VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES

Small Voices' Academy
5960 Churchland Boulevard
Portsmouth, VA 23703
(757) 484-7888

Current Inspector: D'Nae Goodwin (757) 404-3063

Inspection Date: Aug. 16, 2019

Complaint Related: No

Areas Reviewed:

22VAC40-185 ADMINISTRATION. 22VAC40-185 STAFF QUALIFICATIONS AND TRAINING. 22VAC40-185 PHYSICAL PLANT. 22VAC40-185 STAFFING AND SUPERVISION. 22VAC40-185 PROGRAMS. 22VAC40-185 SPECIAL CARE PROVISIONS AND EMERGENCIES. 22VAC40-185 SPECIAL SERVICES. 22VAC40-80 THE LICENSE. 22VAC40-191 Background Checks (22VAC40-191) 63.2 Facilities & Programs.

Comments:

An unannounced monitoring inspection was conducted on 08/16/2019 from 10:55am - 1:30pm. At the time of entrance there were 37 children in care with seven staff. The children in care ranged in age from infant - school age. Children were observed during morning program time, lunch and nap. Records were reviewed for two new staff and seven children in care. Three medication reviews conducted. Violations were observed in five parts of the standards and background checks and are listed on the violation notice. The violations were reviewed with the program director at the conclusion of the inspection.

Violations:

