VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES

Skipwith Academy @ Huguenot (#51)
11211 West Huguenot Road
Richmond, VA 23235
(804) 323-6804

Current Inspector: Lauren Bickford (540) 280-0742

Inspection Date: Oct. 7, 2020 , Oct. 23, 2020 , Oct. 26, 2020 , Oct. 27, 2020 , Dec. 7, 2020 and Dec. 17, 2020

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. 22VAC40-80 THE LICENSE. 22VAC40-191 Background Checks (22VAC40-191) 20 Access to minor?s records 32.1 Report by person other than physician 63.2 Child Abuse & Neglect 63.2(17) License & Registration Procedures 63.2 Facilities & Programs.

Technical Assistance:

None

Comments:

The licensing inspector completed a monitoring inspection in response to a self-reported concern regarding inappropriate staff behavior and the supervision of children that occurred at the center on October 6, 2020. The Department was notified of the incident on October 7, 2020. On October 7, 2020 the licensing inspector conducted a phone interview, reviewed documentation, and initiated contact with outside agencies. The investigation continued with a review of documentation on October 26, 2020, October 27, 2020, and December 17, 2020. Documentation from outside agencies was received and reviewed on October 23, 2020 and December 7, 2020. The preponderance of the evidence gathered during the investigation supports areas of noncompliance with the licensing standards related the supervision of children. 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) 662-9092.

Violations:

