Inspection · 2024-08-27
Date
2024-08-27
Complaint Related
Yes
Licensing Inspector
Stephanie Salvatori
(571) 389-0980
(571) 389-0980
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 Staffing and Supervision.
8VAC20-780 Programs.
63.2 Child Abuse & Neglect
Inspector Notes
An unannounced inspection was initiated on August 14, 2024 and completed on August 27, 2024 in response to a complaint received by the licensing office on August 13, 2024 relating to allegations of inappropriate behavioral guidance and a forbidden action. The inspector reviewed 1 children's record and 1 staff record on-site. This inspection included document review, interviews and observations
The preponderance of evidence gathered during the investigation supports the allegations; 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 Show the deficient practice will be or has been correct ed. Submit your POC within five (5) business days from today, which will be the close of business on September 3, 2024. A POC submitted after this date will not appear on the public website.
Violations
5Standard 8VAC20-780-340-A
Repeat Violation and Systemic Deficiency
Based on review of video footage, staff supervising children did not always ensure their care, protection and guidance.
Evidence:
Staff 1 and Child 1 (23 months) were sitting on the carpet facing each other. Child 1 was crying, wanting a toy.
Child 1 swatted at Staff 1. Staff 1 pushed the chest of Child 1, causing the child to fall backwards onto the carpet.
Child 1 continued to cry.
Staff 1 grabbed the right arm and left leg of child 1, lifting the child off the ground while swinging the child from the front to their left side.
Staff 1 then turned to face the child, imitating the child?s cries, and mocking the child.
Based on review of video footage, staff supervising children did not always ensure their care, protection and guidance.
Evidence:
Staff 1 and Child 1 (23 months) were sitting on the carpet facing each other. Child 1 was crying, wanting a toy.
Child 1 swatted at Staff 1. Staff 1 pushed the chest of Child 1, causing the child to fall backwards onto the carpet.
Child 1 continued to cry.
Staff 1 grabbed the right arm and left leg of child 1, lifting the child off the ground while swinging the child from the front to their left side.
Staff 1 then turned to face the child, imitating the child?s cries, and mocking the child.
Plan of Correction: The child was not hurt, and the teacher was terminated. As a point of clarification, this event took place during the aftercare portion of the day. The teacher thought the child was going to hit them in the face with a hard plastic toy. The child was pushed from a kneeling position backwards onto their bottom. The child braced themself with their arms and did not hit their head. This unfortunate event occurred because an adult failed to regulate their own emotions. It was the wrong reaction to the situation but did not come from a place of malice. The adult?s behavior is not acceptable in our school and therefore they are no longer part of our community. These actions were one person?s inappropriate behavior and are not reflective of the quality of care provided at our school. MKU Cameron Square is committed to the safety of our students and the well-being of our staff. The plan of correction is as follows:
1) All staff have been retrained on the requirement to regulate their own emotions and have been instructed to separate themselves if they are feeling any type of frustration or anger.
2) All staff have been instructed to identify signs of stress in each other and support each other by stepping in or enabling the other person to step out of the room or the situation as needed.
3) All staff have been provided with training and resources for stress management and improved team communication.
4) All staff have been retrained in safe ways to lift and move children as needed.
5) Management had arranged prior to this incident for training to be given to our staff by Child Protective Services to review our roles as mandated reporters, which took place on August 30th.
6) Staff schedules are being adjusted to increase the break time from 30 minutes to one hour so that staff may be more refreshed for the afternoon. This change will take effect in September.
1) All staff have been retrained on the requirement to regulate their own emotions and have been instructed to separate themselves if they are feeling any type of frustration or anger.
2) All staff have been instructed to identify signs of stress in each other and support each other by stepping in or enabling the other person to step out of the room or the situation as needed.
3) All staff have been provided with training and resources for stress management and improved team communication.
4) All staff have been retrained in safe ways to lift and move children as needed.
5) Management had arranged prior to this incident for training to be given to our staff by Child Protective Services to review our roles as mandated reporters, which took place on August 30th.
6) Staff schedules are being adjusted to increase the break time from 30 minutes to one hour so that staff may be more refreshed for the afternoon. This change will take effect in September.
Standard 8VAC20-780-400-B
Based on review of video footage, behavioral guidance was not constructive in nature, age and age appropriate and was not intended to redirect the child to appropriate behavior and resolve conflict.
Evidence:
Staff 1 and Child 1 (23 months) were sitting on the carpet facing each other. Child 1 was crying, wanting a toy.
