VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES

The Learning Connection Child Development Center
7172 Pole Green Road
Mechanicsville, VA 23116
(804) 559-1005

Current Inspector: LaTasha Smith (804) 588-2362

Inspection Date: March 23, 2022

Complaint Related: No

Areas Reviewed:

8VAC20-780 Administration. 8VAC20-780 Staff Qualifications and Training. 8VAC20-780 Physical Plant. 8VAC20-780 Staffing and Supervision. 8VAC20-780 Programs. 8VAC20-780 Special Care Provisions and Emergencies. 8VAC20-780 Special Services. 8VAC20-770 Background Checks (8VAC20-770) 22.1 Background Checks Code, Carbon Monoxide

Technical Assistance:

n/a

Comments:

This inspection was conducted by licensing staff using an alternate remote protocol, including telephone contacts, documents review, interviews and a virtual tour of the program. A monitoring inspection was initiated on 03/23/2022 and concluded on 03/31/2022. The director was contacted by telephone and a virtual inspection was conducted. There were 97 children present with 25 staff supervising. The inspector reviewed compliance in the areas of administration, physical plant, staffing and supervision, programming, medication, special care and emergencies and nutrition. A total of five child records and five staff records were reviewed. Information gathered during the inspection determined non-compliance with applicable standards or law and violations were documented on the violation notice issued to the program. 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).

Violations:

Standard #:	22.1-289.035-B-4
Description:	Based on a review of five staff records and interview, the center did not obtain the results of a search of the child abuse and neglect registry or equivalent registry from any state in which one staff member had resided in the preceding five years within the required time frame. Evidence: 1) The record for Staff #2, hired on 02/10/22, indicated the staff had resided in another state outside of Virginia within the last five years. The record did not contain the results of a search of the child abuse and neglect registry from that state. 2) During interview, a member of management confirmed the out-of-state search of the child abuse and neglect registry has not been requested for Staff #2. The out-of-state search for founded complaints of child abuse or neglect is required to be requested within the first 30 days of being hired.
Plan of Correction:	Per the Center: "The center obtained all required background checks for the State of Virginia and obtained the sex offender registry for the State of Colorado. We have printed the child abuse and neglect form for Colorado and it was filled out by the employee. We received the Interstate Child Care Background Check Contact List that included contact and registry information from all states. If we are interested in an applicant and we receive an eligible Virginia fingerprint background check, the Assistant Director will use the Interstate Child Care Background Check Contact list to print the proper documents for the out-of-state background checks. The new employee must turn in all of the out-of-state background checks to the Assistant Director on or before the first date of employment. All files will be reviewed by two Directors to make sure we are in compliance."
Standard #:	8VAC20-770-60-C-2
Description:	Based on a review of five staff records and interview, the center did not ensure one staff member had a central registry finding within 30 days of employment. Evidence: 1) The central registry finding in the record for Staff #5, hired on 11/30/21, was dated 01/12/22. 2) During interview, a member of management confirmed the central registry finding for Staff #3 was not received within 30 days of employment. The center did not follow up with the Office of Background Investigation (OBI) to inquire about the results and the staff was continuously employed.
Plan of Correction:	Per the Center: "The Director will train and make sure the current Assistant Director reads, understands, and follows through with this standard. The Director will follow-up with the Assistant Director periodically to make sure she understands. We have created a spreadsheet that will allow us to track the hire date, date paperwork is received, and remind us when expiration dates are approaching."
Standard #:	8VAC20-780-160-A-1
Description:	Based on a review of five staff records and interview, the center did not ensure that one staff member had a tuberculosis screening at the time of employment and prior to coming into contact with children. Evidence: 1) The tuberculosis screening in the record for Staff #2, hired on 02/10/22, was completed on 02/11/22. 2) During interview, a member of managment confirmed the tuberculosis screening for Staff #2 was not obtained at the time of employment.
Plan of Correction:	Per the Center: "The Director will make sure all necessary paperwork is properly filled out and obtained before any employee begins employment at The Learning Connection, CDC. Perspective employees are now given a checklist with all of the items needed to be completed and handed in on the first day of employment."