Report 2014-125 Recommendation 5 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 #5 To: State Hospitals, Department of
To improve the consistency and completeness of its evaluations, by December 2015 State Hospitals should develop a plan for the formal, supervisory review of evaluations from a clinical perspective that balances the needs of the program with its resource limitations. For example, rather than attempting to review every evaluation, State Hospitals could focus its review efforts on those evaluations most at risk of error or inconsistency, such as those completed by the newest evaluators. If State Hospitals adopts this or a similar approach, it should review the remaining evaluations on a sample basis.
1-Year Agency Response
In January 2016, DSH hired two Chief Psychologists to supervise evaluators. DSH implemented a quality assurance policy that addresses the evaluation review process for newly hired evaluators and experienced evaluators to improve the consistency and completeness of evaluations from a clinical perspective.
- Completion Date: February 2016
- Response Date: March 2016
California State Auditor's Assessment of 1-Year Status: Fully Implemented
In February 2016, the department issued policies related to quality assurance and supervisory review for its evaluators. The policies include training for new evaluators and random case sampling and review for experienced evaluators. In addition, as noted in its response, the department hired two chief psychologists who, according to the new procedures, are a part of the quality assurance team.
6-Month Agency Response
DSH intends to recruit for clinical supervisory positions and hire by November 2015. DSH currently focuses its review process on newly hired evaluators and plans to adopt a process by December 31, 2015 to review remaining evaluations on a sample basis.
- Estimated Completion Date: December 31, 2015
- Response Date: September 2015
California State Auditor's Assessment of 6-Month Status: Pending
60-Day Agency Response
DSH has begun the process to recruit and hire two (2) Senior
Supervising Psychologists to provide clinical supervision improving the clinical supervisory review process. DSH will by December 2015 have a process to review evaluations of newly hired evaluators and a sampling methodology to review the evaluations of more experienced evaluators.
- Estimated Completion Date: December 31, 2015
- Response Date: May 2015
California State Auditor's Assessment of 60-Day Status: Pending
All Recommendations in 2014-125
Agency responses received are posted verbatim.