Inspection · 2021-04-19
Date
2021-04-19
Complaint Related
No
Licensing Inspector
Anita Drewry
(757) 404-5261
(757) 404-5261
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
22VAC40-185 STAFFING AND SUPERVISION.
Inspector Notes
This inspection was conducted by licensing staff using an alternate remote protocol, necessary due to a state of emergency health pandemic declared by the Governor of Virginia. An investigation was initiated on April 19, 2021 and completed on May 10, 2021 regarding the following section of Standards for Child Day Centers:
22 VAC 40-185-340 - Supervision of Children
The licensing inspector for Lighthouse Preschool, LLC conducted an inspection in response to an incident that was self-reported to the agency by the licensee on 4/19/2021. The administrator was contacted by telephone to initiate the inspection. The inspector interviewed staff and involved individuals regarding the events surrounding the incident and reviewed photographs of the outdoor play area. Violations were cited in the areas of 22 VAC 40-185-340 - Supervision of Children
and appear on the violation notice.
Violations
2Standard 22VAC40-185-340-A
Based on interviews and photographs, the licensee failed to ensure the care, protection and guidance of a child in care.
Evidence:
1. Staff #1 reported that between the hours of 9:30 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. on April 19, 2021, she took 4 toddlers out to the playground. Staff #1 reported they exited the classroom door that led directly to the fenced play area. Staff #1 stated that she checked the gate latch to ensure it was engaged, per staff #3?s instruction. Multiple staff interviews established that the exit gate on the playground is ?difficult to latch? securely because the latch is loose and interviews as well as photographs confirm that the gate has a gradually increasing ?gap? toward the bottom of the gate.
2. Both staff #1 and staff #2 visually scanned the play area and did not see child #1 (a 20 month old toddler). Staff #2 confirmed via radio that child #1 had not gone back into his classroom, then called the front office to report that a child was missing and immediately ran down the walkway leading from the playground gate, along the side of the center, toward the parking lot.
3. Staff #4 confirmed that she received a radio call to the front office stating that a child was missing and that she instantly ran out toward the parking lot where she saw a member of the public waving her hands and holding child #1. Staff #2 stated that the individual?s car was pulled into the lot with the door still ajar and the turn signal still blinking. Staff #4 stated that child #1 reached for her as she approached but did not appear to be upset.
4. The center?s parking lot is located adjacent to a divided highway with two lanes of travel in each direction and a speed limit of 55 MPH.
Evidence:
1. Staff #1 reported that between the hours of 9:30 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. on April 19, 2021, she took 4 toddlers out to the playground. Staff #1 reported they exited the classroom door that led directly to the fenced play area. Staff #1 stated that she checked the gate latch to ensure it was engaged, per staff #3?s instruction. Multiple staff interviews established that the exit gate on the playground is ?difficult to latch? securely because the latch is loose and interviews as well as photographs confirm that the gate has a gradually increasing ?gap? toward the bottom of the gate.
2. Both staff #1 and staff #2 visually scanned the play area and did not see child #1 (a 20 month old toddler). Staff #2 confirmed via radio that child #1 had not gone back into his classroom, then called the front office to report that a child was missing and immediately ran down the walkway leading from the playground gate, along the side of the center, toward the parking lot.
3. Staff #4 confirmed that she received a radio call to the front office stating that a child was missing and that she instantly ran out toward the parking lot where she saw a member of the public waving her hands and holding child #1. Staff #2 stated that the individual?s car was pulled into the lot with the door still ajar and the turn signal still blinking. Staff #4 stated that child #1 reached for her as she approached but did not appear to be upset.
4. The center?s parking lot is located adjacent to a divided highway with two lanes of travel in each direction and a speed limit of 55 MPH.
Plan of Correction: The following response was received by the licensing inspector on 6/25/2021:
All current staff will be required to sign acknowledging by 6/24/21. This training will be made part of orientation for future staff.