Standard #:	22VAC40-185-160-A
Description:	Based on record review and interview, the center failed to ensure that each staff member shall submit documentation of a negative tuberculosis screening. Documentation of the screening shall be submitted no later than 21 days after employment and shall have been completed within 12 months prior to or 21 days after employment. Evidence: 1. There was no documentation of a TB screening for staff 1 who was observed caring for children during the inspection. a. Staff 1 has a hire date of 06/10/2019. 2. The program director confirmed that a TB screening was not on file for staff 1.
Plan of Correction:	Staff 1 had a TB screening however, the documentation was misplaced. P.D. will ask staff 1 to provide an additional copy.
Standard #:	22VAC40-185-70-A
Description:	Based on record review and interview, the center failed to ensure that staff records contain all of the requirement elements for staff reference checks. Evidence: 1. The two telephone reference checks for staff 1 lacked documentation of the following required elements: a. The dates of the contact; b. The firms contacted; 2. The program director confirmed that this information was not documented on the reference check sheet for staff 1. 3. There was no hire date documented in the file of staff 1. a. The program director stated that staff 1 began employment on 06/10/2019.
Plan of Correction:	The reference check for staff 1 was misplaced. The reference check has been refilled out and will be placed in staff 1's folder.
Standard #:	22VAC40-185-80-A
Description:	Based on interview, the center failed to keep a written record of children in attendance each day. Evidence: 1. Four staff interviewed stated that they had not taken attendance on the date of the inspection. a. All four staff additionally stated that they did not have an attendance record for the week of 08/12/2019 - 08/16/2019. b. These staff were caring for children in the infant, toddler, two's and preschool classrooms. 2. The program director stated that he did not have attendance documentation for any of the classrooms for the week of 08/12/2019 - 08/16/2019.
Plan of Correction:	Each staff will be provided a daily sign in/out sheet for the children in their direct care. Attendance will be taken daily.
Standard #:	22VAC40-185-270-A
Description:	Based on observation and interview, the center failed to ensure that areas and equipment of the center, inside and outside, shall be maintained in a clean, safe and operable condition. Evidence: 1. Water was observed dripping from two areas of the ceiling in the preschool classroom. a. One ceiling tile was completely covered in water stains and a second ceiling tile was torn across one corner edge and also stained. b. A water play table and trash can had been placed on the floor to catch the water. c. There was approximately 6 inches of water in the trash can and 2 inches of water in the water play table. d. Four shelving units had been placed around the trash can and water table as a barrier however, water was observed on these shelves and the carpet surrounding the four shelves was wet. e. The two staff in the preschool classroom stated that the water had been dripping from the ceiling since approximately 08/01/2019. The program director stated that the water had been dripping since at least sometime in July 2019. 2. A dangling cord was observed along the wall , near the children's play couch, in the preschool classroom. A child was observed playing on the couch where the cord was within reach of the child. a. Dangling cords are an entanglement hazard. 3. A power strip, attached to an extension cord, was observed dangling down from the wall divider in the preschool classroom. a. This power strip dangled down between the children's hand washing basin and a stack of cots and was within reach of the children using the sink. 3. One outlet cover on a lower area of wall in the lobby area classroom was broken off at the top resulting in exposure of the electrical unit within the wall. a. Two areas of the broken plastic cover contained sharp points. 4. There were approximately seven areas of broken, crumbling and missing floor tile in the preschool bathroom which was observed being used by children during the inspection. a. The broken and crumbling tiles are a trip hazard and do not allow for proper sanitation of the flooring. 6. Peeling paint and crumbling drywall was observed along the bottom area of wall in the preschool bathroom. a. A sticky spongy substance , measuring approximately 2 inch x 2 inches, was observed along the baseboard in this bathroom below the peeling paint and crumbling drywall. 5. The plastic baseboard covering in the bathroom across from the infant / toddler classroom has been removed from around the bottom area of drywall in both bathrooms stalls resulting in peeling drywall and paint. 6. Three floor tiles are missing around the toilets in the bathroom across from the infant/toddler classroom. a. Paint chips and debris are on the floor where the floor tiles have been removed. 7. There are areas of peeling paint on one support bar for the tic tac toe play panel located on the playground.
Plan of Correction:	*The owners of the shopping center have been contacted about the leaking water and the ceiling tiles have been replaced. 8/19/19 *All cords and power strip have been removed. They will no longer be in use. 8/19/19 *The outlet cover will be replaced. 8/19/19 *The broken tiles will be replaced. 8/24/19 *The crumbling dry wall will be replaced and painted. 8/24/19 *The baseboard glue will be removed and cleaned. 8/24/19 *The 3 tiles will be replaced with the same color as the other tiles. 8/24/19 *The tic /toe bar will be repainted. 8/24/19
Standard #:	22VAC40-185-280-B
Description:	Based on observation, the center failed to ensure that hazardous substances such as cleaning materials, insecticides, and pesticides shall be kept in a locked place using a safe locking method that prevents access by children. Evidence: 1. A can of flying insect insecticide was observed on the floor, beside the director's desk, in the front lobby classroom area of the facility. a. This area was being used as a classroom for ten children, ages four - school age, during the inspection. 2. A tube of chaulk was observed inside the hand basin in the rest room located across from the infant/toddler classrooms. a. This bathroom was not locked. b. The product contained a warning label indicating the contents as hazardous.
Plan of Correction:	The P.D. will remind all staff to keep hazardous substances locked up. The rest room was not in use due to repairs being made. All materials will be locked up going forward.
Standard #:	22VAC40-185-290-3
Description:	Based on observation, the center failed to ensure that electrical outlets shall have protective covers that are of a size that cannot be swallowed by children. Evidence: 1. Three electrical outlets located in the front lobby area classroom lacked protective covers. 2. This area was being used as a classroom during the inspection and three of the children in care were four years of age. 3. One electrical outlet in the preschool classroom lacked a protective cover. a. This outlet is located on the wall near the red home living couch.
Plan of Correction:	Staff will be reminded to replace outlet covers when taken out.
Standard #:	22VAC40-185-320-B
Description:	Based on observation, the center failed to ensure that each rest room area for children shall have toilets that are flushable. Evidence: 1. Two of four toilets in the facility do not flush. a. These two toilets are located in the rest room across from the infant / toddler classroom do not flush. b. The program director stated that he had taken the toilets apart.
Plan of Correction:	The rest room was not in use by children due to repairs being made to this rest room. The children were using the other rest rooms. All repairs have been made to this rest room.
Standard #:	22VAC40-185-400-B
Description:	Based on observation and interview, the center failed to ensure that behavioral guidance shall be age and stage appropriate. Evidence: 1. When the inspector entered the preschool classroom at approximately 10:55am a four-year old child was observed sitting in a chair that was up against a cubby that faced a wall. a. The child's back was to the classroom and activities. 2. The program leader for the classroom stated that this child was in time out facing the cubby.
Plan of Correction:	The children was redirected from an activity and was asked to sit at the table. The child decided to turn his own chair towards the cubby. Teachers never ask children to face the cubby.
Standard #:	22VAC40-185-500-A
Description:	Based on observation, the center failed to ensure that children's hands shall be washed with soap and running water after toileting. Evidence: 1. Staff 2 failed to wash the hands of an infant after completion of his diaper change. a. The child was taken directly to the infant room and placed on the floor for an activity after his diaper was changed.
Plan of Correction:	The staff will be reminded that after an infant's diaper is changed their hands must be washed.
Standard #:	22VAC40-185-500-B
Description:	Based on observation, the center failed to ensure that a nonabsorbent surface for diapering or changing shall be used and that disposable diapers shall be disposed in a leakproof or plastic-lined storage system that is either foot operated or used in such a way that neither the staff member's hand nor the soiled diaper touches an exterior surface of the storage system during disposal. Evidence: 1. The step down diaper pail in the two-year old classroom was not operable. The inspector had to use her hands to lift the lid as the lid would not open when the foot pedal was engaged. a. The program director made several attempts to re-attach the lid to the pail however, the lid would not open when the foot pedal was engaged. 2. There were three tears in the plastic of the diapering pad in the two year old class. a. The tears measured approximately one inch in length and the padding underneath the plastic was exposed rending the pad nonabsorbent.
Plan of Correction:	The diaper changing pad and step down trash can will be replaced.
Standard #:	22VAC40-185-550-D
Description:	Based on record review and interview, the center failed to implement a monthly practice evacuation drill. Evidence: 1. The emergency log for the facility lacked documentation of an emergency fire drill for July 2019. 2. The program director confirmed that a fire drill had not been conducted in July 2019.
Plan of Correction:	Emergency evacuation will be done on a monthly basis. This was an oversight on the P.D. 2 will be done in August to make up for the missed drill for July.
Standard #:	22VAC40-185-560-K
Description:	Based on observation, the center failed to ensure that tables shall be sanitized after meals. Evidence: 1. The two tables used for lunch in the lobby area classroom were not sanitized after completion of lunch at approximately 12:30pm. a. These tables had not been sanitized when the inspector exited the facility at 1:30pm.
Plan of Correction:	The staff will be reminded that after meals are completed the tables must be sanitized.
Standard #:	22VAC40-185-560-M
Description:	Based on observation, the center failed to ensure that staff shall sit with children during meal times. Evidence: 1. The staff responsible for the school age/four year old class did not sit with the children during lunch. a. After handing out lunch to the children, this staff was observed standing in various areas near the lunch tables.
Plan of Correction:	Staff will be reminded that they are to sit with children while they dine.
Standard #:	22VAC40-191-60-C-2
Description:	Based on record review and interview, the center failed to obtain a central registry finding within 30 days of employment for all staff. Evidence: 1. There was no central registry finding on file for staff 1 who has a hire date of 06/10/2019. a. Staff 1 was observed caring for children during the inspection. 2. The program director verified that a central registry finding was not on file for staff 1.
Plan of Correction:	The CPS paperwork was mailed off 8/1/19. This was an oversight - going forward the P.D. will mail off required documents in the required time. Also will document the dates when mailed off.