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Smart Start
610 18th Street
West point, VA 23181
(804) 843-4869

Current Inspector: LaTasha Smith (804) 588-2362

Inspection Date: Jan. 7, 2020

Complaint Related: No

Areas Reviewed:
22VAC40-185 ADMINISTRATION.
22VAC40-185 STAFFING AND SUPERVISION.

Comments:
On December 13, 2019, the Department received a self-reported concern for an incident that occurred on December 13, 2019 regarding supervision. The licensing inspector was on site conducting an unannounced inspection on Tuesday, January 7, 2020 from approximately 2:15 PM until 4:00 PM. While on site, interviews with staff were conducted, observations were made and documentation was reviewed. On January 22, 2020, the licensing inspector reviewed information regarding the center's policies and procedures. The preponderance of the evidence gathered during the investigation supports areas of noncompliance with the licensing standards related to supervision. 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 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 questions regarding this inspection, please contact the licensing inspector at 804-662-9790.

Violations:
Standard #: 22VAC40-185-40-E
Description: Based on a review of documentation and interviews, 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 on 01/07/2020, Staff #1, Staff #2 and Staff #3 stated that on 12/13/19, Child A (three years of age) was left alone and unsupervised in a Head Start classroom restroom after two staff members and 13 children boarded the center?s bus and left the facility to go on a field trip.
2. Staff #1 stated Staff #4 and Staff #5 and 13 children got on the center?s bus and left the center. Staff #1 stated Staff #4 and Staff #5 realized Child A was left in the center?s bathroom and Staff #4 called her on her phone and stated ?[Child A] was left in the bathroom?. Staff #1 stated she returned to the center, went to the classroom?s bathroom and Child A was found crying, alone in the bathroom.
3. Staff #2 stated she went with Staff #1 into the classroom. Staff #1 opened the door to the classroom?s bathroom and Child A was in the bathroom. Staff #2 stated Child A had been crying.
4. Staff #3 stated after watching the video and speaking to staff, it was confirmed that Staff #4 and Staff #5 did not follow the procedure of doing head counts aloud.

5. The center?s Appropriate Supervision of Children Procedure states ?Classroom staff will ensure all children are within visual sight at all times.? The center?s Field Trip Procedure states ?Children will be counted and names recorded on the attendance sheet prior to leaving and before returning to the center.?

Plan of Correction: A new monitoring procedure will be written and implemented to require all service area managers and coordinators to monitor classroom supervision with a specific focus on sight supervision, verbal headcounts and head count written documentation.

The new monitoring requirements for all service area managers and coordinates will ensure more frequent monitoring to ensure to noncompliance does not occur again.

The new monitoring procedure and monitoring form will be written by the Education Manager. Monitoring will be conducted by all service area managers and coordinators. The Executive Director will monitor the monitoring.

Standard #: 22VAC40-185-340-A
Description: Based on staff interviews and review of documentation, the center did not ensure when staff are supervising children, they shall always ensure their care, protection, and guidance.

Evidence:

1. On 12/13/19, Child A (three years of age) was left alone and unsupervised in a Head Start classroom restroom after two staff members and 13 children boarded the center?s bus and left the center to go on a field trip.
Staff #3 stated on 12/13/19, Staff #4 and Staff #5 boarded the bus and left the center with the children from the Threes classroom to go on a field trip. Staff #4 and Staff #5 looked at the ?buddy list? after the bus had left the facility and realized Child A was left unsupervised at the center in the classroom bathroom. Staff #3 stated the video showed Child A stepping out of the bathroom, looking around the classroom and stepping back into the bathroom and remaining there until Staff #1 comes into the room and opens the door. Staff #3 stated Child A was alone in the bathroom for a few minutes.

2. Staff #1 stated Staff #4 called her and stated Child A was left alone and unsupervised in the center?s bathroom. Staff #1 stated she returned to the center, went to the classroom?s bathroom and Child A was found crying, alone in the bathroom and that her pants were wet from a potty accident. Staff #1 stated Child A was probably left alone in the bathroom for approximately 8 to 10 minutes.

3. Staff #2 stated on 12/13/19 she was in the office making copies when Staff #1 came in the door in a hurry and said ?Come with me?. Staff #2 stated she went with Staff #1 into the classroom. Staff #1 opened the door to the classroom?s bathroom and Child A was in the bathroom. Staff #2 stated Child A had been crying.

Plan of Correction: The center?s active supervision procedure will be revised to include written and posted hourly student head counts. A new form classroom head count documentation, will be used in all classroom to document hourly student headcounts. The revised procedure and new form will be created by the Education Manager.

All staff will receive training on the revised procedure and new form by the Executive Director.

All service area managers and coordinators will monitor adherence to the active supervision procedure and head count documentation form.

Standard #: 22VAC40-185-340-F
Description: Based on interviews and review of documentation, the center did not ensure that children under 10 years of age shall be within actual sight and sound supervision of staff.
Evidence:
1. During interviews on 01/07/2020, Staff #1, Staff #2 and Staff #3 stated that on 12/13/19, Child A (three years of age) was left alone and unsupervised in a Head Start classroom restroom after two staff members and 13 children boarded the center?s bus and left the facility to go on a field trip.
2. Staff #1 stated on 12/13/19, the morning of the field trip, she saw Child A in the classroom?s bathroom. Staff #1 stated Staff #4 and Staff #5 ?marched out with children? and got on the bus while she got in a car with some chaperones. Staff #1 stated Staff #4 and Staff #5 realized Child A was left in the center?s bathroom and Staff #4 called her on her phone and stated ?[Child A] was left in the bathroom?. Staff #1 stated she returned to the center and Child A was found crying, alone in the bathroom. Staff #1 stated Child A was probably left alone in the bathroom for approximately 8 to 10 minutes.
3. Staff #2 stated on 12/13/19, Staff #1 came in the door in a hurry and said ?Come with me?. Staff #2 stated she went with Staff #1 into the classroom. Staff #1 opened the door to the classroom?s bathroom and Child A was alone in the bathroom.
4. Staff #3 stated staff called her on 12/13/19 and told her Child A was left in the classroom. Staff #3 stated the video showed Child A stepping out of the bathroom, looking around the classroom and stepping back into the bathroom and remaining there until Staff #1 comes into the room and opens the door. Staff #3 stated Child A was alone in the bathroom for a few minutes.

Plan of Correction: The center?s active supervision procedure will be revised to include written and posted hourly student head counts. A new form, classroom head count documentation, will be used in all classrooms to document hourly student headcounts. The revised procedure will include name to face head counts. The revised procedure and form will be created by the Education Manager.

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.

Virginia Quality is a voluntary quality rating and improvement system for early care and education facilities serving children ages birth through pre-K. To find programs participating in Virginia Quality, click here.

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