Child 1 swatted at Staff 1. Staff 1 pushed the chest of Child 1, causing the child to fall backwards onto the carpet.
Child 1 continued to cry.
Staff 1 grabbed the right arm and left leg of child 1, lifting the child off the ground while swinging the child from the front to their left side.
Staff 1 then turned to face the child, imitating the child?s cries, and mocking the child.
Evidence:
Staff 1 and Child 1 (23 months) were sitting on the carpet facing each other. Child 1 was crying, wanting a toy.
Child 1 swatted at Staff 1. Staff 1 pushed the chest of Child 1, causing the child to fall backwards onto the carpet.
Child 1 continued to cry.
Staff 1 grabbed the right arm and left leg of child 1, lifting the child off the ground while swinging the child from the front to their left side.
Staff 1 then turned to face the child, imitating the child?s cries, and mocking the child.
Plan of Correction: The child was not hurt, and the teacher was terminated. As a point of clarification, this event took place during the aftercare portion of the day. The teacher thought the child was going to hit them in the face with a hard plastic toy. The child was pushed from a kneeling position backwards onto their bottom. The child braced themself with their arms and did not hit their head. This unfortunate event occurred because an adult failed to regulate their own emotions. It was the wrong reaction to the situation but did not come from a place of malice. The adult?s behavior is not acceptable in our school and therefore they are no longer part of our community. These actions were one person?s inappropriate behavior and are not reflective of the quality of care provided at our school. MKU Cameron Square is committed to the safety of our students and the well-being of our staff. The plan of correction is as follows:
1) All staff have been retrained on the requirement to regulate their own emotions and have been instructed to separate themselves if they are feeling any type of frustration or anger.
2) All staff have been instructed to identify signs of stress in each other and support each other by stepping in or enabling the other person to step out of the room or the situation as needed.
3) All staff have been provided with training and resources for stress management and improved team communication.
4) All staff have been retrained in safe ways to lift and move children as needed.
5) Management had arranged prior to this incident for training to be given to our staff by Child Protective Services to review our roles as mandated reporters, which took place on August 30th.
6) Staff schedules are being adjusted to increase the break time from 30 minutes to one hour so that staff may be more refreshed for the afternoon. This change will take effect in September.
1) All staff have been retrained on the requirement to regulate their own emotions and have been instructed to separate themselves if they are feeling any type of frustration or anger.
2) All staff have been instructed to identify signs of stress in each other and support each other by stepping in or enabling the other person to step out of the room or the situation as needed.
3) All staff have been provided with training and resources for stress management and improved team communication.
4) All staff have been retrained in safe ways to lift and move children as needed.
5) Management had arranged prior to this incident for training to be given to our staff by Child Protective Services to review our roles as mandated reporters, which took place on August 30th.
6) Staff schedules are being adjusted to increase the break time from 30 minutes to one hour so that staff may be more refreshed for the afternoon. This change will take effect in September.
Standard 8VAC20-780-410-1
Based on review of video footage, the center did not ensure certain forbidden actions did not occur.
Evidence:
Staff 1 roughly handled a child.
Staff 1 pushed the chest of Child 1(23 months), causing the child to fall backwards onto the carpet.
Child 1 continued to cry.
Staff 1 grabbed the right arm and left leg of the child, lifting the child off the ground while swinging the child from the front to their left side.
Evidence:
Staff 1 roughly handled a child.
Staff 1 pushed the chest of Child 1(23 months), causing the child to fall backwards onto the carpet.
Child 1 continued to cry.
Staff 1 grabbed the right arm and left leg of the child, lifting the child off the ground while swinging the child from the front to their left side.
Plan of Correction: The child was not hurt, and the teacher was terminated. As a point of clarification, this event took place during the aftercare portion of the day. The teacher thought the child was going to hit them in the face with a hard plastic toy. The child was pushed from a kneeling position backwards onto their bottom. The child braced themself with their arms and did not hit their head. This unfortunate event occurred because an adult failed to regulate their own emotions. It was the wrong reaction to the situation but did not come from a place of malice. The adult?s behavior is not acceptable in our school and therefore they are no longer part of our community. These actions were one person?s inappropriate behavior and are not reflective of the quality of care provided at our school. MKU Cameron Square is committed to the safety of our students and the well-being of our staff. The plan of correction is as follows:
1) All staff have been retrained on the requirement to regulate their own emotions and have been instructed to separate themselves if they are feeling any type of frustration or anger.
2) All staff have been instructed to identify signs of stress in each other and support each other by stepping in or enabling the other person to step out of the room or the situation as needed.
