700-3           PRUDENT PERSON JUDGMENT

The policies throughout this manual are intended to be a guide for ATAP certification and are broadly written within the limits imposed by regulations. They are intended to be sufficiently flexible to allow the caseworker to exercise reasonable judgment in executing responsibilities.

It is impossible to write policies that will cover every possible circumstance that a specific case may present. In this regard, the concept of the prudent person judgment (PPJ) can be helpful. The term refers to the reasonableness of the judgments made by an individual in a given situation. In making a certification decision, the caseworker will decide if the action is reasonable based on experience and knowledge of the program. When a caseworker exercises PPJPrudent Person Judgement, they must document their decision and reasoning in the case note.

If a caseworker needs guidance with a specific case, they should consult with their office leadership. The issue might then be referred to the Policy Unit for clarification.