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Winwood Children's Center

Inspection · 2024-08-14

Date
2024-08-14
Complaint Related
Yes
Licensing Inspector
Kimberly Weaver
(571) 596-3662
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

8VAC20-780 Administration
8VAC20-780 Staff Qualifications and Training
8VAC20-780 Physical Plant
8VAC20-780 Staffing and Supervision
8VAC20-780 Programs
8VAC20-780 Special Care Provisions and Emergencies
8VAC20-780 Special Services
8VAC20-820 THE LICENSE
8VAC20-770 Background Checks (8VAC20-770)
63.2 Child Abuse & Neglect

Inspector Notes

An unannounced inspection was conducted on 8/14/2024 in response to a complaint received by the licensing office on 8/13/2024 relating to the supervision of children. The inspector reviewed 5 staff records onsite on 8/14/2024. This inspection included document review, 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 deficient practice will be or has been corrected. Submit your POC within five (5) business days from today, which will be the close of business on August 31, 2024. A POC submitted after this date will not appear on the public website.

Violations

5
Standard 8VAC20-780-340-A
Based on multiple staff interviews and video, when staff were supervising children they did not always ensure their care, protection, and guidance.

Evidence:
During a carwash at approximately 11:45am:
1) The area was not secured with cones or barriers to prevent cars from entering.
2) Two children were observed running through the parking lot roadway towards another group of children and staff, with no adult escorting them. The staff member in which the two children were heading towards stated they were not aware the children were coming to their group.
3) There was a group of approximately 4 children and 1 staff member standing on the inside sidewalk with carwash signs. One child was observed on the main sidewalk, near the one way sign on route 50, approximately 20 feet away from the group.
4) Staff expressed concerns that they felt the situation was unsafe and did not feel comfortable being near the highway with the children.
Plan of Correction: Events held outside of the building/playground will require children to be in the care of their parents, and not the school.
Standard 8VAC20-780-40-E
Based on interview and document review, the operational responsibilities of the licensee did not ensure that the center's activities were maintained in compliance with state standards and the center's own policies and procedures.

Evidence:
The centers Field Trip Policy states "children must be loaded curbside, one child at a time". Multiple staff interviews revealed that children were being loaded/unloaded in the parking lot, not curbside.
Plan of Correction: Staff will load and unload curbside, when a curbside point of loading or unloading is available, in compliance with the center's own policies. When there is not a specific school policy, such as this case where no curbside was available, staff will maintain compliance with 8VAC20-780-(8)-580-D.
Standard 8VAC20-780-560-C
Based on multiple staff interviews, the center did not schedule snacks or meals so that there is a period of at least 1 - 1/2 hours but no more than 3 hours between each meal or snack.

Evidence:
School aged children were served lunch at 11:00am on days they went to the water park. The next meal was not offered to them until 4:00 - 4:30 once they returned back to the center, resulting in a 5 - 5 1/2 hour period between each meal.
Plan of Correction: Staff will schedule meals and snacks so that there is a period between meals and snacks that complies with 8VAC20-780-(8)-560-C, being mindful of field trip variability.
Standard 8VAC20-780-580-C
Based on interviews, the center did not ensure that during transportation of children the stated maximum number of passengers in a given vehicle is not exceeded.

Evidence:
The buses used to transport children are 15 passenger buses. Staff interviews revealed that during multiple summer field trips, the buses exceeded the number of passengers with 14 children and two staff members to total 16 passengers. Staff stated they were instructed to sit with small children so they could fit 3 to a seat.
Plan of Correction: 15 passenger buses used to transport children will hold no more than 15 individuals. Staff traveling to maintain ratio for loading/unloading students will not cause the bus to exceed 15 individuals.
Standard 8VAC20-780-580-D
Based on multiple staff interviews, when entering and leaving vehicles, children did not enter and leave the vehicle from the curb side of the vehicle or in a protected parking area or driveway.

Evidence:
Staff interviews revealed that during summer field trips, children are not unloading at the curb or protected parking area. The driver of the bus parks in the general parking lot, the children unload and then walk through the parking lot to the field trip destination.
Plan of Correction: Staff will drop off in compliance with 8VAC20-780-(8)-580-D while maintaining ratio requirements.
View original record on Virginia Department of Social Services