3) All staff have been provided with training and resources for stress management and improved team communication.
4) All staff have been retrained in safe ways to lift and move children as needed.
5) Management had arranged prior to this incident for training to be given to our staff by Child Protective Services to review our roles as mandated reporters, which took place on August 30th.
6) Staff schedules are being adjusted to increase the break time from 30 minutes to one hour so that staff may be more refreshed for the afternoon. This change will take effect in September.
1) All staff have been retrained on the requirement to regulate their own emotions and have been instructed to separate themselves if they are feeling any type of frustration or anger.
2) All staff have been instructed to identify signs of stress in each other and support each other by stepping in or enabling the other person to step out of the room or the situation as needed.
3) All staff have been provided with training and resources for stress management and improved team communication.
4) All staff have been retrained in safe ways to lift and move children as needed.
5) Management had arranged prior to this incident for training to be given to our staff by Child Protective Services to review our roles as mandated reporters, which took place on August 30th.
6) Staff schedules are being adjusted to increase the break time from 30 minutes to one hour so that staff may be more refreshed for the afternoon. This change will take effect in September.
Standard 8VAC20-780-410-6
Based on review of video footage with audio, verbal remarks which are demeaning to a child were heard.
Evidence:
While staff 1 and child 1 were sitting on the carpet, staff 1 turned to face child 1 who was crying, and in their face said ?woh woh? imitating the child?s cries and mocking the child.
Other inaudible words were exchanged.
Evidence:
While staff 1 and child 1 were sitting on the carpet, staff 1 turned to face child 1 who was crying, and in their face said ?woh woh? imitating the child?s cries and mocking the child.
Other inaudible words were exchanged.
Plan of Correction: The child was not hurt, and the teacher was terminated. As a point of clarification, this event took place during the aftercare portion of the day. The teacher thought the child was going to hit them in the face with a hard plastic toy. The child was pushed from a kneeling position backwards onto their bottom. The child braced themself with their arms and did not hit their head. This unfortunate event occurred because an adult failed to regulate their own emotions. It was the wrong reaction to the situation but did not come from a place of malice. The adult?s behavior is not acceptable in our school and therefore they are no longer part of our community. These actions were one person?s inappropriate behavior and are not reflective of the quality of care provided at our school. MKU Cameron Square is committed to the safety of our students and the well-being of our staff. The plan of correction is as follows:
1) All staff have been retrained on the requirement to regulate their own emotions and have been instructed to separate themselves if they are feeling any type of frustration or anger.
2) All staff have been instructed to identify signs of stress in each other and support each other by stepping in or enabling the other person to step out of the room or the situation as needed.
3) All staff have been provided with training and resources for stress management and improved team communication.
4) All staff have been retrained in safe ways to lift and move children as needed.
5) Management had arranged prior to this incident for training to be given to our staff by Child Protective Services to review our roles as mandated reporters, which took place on August 30th.
6) Staff schedules are being adjusted to increase the break time from 30 minutes to one hour so that staff may be more refreshed for the afternoon. This change will take effect in September.
1) All staff have been retrained on the requirement to regulate their own emotions and have been instructed to separate themselves if they are feeling any type of frustration or anger.
2) All staff have been instructed to identify signs of stress in each other and support each other by stepping in or enabling the other person to step out of the room or the situation as needed.
3) All staff have been provided with training and resources for stress management and improved team communication.
4) All staff have been retrained in safe ways to lift and move children as needed.
5) Management had arranged prior to this incident for training to be given to our staff by Child Protective Services to review our roles as mandated reporters, which took place on August 30th.
6) Staff schedules are being adjusted to increase the break time from 30 minutes to one hour so that staff may be more refreshed for the afternoon. This change will take effect in September.
Standard 8VAC20-780-430-B
Based on observation and staff interview, manipulative equipment was not age and stage appropriate for each age group.
Evidence
Children in the Toddler Two classroom (under the age of three) were observed playing with magnetic tiles that are appropriate for children age three and above.
Staff 1 confirmed child 1 was playing with the magnetic tiles.
Staff1 stated she took the magnetic tile house away from child 1 "because they were playing with the tiles inappropriately",
Evidence
Children in the Toddler Two classroom (under the age of three) were observed playing with magnetic tiles that are appropriate for children age three and above.
Staff 1 confirmed child 1 was playing with the magnetic tiles.
Staff1 stated she took the magnetic tile house away from child 1 "because they were playing with the tiles inappropriately",
Plan of Correction: The magnetic tiles have been removed from the toddler classrooms and replaced with other age-appropriate toys.