VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES

The Goddard School - Nuckols
11393 Nuckols Road
Glen allen, VA 23059
(804) 270-0901

Current Inspector: LaTasha Smith (804) 588-2362

Inspection Date: July 31, 2019 and Aug. 1, 2019

Complaint Related: No

Areas Reviewed:

22VAC40-185 ADMINISTRATION. 22VAC40-185 STAFF QUALIFICATIONS AND TRAINING. 22VAC40-185 PHYSICAL PLANT. 22VAC40-185 STAFFING AND SUPERVISION. 22VAC40-191 Background Checks (22VAC40-191) 63.2(17) License & Registration Procedures

Technical Assistance:

n/a

Comments:

The licensing inspector conducted an unannounced inspection in response to a self-reported concern regarding supervision that occurred at the center on July 16, 2019. The Department was notified of the incident on July 26, 2019. The inspection was initiated on July 31, 2019 and completed on September 5, 2019. On July 31, 2019, the licensing inspector was on site from 2:00pm to approximately 4:00pm. Interviews were completed, observations were made in the center, and documentation was reviewed. On August 1, 2019, the inspector conducted additional interviews. The preponderance of the evidence gathered during the investigation validates the self-reported incident. See the violation notice for more details. 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 the date of receipt. 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 standards, 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). If you have any questions about this inspection, please contact the licensing inspector at (804) 662-9772.

Violations:

Standard #:	22VAC40-185-40-E
Description:	Based on a review of policies and procedures, interviews and a review of documentation, the center did not ensure that the center?s activities and services were in compliance with the center?s own policies and procedures related to supervision that are required by the standards. Evidence: 1) During interviews, staff reported that on 07/16/2019, during transition from the classroom to the Exploration Room, three-year-old Child #1 was left behind in the Giraffes classroom. Staff reported that at approximately 9:39 am, a name-to-face check was completed before leaving the classroom, Child #1 was included in the count. As the children were exiting the classroom, Child #1 asked Staff #1 for permission to use the bathroom, Staff #1 said he could go. The children and the staff continued to the Exploration Room and Child #1 was left in the bathroom. Staff #1 and Staff #2 reported that a name-to-face check was not completed upon arriving to the Exploration Room. Staff #1 and Staff #2 were unaware that Child #1 was left behind in the classroom?s bathroom for approximately five to ten minutes when they were notified by Staff #4. 2) During interview on 07/31/2019, Staff #3, who was supervising children in the Monkeys classroom, reported she heard Child #1 crying in the classroom next door. Staff #3 reported she did not intervene because she thought the situation was being handled by the staff in that classroom. After Child #1 had been crying for approximately five minutes, Staff #3 looked out the classroom window and observed that Staff #1, Staff #2, and the children corresponding to the Giraffes class were out in the Exploration Room. Staff #3 then opened the bathroom door that connects the Monkeys and Giraffes classrooms together and found Child #1 sitting on the toilet, in the dark, and crying. Child #1 told Staff #3 ?my teachers and my friends left me.? 3) The center?s Child Supervision Policy requires that children must be under adult supervision by sight and sound at all times. The center?s policies on Threshold Counts require that ?as children leave the classroom with the teacher(s), threshold counts and name-to-face check are conducted to ensure that all children are accounted for with the group.?
Plan of Correction:	Per the Center: "The entire staff was immediately re-trained. We will continue doing monthly trainings on supervision and name-2-face. Childsavers is coming in to do a training. The director is responsible for implementing these trainings and all management will do checks of staff transitions."
Standard #:	22VAC40-185-340-F
Description:	Based on interview and documentation reviewed, the center did not ensure that children under 10 years of age always shall be within actual sight and sound supervision of staff. Evidence: 1) Staff #1 and Staff #2 transitioned a group of children from the classroom to the Exploration Room on 07/16/2019 at approximately 9:39am. Staff reported that during the transition, Child #1 (three-year-old) asked Staff #1 if he could use the bathroom. The rest of the class and the two staff continued to the Exploration Room and Child #1 was left behind in the bathroom. Child #1 was found sitting on the toilet, in the dark and crying in the bathroom by Staff #3 who was in the next classroom. The bathroom lights are motion activated so they had turned off while the child was in the bathroom. Staff #1 and Staff #2 were unaware that Child #1 was left behind until they were notified by Staff #4. It is estimated that Child #1 was out of sight and sound supervision for approximately five to ten minutes.
Plan of Correction:	Per the Center: "The entire staff was immediately re-trained. We will continue doing monthly trainings on supervision and name-2-face. Childsavers is coming in to do a training. The director is responsible for implementing these trainings and all management will do checks of staff transitions."