Complaint Investigation Report

Allegation #1: Facility clients are using illegal drugs inside the facility.

The nature of this complaint alleges that clients are using illegal drugs in the facility. Information provided reported that clients were smoking illegally and participating in drug activities inside the facility.

On 08/21/24 and 10/08/24 between 12:30 pm – 01:30 pm, the California Department of Social Services/Community Care Licensing (CDSS/CCL) associate interviewed (2) out of (4) clients captured on video surveillance admitted to smoking Methamphetamine while at the facility. Client #2-#3 (C2-C3) admitted to participating in illegal drug activity while at the facility, and that facility staff was unaware that they were abusing narcotics on the premises. (C1) declined to provide names of clients and denied that (C1) abuses narcotics in the facility. (C4) was absent at the facility and could not be reached for comments or statements.

On 09/30/24, between 12:00 pm – 01:15 pm, the California Department of Social Services/Community Care Licensing (CDSS/CCL) associate interviewed (2) out of (2) staff and claimed they had not observed any clients abusing narcotics. (S1-S2) stated they conducted room searches, which included (C1-C4) rooms, and found no narcotics. The facility staff enforces house rules to stop clients from abusing drugs in the facility, according to (S1). (S1) is implementing a “house rules” checklist that will have all clients review and sign. The rules will include room inspection and zero tolerance of drug abuse on the facility grounds. (S1) stated that (C1) is a former client who moved out of the facility on 09/19/24. (S1) added that shortly before (C1) moved out, “(C1) OD’d” and was found on the floor by staff in (C1’s) room and was taken by Emergency Medical Technician (EMT), which resulted in a brief hospitalization. (S1) reported that the facility staff did not include caregivers.

On 12/04/24, between 11:28 am – 11:38 am, the California Department Social Services/Community Care Licensing (CDSS/CCL) associate interviewed former administrator staff #3 (S3). (S3) repeated the same statements, stating that staff conducted room searches and enforced house rules. (S3) reported that the facility staff included med-techs, housekeepers, janitors, assistant administrators, activities directors, and facility coordinator. (S3) expressed that during (S3’s) tenure at Bay Breeze Care, Inc., there were no caregivers, nor were existing staff cross-trained. Due to the housekeeping staff's direct access to client rooms, (S3) required them to report inappropriate client activities to the administration.