Inspection · 2023-05-30
(804) 588-2367
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.
8VAC20-820 THE LICENSE.
8VAC20-770 Background Checks (8VAC20-770)
63.2 Child Abuse & Neglect
Inspector Notes
An unannounced inspection was conducted on May 30, 2023 in response to a self-reported incident that was received in reference to behavior guidance. Documentation was gathered and interviews were conducted. The preponderance of evidence gathered during the investigation supports violation of standards in regard to the self-report.
Violations were cited as a result of this inspection.
Please complete the plan of correction and ?date to be corrected? for each violation cited on the violation notice and return it to me within 5 business days from today, 06/15/2023. Please specify how the deficient practice will be or has been corrected. Your plan of correction should contain: 1) steps to correct the noncompliance with the standard(s), 2) measures to prevent the noncompliance from occurring again, and 3) person(s) responsible for implementing each step and/or monitoring any preventative measure(s).
Violations
31. Interviews, and written statements from staff #1, staff #2, and staff #3, revealed that staff #4 was witnessed on multiple occasions reacting aggressively towards the children, age 16 months to 24 months, by yelling at them, hitting them on the top of their heads and on their hands with items such as pens and highlighters, and rubber gloves, as well as slapping the children in the back of the head. Staff #4 was also witnessed pulling a child?s hair to demonstrate ?how it feels? to the child after the child pulled another child?s hair.
2. Review of document titled ?Guidance Protection of and Respect for Children? OP-300 states that ?employees must adhere to all applicable state and local laws governing child guidance or discipline. Employees are required to use positive guidance techniques and to refrain from any unacceptable measures while caring for children. ?Unacceptable measures include any type of physical discipline or corporal punishment, including but not limited to hitting, pinching, pushing, biting, or grabbing a child is unacceptable. Employees may not use physical actions to punish or humiliate children in any way or to demonstrate to a child what it ?feels like? to be the victim of aggression.?
Evidence:
Interviews, and written statements from staff #1, staff #2, and staff #3, revealed that staff #4 was witnessed on multiple occasions reacting aggressively towards the children, ages 16 months to 24 months, by yelling at them, hitting them on the top of their heads and on their hands with items such as pens and highlighters, and in the face with rubber gloves, as well as slapping the children in the back of the head. Staff #4 was also witnessed pulling a child?s hair to demonstrate ?how it feels? to the child after the child pulled another child?s hair.