Inspection · 2021-07-28
Date
2021-07-28
Complaint Related
No
Licensing Inspector
Heather Harrell
(757) 334-4329
(757) 334-4329
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.
8VAC20-780 Special Care Provisions and Emergencies
8VAC20-770 Background Checks (8VAC20-770)
Inspector Notes
An investigation was initiated on 7/27/21 in response to a self-reported incident received by the department regarding a staff and child interaction. The incident was investigated jointly with the local agency. An on-site inspection was conducted on 7/28/21. Interviews with staff were conducted and documentation related to the incident were reviewed. Based on the information gathered during the investigation, the self-reported incident is determined to be valid. Violations in the area of staffing and supervision are cited on the violation notice and were discussed with center management at the conclusion of the investigation.
Violations
2Standard 8VAC20-780-340-D
Based on record review and staff interviews, the center did not ensure that in each grouping of children at least one staff member who meets the qualifications of a program leader shall be regularly present.
Evidence:
1. In the pre-k classroom, there is no lead teacher scheduled to be present from 3:30pm until the time the center closes at 6:00pm.
2. Staff 1 stated that she is the lead teacher in the pre-k class and is regularly scheduled from 6:30am until 3:30pm. Staff 1 stated when she leaves for the day, staff 2, who is the assistant in the class, is by herself with the children for the remainder of the day.
3. Staff 2 reported that staff 1 gets off work and leaves the classroom at 3:30pm and she is the only staff person in the room with the children until closing.
4. Center management confirmed that staff 2 (date of hire: 6/8/21) is not lead teacher qualified and is regularly scheduled to work alone in the classroom from 3:30pm until the center closes at 6:00pm.
Evidence:
1. In the pre-k classroom, there is no lead teacher scheduled to be present from 3:30pm until the time the center closes at 6:00pm.
2. Staff 1 stated that she is the lead teacher in the pre-k class and is regularly scheduled from 6:30am until 3:30pm. Staff 1 stated when she leaves for the day, staff 2, who is the assistant in the class, is by herself with the children for the remainder of the day.
3. Staff 2 reported that staff 1 gets off work and leaves the classroom at 3:30pm and she is the only staff person in the room with the children until closing.
4. Center management confirmed that staff 2 (date of hire: 6/8/21) is not lead teacher qualified and is regularly scheduled to work alone in the classroom from 3:30pm until the center closes at 6:00pm.
Plan of Correction: The center responded with the following: This plan of correction was previously addressed in response to a self-report incident on 7/27/2021 (13 months ago). At that time, all staff files in the center were reviewed to validate qualifications that would allow each teacher to be alone for more than an hour in the classroom and as a result, this issue was immediately corrected. There were no other instances in the center where an unqualified teacher was left alone with children for more than the first hour or last hour of the day and clarification was provided for this teacher in question as to why her volunteer work was not sufficient to qualify her in the classroom.
Standard 8VAC20-780-350-F
Based on staff interviews, the center did not ensure that children under 10 years of age shall always be within actual sight and sound supervision of staff.
Evidence:
1. Staff reported that on 7/26/21 at approximately 4:30pm, staff 2 was working alone in the pre-k classroom with 9 children present when she took child 1 out of the classroom and into the hallway due to child 1 exhibiting aggressive behaviors. This left the remaining children in the classroom out of sight and sound supervision of staff for an unknown period of time.
2. Staff 3 stated she works in the preschool classroom adjacent to the pre-k room and was leaving for the day on 7/26/22 when she saw staff 2 and staff 5 in the hallway with child 1. Staff 3 stated staff 2 was the only staff person working in the pre-k classroom during that time and that there was no other staff person with the other pre-k children while staff 2 was in the hallway.
3. Staff 4 stated she was working in the preschool classroom adjacent to the pre-k room when she heard staff 2 say ?Don?t hit me?. Staff 4 stated she looked over into the pre-k classroom and saw child 1 hit staff 2, at which time staff 2 picked child 1 up and took him out of the classroom into the hallway. Staff 4 stated there was no other staff person working in the pre-k classroom with staff 2 when she left the classroom with child 1.
4. Staff 5 (assistant center director) confirmed that staff 2 left the children in the pre-k classroom without sight and sound supervision of staff when she took child 1 into the hallway of the center.
Evidence:
1. Staff reported that on 7/26/21 at approximately 4:30pm, staff 2 was working alone in the pre-k classroom with 9 children present when she took child 1 out of the classroom and into the hallway due to child 1 exhibiting aggressive behaviors. This left the remaining children in the classroom out of sight and sound supervision of staff for an unknown period of time.
2. Staff 3 stated she works in the preschool classroom adjacent to the pre-k room and was leaving for the day on 7/26/22 when she saw staff 2 and staff 5 in the hallway with child 1. Staff 3 stated staff 2 was the only staff person working in the pre-k classroom during that time and that there was no other staff person with the other pre-k children while staff 2 was in the hallway.
3. Staff 4 stated she was working in the preschool classroom adjacent to the pre-k room when she heard staff 2 say ?Don?t hit me?. Staff 4 stated she looked over into the pre-k classroom and saw child 1 hit staff 2, at which time staff 2 picked child 1 up and took him out of the classroom into the hallway. Staff 4 stated there was no other staff person working in the pre-k classroom with staff 2 when she left the classroom with child 1.
4. Staff 5 (assistant center director) confirmed that staff 2 left the children in the pre-k classroom without sight and sound supervision of staff when she took child 1 into the hallway of the center.
Plan of Correction: The center responded with the following: The following plan of action has already been completed in response to a self-report incident on 7/27/2021. The following policies were reviewed at that time with all teachers and management within the center to move forward with appropriate response to any situation that potentially puts the classroom at risk of safety.
*Behavior Guidance Policy in relation to partnership with center management and families
*Staffing & Supervision Policy & Licensing Standards
*Inclusion services retraining- when to contact
Roll playing opportunities were also provided to ensure full understanding for all staff members in regards to handling behaviors in a group care setting appropriately.
*Behavior Guidance Policy in relation to partnership with center management and families
*Staffing & Supervision Policy & Licensing Standards
*Inclusion services retraining- when to contact
Roll playing opportunities were also provided to ensure full understanding for all staff members in regards to handling behaviors in a group care setting appropriately.