The facility or agency shall provide to authorized agents of the Department full access to the facility or agency and its records during both announced and unannounced inspections. The facility or agency shall provide the opportunity for authorized agents of the Department to privately interview staff and clients.

Notes of Decisions

Access to Facility and Records

Adoption agency violated Department of Public Welfare (Department) regulations by refusing to allow the Department access to agency records as required by regulation; evidence that supported administrative law judge’s finding of the violation included fact that agency refused to allow Department inspectors to confidentially copy agency files at county office and that inspectors were eventually required to obtain an administrative search warrant for the files. 1st Steps v. Department of Public Welfare, 880 A.2d 24, 35—36 (Pa. Cmwlth. 2005).