Report 2014-125 Recommendation 11 Responses

Report 2014-125: California Department of State Hospitals: It Could Increase the Consistency of Its Evaluations of Sex Offenders by Improving Its Assessment Protocol and Training (Release Date: March 2015)

Recommendation #11 To: State Hospitals, Department of

By June 2015 State Hospitals should establish a formal process for consistently documenting that it has verified that the individuals it hires as evaluators meet all the minimum qualifications for their positions. State Hospitals should ensure that staff at Coalinga follow the process established in Coalinga's checklist for validating the past employment of employee and contract evaluators.

1-Year Agency Response

As of December 2015, DSH has implemented an eligibility checklist to review contractor applications to ensure that the evaluator has the minimum qualifications necessary to qualify for the position. This process will be used also when there is a need to hire new contractors.

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

In prior responses, the department noted it had developed new checklists for ensuring that the individuals it hires as evaluators at both headquarters and Coalinga meet the minimum qualifications. In January 2016 the department issued memos from the deputy director at headquarters and the executive director at Coalinga to the respective supervisors indicating that these checklists are to be used when hiring individuals into the evaluator positions. In addition, the department has implemented an eligibility checklist to review contractor applications.

6-Month Agency Response

DSH-Coalinga has instituted a process and checklist for validating past employment and minimum qualifications of new employee and contract evaluators. DSH-Headquarters has adopted the use of a recruit memorandum that documents that new hire evaluators meet minimum qualifications and eligibility requirements.

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

Although State Hospitals provided copies of its checklists, based on follow-up discussion with the State Hospitals, it has not yet developed written procedures for using the checklists. State Hospitals stated that it expects to complete the procedures by December 2015. Therefore, we assess the status of this recommendation as partially implemented until it demonstrates completion of written procedures.

60-Day Agency Response

All hired evaluators meet the minimum qualifications for hire. DSH plans that by June 2015, DSH-Coalinga will institute a

process and checklist for validating past employment and minimum qualifications of new employee and contract evaluators. DSH-Headquarters has adopted the use of a recruit memorandum that documents that new hire evaluators meet minimum qualifications and eligibility requirements. By June 2015 DSH-Headquarters and DSH -Coalinga will develop and adopt the use of a similar tool to verify qualifications and experience of contracted evaluators.

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

All Recommendations in 2014-125

Agency responses received are posted verbatim.