VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES

West End Montessori School
9307 Quioccasin Road
Richmond, VA 23229
(804) 523-7536

Current Inspector: Susan Ellington-Sconiers (804) 588-2368

Inspection Date: May 20, 2021

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. 22VAC40-191 Background Checks (22VAC40-191) 63.2(17) License & Registration Procedures

Comments:

This inspection was conducted by licensing staff using an alternate remote protocol, necessary due to a state of emergency health pandemic declared by the Governor of Virginia. A monitoring inspection was initiated on May 20, 2021 and concluded on May 20, 2021. The director was contacted by telephone to initiate the inspection. There were 56 children present and eight staff. The inspector emailed the director a list of items required to complete the inspection. The Inspector reviewed four children?s records and four staff records submitted by the facility to ensure documentation was complete. Information gathered during the inspection determined non-compliance(s) with applicable standards or law and violations were documented on the violation notice issued to the facility. The Licensing Inspector has reviewed with the provider COVID-19 Essential Guidance for Child Care programs.

Violations:

Standard #:	63.2(17)-1720.1-B-4
Description:	Based on the review of three staff records, the center did not request the results of an out of state sex offender registry check and a search of founded complaints of child abuse or neglect within the required timeframe from any state in which the applicant had resided in the preceding five years for one staff member. Evidence: 1. The record for Staff #1 (hire date 02/09/2021) indicated the staff had resided in another state outside of Virginia within the last five years. The record did not contain a sex offender registry check from the state the staff member had resided. The out-of-state sex offender registry is required to be obtained prior to hiring. 2. The record for staff #1 (hire date 02/09/2021) contained documentation the out of state Child Abuse and Neglect search had been request on 04/29/2021. Out of state child abuse and neglect checks are required to be requested by the end of the 30th day of employment. The date of the request exceeded the hire date by more than 30 days. The record contained the completed child abuse and neglect search dated 05/11/2021.
Plan of Correction:	Per the owner: An error was found in the file of Staff #1 on 04/27/2021. It is believed that the error occurred during the initial interview when paperwork was given to the employee for background checks. ? When the employee was asked if she lived out of state within the past five years, it was noted that her answer was ?No?. This was an error on the part of the interviewer due to a language barrier and masks. Sworn Disclosure and Application show that the employee did live out of state briefly from 2017-18 in New Jersey. These documents were not checked for content, just file completion. Staff #1 began work on February 19, 2021. As per WEMS policy, new employees do not work unsupervised for at least 60 days. When the error was discovered on April 27, 2021, Staff #1 was given administration work in the office, not with the children, even though she was still being supervised. The following day, April 28, 2021, the employee was asked for all previous addresses in New Jersey and dates of residence. Once the data was collected, a CARI check from New Jersey's Department of Children and Families was submitted April 29, 2021. On May 11, when the background check from New Jersey was received, Staff #1 was again scheduled in the classrooms. PLAN FOR PREVENTION : Use Sworn Affidavit to cross-check initial interview information. ? Complete the three out-of-state background checks as needed in the required timeframe.