Dominion Educational Ministries, inc.
991 Chicago Avenue
Harrisonburg, VA 22802
(540) 564-2929
VDSS Contact: Julie Kunowsky (540) 430-9256
Inspection Date: Sept. 18, 2019
Complaint Related: No
- Areas Reviewed:
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22VAC40-191 Background Checks for Child Welfare Agencies
63.2 Child Abuse & Neglect
63.2(17) License & Registration Procedures
- Comments:
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An unannounced non-mandated religious exempt inspection was conducted at DEMI/Good Shepherd School and Day Care on 9/18/19 in response to a self-reported alleged incident that occurred in the center. Interviews were conducted with staff relating to the allegation of not following the center's policies and procedures regarding supervision of children. The information gathered during the investigation does support the allegation, so the allegation is determined to be "valid." The violations resulting from this inspection can be found on the violation notice.
If you have any questions, contact your licensing inspector at (540) 848-4123.
- Violations:
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Standard #: 63.2(17)-1716-B-2 Description: Based on interviews, the center failed to implement the center's procedures to ensure appropriate supervision of all children in care.
Evidence:
1. On 9/11/19 a two-year-old child was left on the center's playground alone from approximately 2:50 pm until 3:00 pm when a person walking by the center saw the child alone on the playground and informed the center staff.
2. The center's written playground policy in the staff handbook does not address ensuring all children are accounted for prior to entering the building. The director stated all staff are verbally trained to count children prior to leaving the playground and then again once in the classroom.
3. Staff 1 was the lead teacher in the class and staff 2 was the assistant. They stated they had 16 children the day of the incident. Both staff stated they did not count the children prior to going in the center from outside or once they were in the classroom. Staff 2 stated she looked at the clock when they came in and it was 2:50 pm.
4. Staff 1 and staff 2 both stated they were trained to count children prior to going inside and once inside the classroom. Neither staff counted children upon entering or once in the classroom.
5. The director stated that according to the door report the woman that saw the child came to the center's door at 3:00 pm.Plan of Correction: The following policy was created and was given out to all the staff on September 30th and starts immediately. It will be gone over again at our next staff meeting, on October 7th.
To ensure that all children are accounted for and present when transitioning in and out of the room and when in the classroom, please follow the procedure below.
1.Always take your attendance sheet with you. Make sure that this attendance sheet is up to date before exiting the room.
2.Line the children up and as they exit the room count the children, making sure that the number that is on your attendance matches the number that you counted going out the door.
3.Scan the room to make sure that no children are left in the classroom.
4.Post the attendance sheet in a visible place.
5.If children come and go, especially at the end of the day, make sure that they are marked as such on the attendance sheet.
6.Remember to count as you are outside monitoring as well. This ensures that all of the children are still present and accounted for.
7.When it is time to come inside. Line the children up and do a name to face count and check according to your attendance sheet. Make sure you know your numbers!
8.When you enter into the classroom. Have one teacher accompany the children into the room, have them sit and do a name and face count again. The second teacher should stand at the door and not leave the playground until the teacher has given the go ahead that all children are present in the classroom.
9. Before entering the room, the second teacher, who is at the door, should scan the playground to ensure that there are no children on the playground before going into the classroom and closing the door.
Disclaimer:
A compliance history is in no way a rating for a facility.
The online compliance history includes only information after July 1, 2003. In addition, the online compliance history includes information regarding adverse actions that may be the subject of a pending appeal. An adverse action is not final until a provider has exhausted or waived all due process rights. For compliance history prior to July 1, 2003, or information regarding the status of pending adverse actions, please contact the Licensing Inspector listed in the facility's information. The Virginia Department of Social Services (VDSS) is not responsible for any errors in or omissions from the compliance history information.
