If you use an answering service, or any other similar system to answer your crisis hotline/helpline calls, procedures for providing training to the staff of the answering service, and how you will monitor the services provided to your agency.

(7) Procedures for responding to subpoenas and warrants.

(8) Reporting of child abuse as legally mandated.

(9) Client access to their files.

(10) Grievance procedure for clients.

(11) Emergency procedures for fire, disaster, first aid, medical and police intervention.

(12) Procedures and periods for records retention.

(13) Accounting procedures.

(14) Personnel policies and procedures that include the following:

(a) Recruitment for staff and volunteers - agencies must recruit, to the extent feasible, persons who are former victims of domestic violence to work as paid or volunteer staff.

(b) Hiring.

(c) Promotion and termination of staff.

(d) Performance evaluation.

(e) Grievance procedure for staff.

(f) Maintenance of personnel and training files, to include job descriptions for paid staff and volunteers.

[Statutory Authority: Chapter 70.123 RCW. WSR 10-22-040, § 388-61A-0380, filed 10/27/10, effective 11/27/10.]

Chapter 70.123 RCW. WSR 10-22-040, § 388-61A-0380, filed 10/27/10, effective 11/27/10.