Audit  Audit of the Greater Springfield Senior Services, Inc. (GSSSI)

Finding 1
 

GSSSI did not always report incidents of abuse to district attorneys’ (DAs’) offices for investigation.

Recommendation
 

GSSSI should establish monitoring controls to ensure that when investigations conclude and conditions reportable to a DA’s office are identified, required documentation is prepared by caseworkers, reported to the DA’s office within 48 hours, and documented in the Executive Office of Elder Affairs’ (EOEA’s) Adult Protective Services system.

Finding 2
 

GSSSI did not always properly prepare, obtain, and maintain case documentation related to abuse of elderly persons.

Recommendations
 

1. GSSSI should establish monitoring controls to ensure that case record documentation is properly prepared, obtained, and maintained in a timely manner, even in the event of increased caseloads and employee turnover.
2. GSSSI should update its policies and procedures for documentation of case records.

Finding 3
 

GSSSI did not always properly perform investigations of abuse of elderly persons.

Recommendation
 

GSSSI should establish monitoring controls to ensure that investigations are properly conducted in a timely manner, even in the event of increased caseloads and employee turnover.

Finding 4
 

GSSSI did not always properly develop, execute, and reassess service plans to address elderly persons’ needs.

Recommendation
 

GSSSI should establish monitoring controls to ensure that service plans are properly developed, executed, and reassessed, even in the event of increased caseloads and employee turnover.

Finding 5
 

GSSSI hired two caseworkers for its Protective Services Unit who did not meet hiring qualifications, without obtaining a hiring waiver.

Recommendation
 

GSSSI should ensure that it only hires Protective Services Unit caseworkers with the required education or should obtain a hiring waiver from EOEA.