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North Carolina Division of Social Services 1453 Family Services Manual Volume I: Children's Services Chapter VIII - Protective Services Protective Services for Children Revised 1-1-80 III. Investigation/Assessment/Evaluation Process A. Initiating a prompt Investigation 1, After receiving a report of suspected abuse or neglect, the worker responsible for investigating must promptly initiate an investigation. If'the report is suspected abuse, an investigation must be initiated within 24 hours. If the report is suspected neglect, the investigation must be initiated within 72 hours after receiving the report. These time limits are maximum and not minimum. They represent the longest amowit Lit time a worker should Wait to make contact with the child and family. The worker needs to use professional judgment in deciding when, within the above time limits, to initiate the investigation. This judgment is based upon the severity of the reported circumstances. The source of a report - such as law enforcement and hospitals - also indicates the potential severity of the risks to the child. Sufficient intake information as described above will enable a worker to judge if there is potential crisis for the child, rather than creating a crisis by over-reacting to incomplete information from reporters. 2. During the investigation a visit to the residence of the child is required. This often coincides with the worker's contact with the child, While this may seem obvious, occasionally this step is overlooked when a child is held in a hospital, or an office interview leads the worker to conclude that abuse or neglect could not have occurred, A home visit gives a worker first hand knowledge of the home environment and additional observations of family interactions in their familiar environment. The home visit enables the worker to verify that the environment in which the child lives is adequate for his care. When a child lives in an institution, the home visit is to the institution. (See Section 1460 Institutions for further guidejines on investigating a report in an institution. ) 3.. The child must be seen during the initial phases of the investigation. This is especially important when the child is not in his own home -, such as being held in a hospital. This procedure enables a worker to see the child within a reasonable time and to observe any physical or behavioral indicators of abuse or neglect. Observing the child is most often done during the home visit. IIMMOMMormirr