Standard #:	22VAC40-185-40-E
Description:	Based on a review of documentation and an interview, the center did not ensure that the center's activities are in compliance with the center's own policies and procedures that are required by these standards. Evidence: 1. On 10/7/2020, the licensing inspector conducted an interview with administration. Staff #3 reported that the employment of Staff #1 had been terminated due to admitting to biting Child #1 on the arm, causing a bruise on 10/6/2020. Staff #3 reported that administration was not advised of the injury on 10/6/20 and that no injury report had been created on 10/6/2020. Administration was first notified of the injury by the parent of Child #1 on 10/7/2020 at 9:15 AM. 2. On 10/27/2020 the licensing inspector reviewed a written statement signed by Staff #1. On 10/7/2020 Staff #1 wrote that during naptime on 10/6/2020, the following occurred: Staff #1 was lying next to the cot of Child #1 (18 months old). Staff #1 stated "He swung on me. He did hit me in the face while I was lying there." Staff #1 stated "I used my mouth to catch his arm, leaving the mark." 3. On 12/17/2020, the licensing inspector reviewed the center's discipline policy from the "Parent Handbook." The center's policy states "there will be no physical punishment or disciplinary action administered." 4. On 10/27/20 the licensing inspector reviewed the center's accident reporting policy found in the "Employee Handbook." The center's policy states "When an accident occurs the teacher should take care of the child's injuries and complete an Accident Report Form as soon as possible." It further states that staff shall "notify the manager on duty that an accident has occurred."
Plan of Correction:	Administration states "The care, protection and safety of the children in our care is our priority. Once the incident was reported to the director, we immediately started the investigation. We then contacted the appropriate agencies ourselves to report the incident. The staff member involved was immediately terminated. Although an incident report was not filled out immediately by the staff member on that day, one was completed as soon as the investigation was completed the following day when it was brought to our attention. We then immediately contacted the family by phone and had a sit-down conferences with them as well."
Standard #:	22VAC40-185-410-1
Description:	Based on documentation review, the facility did not ensure that physical punishment, striking a child, or roughly handling a child was forbidden. Evidence: 1. On 10/27/2020 the licensing inspector reviewed a written statement signed by Staff #1. On 10/7/2020 Staff #1 wrote that during naptime on 10/6/2020, the following occurred: Staff #1 was lying next to the cot of Child #1 (18 months old). Staff #1 stated "He swung on me. He did hit me in the face while I was lying there." Staff #1 stated "I used my mouth to catch his arm, leaving the mark." 2. On 10/27/2020 the licensing inspector reviewed a written statement signed by Staff #2. On 10/7/2020 Staff #2 wrote that at approximately 4:45 PM on 10/6/2020 she noticed a "bite mark" on the right forearm of Child #1 "that was starting to bruise." Staff #2 spoke to Staff #1 about the bite mark and Staff #1 responded that he had caused the injury and "he didn't think it would leave a mark because he was wearing a mask." 3. On 10/7/2020, the licensing inspector conducted an interview with administration. Staff #3 reported that the employment of Staff #1 had been terminated on 10/7/2020 after admitting to biting Child #1 on the arm, causing a bite-mark shaped bruise, on 10/6/2020. 4. On 10/23/2020, the licensing inspector conducted an interview with an outside agency. The outside agency provided a statement that Staff #1 had been charged with the assault of Child #1. 5. Documentation from an outside agency reviewed on 12/7/2020 indicated physical abuse of Child #1 by Staff #1 had occurred. 6. On 10/27/2020 the licensing inspector observed a photo which was provided by center administration Staff #3. The photo showed a child's forearm, with a bruised area in the shape of a bite mark, in which both the top and lower rows of teeth left a mark. Staff #3 identified the individual in the photo as Child #1, and the photo having been taken on 10/7/2020.
Plan of Correction:	Administration states the following: "As previously stated, the care, protection and safety of the children in our care is out priority. The staff members involved are no longer employed with our company. While investigating the situation the staff member stated there was no malicious intent, it was just to stop his arm from swinging at him in the face. After the investigation, we immediately contacted outside agencies and self-reported the incident and took a photo of the bite for documentation. The photo did not show any teeth marks as the outside agency commented it looked like he was wearing a mask. The current staff who care for the children received positive guidance training regarding developmentally appropriate interactions with children. The family involved in the incident understands that are number one priority is the safety of our children and they are still enrolled in our care."
Standard #:	22VAC40-185-550-L
Description:	Based on a review of documentation, the facility failed to ensure that parents shall be notified of minor injuries by the end of the day. Evidence: 1. On 10/23/2020 the licensing inspector reviewed a written statement from Staff #2. Staff #2 wrote the following: On 10/6/2020 she observed a bite mark beginning to bruise on the forearm of Child #1 at approximately 4:45 PM. Staff #1 asked Staff #2 if he had reported the injury and Staff #1 stated he had not. 2. On 10/7/2020 the licensing inspector interviewed Staff #3, an administrator at the facility. Staff #3 reported the following: At 9:15 AM on 10/7/2020 the parent of Child #1 asked for an explanation about how Child #1 had received a bite mark on his forearm. Staff #3 was first aware of and first observed the injury at this time. While speaking with staff, both Staff #1 and Staff #2 acknowledged observing the injury on 10/6/2020 and did not report this to parents or administration.
Plan of Correction:	Administration states the following: "When the incident was brought to our attention, we immediately started the investigation. After the investigation was completed the next day and statements reviewed, we immediately contacted the appropriate agencies along with the parents of the child by phone and had a sit-down conference with them. An incident report was completed and signed by the parent."
Standard #:	22VAC40-185-550-M
Description:	Based on a review of documentation and an interview, the facility did not ensure that a written record of a child's injury shall be made the day of the occurrence. Evidence: 1. On 10/23/2020 the licensing inspector reviewed a written statement from Staff #2. Staff #2 wrote the following: On 10/6/2020 she observed a bite mark beginning to bruise on the forearm of Child #1 at approximately 4:45 PM. Staff #1 asked Staff #2 if he had reported the injury and Staff #1 stated he had not. 2. On 10/7/2020 the licensing inspector interviewed Staff #3, an administrator at the facility. Staff #3 reported the following: At 9:15 AM on 10/7/2020 the parent of Child #1 asked for an explanation about how Child #1 had received a bite mark on his forearm. Staff #3 was first aware of and first observed the injury at this time. While speaking with staff, both Staff #1 and Staff #2 acknowledged observing the injury on 10/6/2020 and did not report this to parents or administration. 3. On 10/27/20 the licensing inspector reviewed an injury report for Child #1. The report was dated 10/7/2020 and indicated the injury occurred on 10/6/2020.
Plan of Correction:	Administration states the following: "As stated above, the incidents were reported immediately to the family after the investigation was completed the same day by phone and sit-down conference. An incident report was completed and signed by the parent. Management reviewed the procedures on documenting accident reports and injury reports with the staff."