I work for cdwa as an IP caregiver and was notified weeks ago that I was suspended and unable to provide paid care pending an aps investigation. No idea what it could be about or from who, no word at all yet from anyone at aps, meanwhile im losing everything because I cant work.
As the CDE, Consumer Direct Care Network Washington (CDWA) is responsible for payroll, background checks, collecting employment documents, monitoring credentialing, tax reporting, and employment-related instruction.
Clients are the managing employer. Clients select, schedule, manage, supervise, and dismiss their IPs.
All I can say is to cooperate with APS. I've never heard of APS having the authority to stop you from working if you are registered through Department of Health and the Board of Nursing for your city and state. If you haven't received any correspondence from them, I don't see how a single APS investigation can keep you from working since the Board of Nursing holds your licensure
You can check your file to see if you are in the clear and your license has not been suspended by the BON. Have they stopped you from working on your job only or does this apply across the board outside of this pending investigation? Can you seek out agency work? It sounds like someone called APS on your last assignment if you haven't had any issues before.
People do all sorts of weird crap and make false complaints through APS. Many of these complaints are vindictive or not substantiated.. They will do an investigation, but I don't know how this can affect you not being able to work. If nothing has been filed with the Department of Health, you should not be penalized. You at least deserve a fair hearing. I would request one. Get a lawyer to send a letter requesting information.
I would look for another job immediately.
I've had to deal with APS when my older sister kept calling them and making false reports. When I asked her about it, she lied and said she didn't do it. She did. APS called me when everyone was home sick with colds. The APS worker called. I laughed and told her that my sister was downstairs having breakfast. The aide was feeding her. The worker spoke directly with the aide and got the name and phone number of the agency. My sister had Medicaid.
I am uncertain what this means. Does this mean you cannot work through CDWA (sorry, I don't even know what this is), or does this mean you can't work with elders, or just what does this mean? Does this mean you cannot put your name on, say, care .com? Was a phone number provided to you? Can you apply for unemployment?
I think first of all contact whomever contacted you.
A) Stay calm; be cooperative and gentle.
B) Let them know you understand that they cannot share information with you; but let them know your very SURVIVAL is dependent on your ability to work, and you are begging them to put this "investigation" first and foremost and you will cooperative completely with them.
C) Ask APS if you can still work with the elderly; can you do "gig" work in order to get some pay. Can you apply for unemployment somehow.
This being the holidays I worry about how quickly you will be contacted. WHATEVER YOU DO do not question others you may have worked for or with. I would speak to your agency--whatever has you working through this program--to ask them about basic survival without pay.
Until you are contacted you can't know what's up. When you are, be completely honest. Anger will hurt you; tears will not, and I ask you to consider THAT carefully. Stay calm. If you did nothing tell them "I have been tormenting myself with what I might have said or done that was misunderstood; I am dealing with so many elderly, and they are often confused, and I am wracking my brain to think is there ANYTHING I might had done. I appreciate your bumping this up. I cannot survive without work. I will cooperate with you utterly and completely.
I hope you will update us. You clearly are indicating to us you are completely and utterly flummoxed by this. I would be as well, and spent my life as an RN. This would TERRIFY me. Good luck.
Did they suspend you from all your other ihss comtrscts or just this one?