460 IAC 17-7-18 Monitoring

Sec. 18. (a) The state ombudsman shall monitor and assess the performance of the local ombudsman entity and the local ombudsman to ensure compliance with all applicable laws and regulations governing the program and this rule. Monitoring shall include, but shall not be limited to, a review of local ombudsman case records. The state ombudsman and the state level staff of the office shall have access to all necessary records containing the identity or identifying information of residents or complainants in order to conduct the monitoring and assessment. Monitoring and assessment shall be conducted by the state ombudsman and the state level staff office as follows: (1) The local ombudsman entity shall be responsible for monitoring and assessing administrative compliance using a tool developed by the state ombudsman. (2) The state ombudsman and the state level staff of the office shall be responsible for assessment of the performance of program duties and for case record monitoring and assessment in order to maintain the confidentiality of program files. (3) The results of the administrative monitoring and assessment and the case record monitoring and assessment shall be shared among the state ombudsman, the local ombudsman, and the local ombudsman entity. (b) The results of the monitoring and assessment shall be considered a factor by the state ombudsman in determining whether to redesignate the local ombudsman entity and recertify the local ombudsman.