VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES

Roberta Webb Child Care Center
400 Kelley Street
Harrisonburg, VA 22802
(540) 434-8699

Current Inspector: Stephanie Reed (540) 272-6558

Inspection Date: May 6, 2022

Complaint Related: Yes

Areas Reviewed:

8VAC20-780 Administration 8VAC20-780 Staffing and Supervision. 8VAC20-780 Programs. 8VAC20-770 Background Checks (8VAC20-770) 22.1 Background Checks Code, Carbon Monoxide 63.2 Child Abuse & Neglect

Comments:

A complaint inspection was initiated on May 6, 2022 and concluded on May 13, 2022. A complaint was received in the Office of Child Care Health & Safety (Valley) on May 5, 2022 regarding supervision of children, care and protection of children, ratios, and background checks. Interviews were conducted and video footage reviewed on May 6, 2022, and interviews were also conducted with outside agency on May 10, 2022. The inspector reviewed compliance in the areas of administration, staffing and supervision, and programming. A total of one child record was reviewed and eight staff were interviewed. The information gathered during the investigation does support a portion of the allegation, so the allegation is determined to be "valid". The exceptions to compliance are noted on the violation notice. If you have any questions or concerns please contact the Licensing Inspector at 540-430-9257.

Violations:

Standard #:	63.2-1509-A
Complaint related:	Yes
Description:	Based on interviews, the center failed to immediately report child negligence to the local department of the city wherein the neglect occurred or to the Department?s toll-free child abuse and neglect hotline. Evidence: 1. On 4/12/2022 a four year old child was left on the playground unsupervised from approximately 11:43 A.M.-11:52 A.M. 2. Staff #3 verified in an interview that the incident was not reported to the Department of Education or to the local office of child protective services. 3. The Department of Education became aware of the incident during an complaint investigation at the center on 05/06/2022.
Plan of Correction:	RWEEC chose to discipline the employee internally. This included a formal write-up added to their personnel file and a 2 day suspension without pay. In response to this incident RWEEC will employ a combination of internal disciplinary action along with contacting our VDOE Licensing Agent.
Standard #:	8VAC20-780-340-A
Complaint related:	Yes
Description:	Based on interviews and review of video footage, the center failed to ensure the care and protection of children at all times. Evidence: 1. On 4/12/2022 a four year old child was left on the playground unsupervised from approximately 11:43 A.M.-11:52 A.M. 2. Review of the video footage shows that at 11:52 A.M. Child #1 exits the playground through a gate and walks to the door of the center and rings the doorbell to be let in the center. 3. Staff #4 stated in an interview that she heard the doorbell ring and when she went to the door that Child #1 was standing outside and waiting to be let in. 4. Staff #1 stated she was unaware that the child was left on the playground until Staff #4 returned Child to the classroom after the child rang the center doorbell at 11:52 A.M. 5. The exit to the playground is adjacent and accessible to the parking lot and leads out to the road that runs in front of the center.
Plan of Correction:	As seen in video documentation, on the day of the incident the teacher in the three year old classroom had students line up along the playground fence and began a head count. As the teacher conducted the head count, the fourth student in line who had already been counted, stepped out of line and returned to the playground as the teacher was turning to count additional children. The teacher retrieved the child who returned to the playground. This child now rejoined the class line, but at the rear. This child was counted a second time, once at the beginning of the line and a second time upon returning to the rear of the line. This child is the same gender as the child who was hiding, has similar hair color, and hair length. These two children look similar from the perspective of an adult looking down upon either of their heads. The teacher concluded the head count with the correct number of children because of the child who exited and re-entered the class line being counted twice. In response to this incident RWEEC has implemented a visual reminder to count children each time a class leaves and enters the facility. While the teacher involved in the incident was not negligent in responsibilities, RWEEC has added another layer of protection to our protocols for our students and staff. A number bin for each class has been installed next to the front door. Upon exiting the building teachers adhere to the door molding the number shape that correlates to the number of children currently in attendance in their class. There are also cutouts of children taped to the entryway floor. Upon re-entering the building children will each stand on one cutout child while the teacher counts students. The number of floor children occupied will equal the number adhered to the door molding, confirming that all children have re-entered the building. The new visual count was installed and implemented on May 11, 2022. In response to this incident the gate latch on the playground fence at RWEEC has been raised so that it is out of reach of children, but still accessible to adults. The gate latch was raised on May 11, 2022. In response to this incident a sink will be installed in the three year old classroom to allow for hand washing to occur within the room before lunch. This installation will address the suggestion put forth by VDOE?s licensing agent which was made during our licensing inspection the day prior to the incident. Sink installation will eliminate the need for students to line up against the interior bathroom walls when the four year old class is occupying the hallway bathroom chairs, a factor that contributed to this incident. Installation is scheduled for June 13 & 14, 2022.
Standard #:	8VAC20-780-340-F
Complaint related:	Yes
Description:	Based on review of video footage, the center failed to ensure sight and sound supervision to children under the age of 10 at all times. Evidence: A review of video footage, time stamped 04/12/2022, revealed the following occurred at the center on 4/12/2022. 1.On 4/12/2022 a four year old child was left on the playground unsupervised from approximately 11:43 A.M.-11:52 A.M. 2. Staff #1 was outside on the playground with 9 children. At approximately 11:42 A.M., Staff #1, lines the children up and begins the headcount. 3. At 11:43 A.M. the class and Staff #1 exit the playground. 4. At 11:45 A.M., Child #1, emerges from the red tunnel attached to the playground structure. 5.At 11:52 A.M., Child #1, exits the playground and rings the doorbell to the center. 6. At 11:52 A.M., Staff #4, answers the door and lets Child #1 into the building and takes her back to her classroom.
Plan of Correction:	As seen in video documentation, on the day of the incident cited in the inspection summary children in the three year old class were within site and sound supervision of teachers while on the playground. The children were called by their teacher to line up to return to their classroom. Children can be seen on video running towards their teacher. One student stops running, enters the red play tunnel and conceals themself from vision. This child was not previously playing near the red tunnel, but ran across the playground to the tunnel to hide. On video this child remains hiding in the tunnel for several minutes, exits the tunnel and returns to the hiding place on two additional occasions during the 9 minute time span. In response to this incident RWEEC will remove the red tunnel from our playground. While this equipment was not identified as a risk during a VDOE licensing visit the day prior to the incident, RWEEC will take the extra measure of precaution. RWEEC will also inspect other playground equipment to ensure that children are not able to conceal themselves from teachers and classmates, so that students remain within sight and sound of their teachers at all times while on the playground. Removal of the play tunnel will take place before June 15, 2022. The day prior to the incident, VDOE made a recommendation to the three year old classe?s routine during the time span after outdoor play and before lunch being served. Since the class only had 9 students in attendance on the day of the incident, one teacher re-entered the facility to implement part of the new routine while the students and remaining teacher began the process of lining up for head count. The class remained in ratio as there were less than 10 students in attendance. In response to this incident RWEEC will always have a teacher at the front and rear of class lines, regardless of ratio numbers being low. RWEEC will implement a sweep of the playground by the teacher at the rear of the class line before the class exits the playground. This new protocol was implemented April 13, 2022.