Inspection · 2022-09-21
(757) 404-3063
Areas Reviewed
8VAC20-780 Administration.
8VAC20-780 Staff Qualifications and Training.
8VAC20-780 Staffing and Supervision.
8VAC20-780 Programs.
8VAC20-780 Special Care Provisions and Emergencies
8VAC20-780 Special Services.
8VAC20-770 Background Checks (8VAC20-770)
22.1 Background Checks Code, Carbon Monoxide
Inspector Notes
An investigation was initiated on 8/16/22 and concluded on 9/22/22 in response to a complaint received by the department regarding supervision, ratios, infant bottle feeding procedures, diapering procedures and the amount of time children are restrained in high chairs and infant seats. An on-site inspection was conducted on 9/21/22 and interviews with staff were completed. Documentation and records related to the complaint were also reviewed. Based on information gathered during the investigation, the complaint is determined to be valid. Violations not related to the complaint were also found during the inspection. Violations are cited on the violation notice provided to the center and were discussed with the center director at the conclusion of the investigation.
Violations
12Evidence:
1. The record for staff 1 (date of hire: 9/12/22) does not contain the results of a national fingerprint search. Staff 1 was working on the day of the inspection.
2. The center owner confirmed that the record for staff 1 is lacking the results of a national fingerprint search.
Evidence:
1. Staff 1 (date of hire: 9/12/22) indicated on her employment application that she has resided in the state of Mississippi within the past five years. The record for staff 1 does not contain the results of a criminal history record information check from the state of Mississippi. Staff 1 was working on the day of the inspection.
2. The center owner confirmed that a criminal history record check for staff 1 was not requested from the state of Mississippi.
Evidence:
1. The record for staff 1 (date of hire: 9/12/22) does not contain a completed sworn statement or affirmation. Staff 1 was working on the day of the inspection.
2. The center owner confirmed that the record for staff 1 is lacking a completed sworn statement or affirmation.
Evidence:
1. On 9/21/22, staff 2 was the only staff member present from the time the center opened at 6:00am until staff 3 arrived at 7:30am. Four children, between the ages of 5 months and 22 months, arrived at the center between the hours of 6:00am and 7:30am.
2. Staff 2 and staff 3 confirmed that there is regularly only 1 staff member present with one or more children in care for approximately one hour to one and a half hours when the center opens in the morning.
Evidence:
1. On 9/21/22, staff 1 (date of hire: 9/12/22) was observed to be working alone in the toddler/two?s classroom with 4 children between the ages of 21 months and 2 years. Staff 1 is not program leader qualified.
2. Staff 1 stated that she had no previous experience in a child care setting prior to being hired at the center and had no college credits in a child-related field.
3. The center owner confirmed that staff 1 is not program leader qualified and is regularly scheduled to work alone in a classroom with children.
Evidence:
1. During the inspection on 9/21/22, the licensing inspectors observed staff 2 place three infants in an enclosed play yard on the floor of the toddler/two?s classroom in the front of the center and walk back to the infant classroom in the back of the center where two other infants were located. There was no other staff providing actual sight supervision to the three infants in the play yard. The licensing inspectors observed one of the infants crawling on top of another infant in the play yard during this time.
2. The layout of the center prevented staff 2 from being able to provide actual sight supervision to the three infants in the play yard at the front of the center and the two infants in the infant area at the back of the center at the same time. Staff 2 was observed walking back and forth from the infant area to where the play yard was located in order to check on the three infants in the play yard.
Evidence:
1. During the inspection on 9/21/22, the licensing inspectors observed 1 staff person caring for 5 infants in the infant room. The number and ages of the children require 2 staff to be present.
2. Staff 2 confirmed that she was the only staff person in the infant room with 5 children.
Evidence:
1. When asked by the licensing inspector about play spaces and ?tummy time? for infants, staff 2 stated that infants are sometimes placed in their crib for ?tummy time?.
a. Staff 2 stated that the younger infants are not able to hold up their heads while on their stomach; therefore, they are placed in their crib on their stomach for ?tummy time? in order to keep them from hitting their face on the floor.
Evidence:
1. During the inspection on 9/21/22, the licensing inspectors observed 5 infants seated in infant bouncer seats from the time of the inspectors? arrival at the center at 9:10am until approximately 10:00am.
2. The licensing inspectors observed two of the infants to repeatedly try to turn and twist around in the bouncer seats after being in them for approximately 30 minutes.
a. When questioned what staff do when an infant is trying to twist out of the bouncer seat, staff 2 stated that they ?just pull the seat belt tighter?.
3. The 5 infants were not taken out of the bouncer seats by staff until prompted to do so by the licensing inspectors.
4. Staff 2 stated that the infants are ?usually? in their bouncer seat or their crib ?for most of the day?.
Evidence:
1. During the inspection on 9/21/22, the licensing inspectors observed two 2-year old children strapped in high chairs, with no toys or activity to engage in, from the time of the inspectors? arrival at 9:10 am until 9:25am.
2. Staff 1 stated she had put the two children in the high chairs at approximately 8:50am after they had already eaten breakfast at the children?s table.
3. The two children were not taken out of the high chairs until prompted to do so by the licensing inspector.
Evidence:
1. The record for staff 1 (date of hire: 9/12/22) does not contain the following: job title; name, address and telephone number of a person to be notified in an emergency; documentation that two or more references as to character and reputation as well as competency were checked before employment; documentation to demonstrate that the individual possesses the education and experience required by the job position; and, documentation of orientation training.
2. The center owner confirmed that the record for staff 1 is lacking the above required information.
Evidence:
1. On 9/21/22, there were 9 children in care at the center and only 6 children were signed in on the daily attendance log.
2. Staff 3 confirmed that only 6 of the 9 children in care were signed in at the time of their arrival on the attendance log.