1. They have been trained on "how to lock a common outdoor gate"
2. They know how to lock a common gate
3. They are responsible for checking to ensure all gates are locked upon entering or exiting the playground.
4. They are solely responsible for the children in their care.
5. They are required to maintain sight & sound supervision of the children in their care at all times.
6. They understand that sight & sound supervision means they can see & ear the children in their care at all times.
7. They are to make sure all door/gate alarms are activated.
[Staff #1] was terminated immediately as she was deemed unfit to provide supervision for the 4 children in her care. [Staff #2] was terminated once further investigation revealed that she as the director did not follow policy and procedures. Alarms have been added to all exterior gates as another layer of security.
All current staff will be required to sign acknowledging by 6/24/21. This training will be made part of orientation for future staff.
1. They have been trained on "how to lock a common outdoor gate"
2. They know how to lock a common gate
3. They are responsible for checking to ensure all gates are locked upon entering or exiting the playground.
4. They are solely responsible for the children in their care.
5. They are required to maintain sight & sound supervision of the children in their care at all times.
6. They understand that sight & sound supervision means they can see & ear the children in their care at all times.
7. They are to make sure all door/gate alarms are activated.
[Staff #1] was terminated immediately as she was deemed unfit to provide supervision for the 4 children in her care. [Staff #2] was terminated once further investigation revealed that she as the director did not follow policy and procedures. Alarms have been added to all exterior gates as another layer of security.
Standard 22VAC40-185-340-F
Based on interviews, the licensee failed to ensure that children under the age of 10 years are in sight and sound supervision of staff.
Evidence:
1. On 4/19/2021 a 20 month old child exited the center?s outdoor play area and was out of sight and sound supervision of staff, for an unspecified amount of time between 10:00 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.
2. Staff #1 was in the outdoor play area with a group of four children at the time. Staff #1 stated she turned her back to help another child and when she turned around, child #1 was not on the playground.
3. Child #1 was discovered by staff #2 in the parking lot of the center with an unknown individual.
Evidence:
1. On 4/19/2021 a 20 month old child exited the center?s outdoor play area and was out of sight and sound supervision of staff, for an unspecified amount of time between 10:00 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.
2. Staff #1 was in the outdoor play area with a group of four children at the time. Staff #1 stated she turned her back to help another child and when she turned around, child #1 was not on the playground.
3. Child #1 was discovered by staff #2 in the parking lot of the center with an unknown individual.
Plan of Correction: The following response was received by the licensing inspector on 6/25/2021:
All current staff will be required to sign acknowledging by 6/24/21. This training will be made part of orientation for future staff.
1. They have been trained on "how to lock a common outdoor gate"
2. They know how to lock a common gate
3. They are responsible for checking to ensure all gates are locked upon entering or exiting the playground.
4. They are solely responsible for the children in their care.
5. They are required to maintain sight & sound supervision of the children in their care at all times.
6. They understand that sight & sound supervision means they can see & ear the children in their care at all times.
7. They are to make sure all door/gate alarms are activated.
[Staff #1] was terminated immediately as she was deemed unfit to provide supervision for the 4 children in her care. [Staff #2] was terminated once further investigation revealed that she as the director did not follow policy and procedures. Alarms have been added to all exterior gates as another layer of security.
All current staff will be required to sign acknowledging by 6/24/21. This training will be made part of orientation for future staff.
1. They have been trained on "how to lock a common outdoor gate"
2. They know how to lock a common gate
3. They are responsible for checking to ensure all gates are locked upon entering or exiting the playground.
4. They are solely responsible for the children in their care.
5. They are required to maintain sight & sound supervision of the children in their care at all times.
6. They understand that sight & sound supervision means they can see & ear the children in their care at all times.
7. They are to make sure all door/gate alarms are activated.
[Staff #1] was terminated immediately as she was deemed unfit to provide supervision for the 4 children in her care. [Staff #2] was terminated once further investigation revealed that she as the director did not follow policy and procedures. Alarms have been added to all exterior gates as another layer of security.