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Trinity Lutheran Church

Inspection · 2025-09-18

Date
2025-09-18
Complaint Related
Yes
Licensing Inspector
Jennifer Moore
(540) 430-0384
SHSIA monitoring inspection of an approved subsidy vendor to determine compliance with current subsidy requirements regarding the health and safety of children and to promote quality standards for the children in their care.
No

Areas Reviewed

22.1 Religious Exempt; Background Checks Code
63.2 Child abuse and neglect
8VAC20-770 Background Checks

During the inspection, the inspector reviewed the areas listed above. Unless otherwise noted as a violation within this inspection report, the provider was in compliance with the standards reviewed. If there were any serious injuries or fatalities related to a violation, the details will be
included in the description of the violation.

Inspector Notes

An unannounced inspection was initiated on 9/18/2025 and completed on 10/24/2025 with local agencies, in response to complaints received by the licensing office between 9/12/2025 and 9/18/2025 relating to allegations in the areas of procedure implementation, supervision, and abuse reporting. The inspector reviewed 3 children?s records and 2 staff records on-site on 9/18/2025. This inspection included document review, a tour of the facility, interviews, and observations.

The preponderance of evidence gathered during the investigation supports the allegation(s); therefore, the complaint is determined to be valid. Information gathered during the inspection determined non-compliance with applicable standards or law and the violations are documented on the violation notice issued to the program.

Please complete the plan of correction (POC) and date to be corrected sections for each violation cited on the violation notice. Specify how the violation will be or has been corrected. Submit your POC within five business days from today, which will be the close of business on 10/31/2025. A POC submitted after this date will not appear on the public website.

Violations

3
Standard 22.1-289.031-A-5-c
Employees must report suspected cases of child abuse and neglect under ? 63.2-1509.

On 9/10/2025, Staff #2 observed Staff #1 strike Child #1 with a cleaning cloth which resulted in an injury. In interview, Staff #2 stated that they believed the action was abuse but acknowledged that they did not report the incident to the appropriate agency.
Plan of Correction: Staff #2 was reprimanded for failure to report a suspected case of abuse. Staff #2 will be required to retake VDSS training on mandated reporting. All staff will be required to re-take the training.
Standard 22.1-289.031-B-2
The center must establish and implement procedures for the appropriate supervision of children in care.

The center's procedures for appropriate supervision include a management of behavior policy. The policy states that there shall be no physical punishment or disciplinary action
administered to a student?s body. On 09/10/2025, Staff #1 struck Child #1, age two, on the lower back with a cleaning cloth as a corrective action. The disciplinary action resulted in Child #1 crying and an immediate red welt developing that lasted several days.
Plan of Correction: Staff #1 was given one week administrative leave before being terminated. All staff will be required to review the section of the employee handbook that outlines appropriate behavior management.
Standard 22.1-289.031-B-5
The center shall establish and implement procedures to ensure that all areas of the premises accessible to children are free of obvious injury hazards.

Staff #1 provided jolly rancher candy to a class of two year old children to use during an art activity. The center's handbook states that hard candy is a choking hazard and is not to be sent in.
Plan of Correction: Staff will be reminded that hard candy should not be brought into the school nor given to the children under 4 per our handbook. They will also be supplied a handout outlining choking hazards.
View original record on Virginia Department of Social Services