VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES

River's Bend Children's Center
12201 Kingston Avenue
Chester, VA 23836
(804) 530-5600

Current Inspector: Jennifer Moore (540) 430-0384

Inspection Date: Dec. 9, 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. 8VAC20-820 THE LICENSE. 8VAC20-820 THE LICENSING PROCESS. 8VAC20-770 Background Checks (8VAC20-770) 20 Access to minors records 22.1 Background Checks Code, Carbon Monoxide 22.1 Early Childhood Care and Education

Comments:

An unannounced monitoring inspection was initiated and concluded on 12/9/2022. The inspector was on site from approximately 9:40 am-12:07 pm. There were 17 children present, ranging in ages from 6 months to 2 years, with 7 staff supervising. The inspector reviewed compliance in the areas of administration, physical plant, staffing and supervision, programming, medication, special care and emergencies, nutrition and background checks. A total of 5 child records and 5 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 today. You will need to specify how the deficient practice will be or has been corrected. Just writing the word corrected is not acceptable. Your plan of correction must contain: 1) steps to correct the noncompliance with the standard(s), 2) measures to prevent the noncompliance from occurring again; and 3) person(s) responsible for implementing each step and/or monitoring any preventative measures. Please do not use staff names; list staff by positions only.

Violations:

Standard #:	8VAC20-780-40-M
Description:	Based on observation and interview, the center did not ensure to maintain, in a way that is accessible to all staff who work with children, a current written list of all children's allergies, sensitivities, and dietary restrictions documented in the allergy plan required in 8VAC20-780-60 A 8. This list shall be dated and kept confidential in each room or area where children are present. Evidence: 1. The allergy lists were observed to be posted in the infant, toddler and two year old classrooms. The lists were not posted in a way to maintain confidentiality as required. In the art room and one of the school age rooms, a list was not available. 2. Administration acknowledged that the postings were not kept in a confidential manner and available in all rooms where children were present.
Plan of Correction:	We do not have any school age children enrolled with diagnosed allergies or food intolerances. We currently have one infant and two two year olds with food allergies. The classrooms where the allergy list was not posted were both school age classrooms. One was the game room where infant, toddlers and two year old children never enter! The second was out art room where two year old children will enter for shot visits but never eat snack or lunch. However, to abide by state Licensing, allergy lists were added to these rooms on 12-9-2022. As far as covering the allergy list to maintain confidentiality, we have done this as well. However, we strongly disagree with this requirement and shared this opinion many times with state officials. Food allergies can sometimes be a very serious condition which can never be overlooked. "Hiding" the allergy list to maintain confidentiality could possibly lead to "out of sight, out of mind." All of our parents with children of allergies have requested that out lists not be hidden. They appear to be more concerned with the well-being of their child than confidentiality issues. It is my belief that state Licensing will revise this policy in the future. We certainly hope so.
Standard #:	8VAC20-780-60-A-8
Description:	Based on a review of records and interview, the center did not ensure to obtain a written care plan for each child with a diagnosed food allergy, to include instructions from a physician regarding the food to which the child is allergic and the steps to be taken in the event of a suspected or confirmed allergic reaction. Evidence: 1. The record of child #1 (date of enrollment: 8/22/2022) indicated that the child had a diagnosed food allergy. The center did not have documentation of a written care plan for the child as required. 2. Administration acknowledged that they did not have a written care plan for child #1.
Plan of Correction:	The parent was called on 12/9/2022 and instructed to contact their doctor and secure an appropriate Allergy Care Plan.
Standard #:	8VAC20-780-270-A
Description:	Based on observation and interview, the center did not ensure that areas and equipment of the center, inside and outside, were maintained in a clean, safe and operable condition. Evidence: 1. The center's bus was inspected on 12/9/2022. Rips and tears were observed on several of the passenger seats which exposed the foam cushioning. 2. Administration acknowledged that there were tears in the bus seats.
Plan of Correction:	The Description of Violation as it is written is not correct. It reads: Based on observation...the center did not ensure that areas, and equipment of the center, inside and outside, were maintained in a clean safe and operable condition. Although six classrooms and a gymnasium were inspected, no item or area was found to be "unsafe or inoperable" inside the building. The rips and tears were found on the aisle side corner of our bus seats which is outside the building. The day after the inspection, our bus was taken to an upholstery shop to be evaluated. We are having all of the seat cushions on the bus re-upholstered the week of Christmas since during this week we are using the bus. This will be a business expense of 2,250.00. It was suggest we avoid this by covering our seats with duct tape, however duct tape on a bus seat used by school aged children every day would be an extremely short term solution. As the tape peels away it will undoubtably collect dirt, hair and become unsanitary. We completely support the purpose of this State Licensing regulation which is trying to prevent young children from digesting foam located inside seat cushions. Our experience however suggests that children ages infant to twos years are of the age that typically will attempt to put items in their mouth which could be unsafe so we strongly support and implement any and all measures to support this. Children ages infant to twos years are not permitted on our school bus so the condition of our seats was not a top priority.
Standard #:	8VAC20-780-540-C
Description:	Based on observation and interview, the center did not ensure that their vehicle's first aid kit contained the required supplies. Evidence: 1. The first aid kit on the center's bus was inspected on 12/9/2022. The first aid kit contained a bottle of antiseptic that expired in July of 2022. 2. Administration acknowledged that the kit did not contain non expired antiseptic.
Plan of Correction:	A new bottle of antiseptic was purchased on 12-9-2022 and placed on the bus prior to the bus departing to pick up our school age children after school.