VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES

Starling International Child Care and Learning Complex
1784 Starling Drive
Henrico, VA 23229
(804) 346-2000

Current Inspector: Tara Barton (804) 381-8487

Inspection Date: Sept. 16, 2022

Complaint Related: No

Areas Reviewed:

8VAC20-780 Administration. 8VAC20-780 Staffing and Supervision

Comments:

The Division received a self reported incident on 9/12/2022 regarding supervision. An inspection was initiated on 9/16/2022. Additional interviews were conducted with two local agencies 11/09/2022, 11/22/2022, and 12/01/2022. Two staff files and one child's file was reviewed. The evidence 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 call me if you have any questions at 804-381-8487 or e-mail tara.barton@doe.virginia.gov.

Violations:

Standard #:	8VAC20-780-40-E
Description:	Based on interviews with staff and review of supervision policies, the facility failed to follow the center's own policies and procedures that are required by these standards. Evidence: The center's ?Lost or missing children? policy states "It is the program?s strict policy that no child is ever left alone. It is the teacher?s responsibility to know where children in attendance are at all times. Children must be under sight and sound supervision at all times.? On 9/12/2022, at approximately 3:24 p.m., Staff 2 reportedly told leadership that they could not locate Child 1 (age 2 years) on the playground or in the classroom. The child could not be located for at least 15 minutes.
Plan of Correction:	The facility policy is that children must be under sight and sound supervision at all times. After the fact, the staff and administrators went over the series of events that led up to the accident. It was discovered that the food delivery truck driver had left the exit gate to the service road leading to Aldi's open the gate in question has been permanently locked, and all deliveries are made through the front entry of the building, which is triple coded, locked and can only be accessed by an office attendant. Staff are being re-trained on playground safety "checks" before bringing children out to play. Staff are being re-trained on what actions to take if a child breaks away from the teacher and runs ahead of her/him. Using walkie-talkies, teachers are now able to contact the front office to request immediate assistance whenever needed. Staff are being re-trained to count children before, during, and after all transitions, as well as frequently during regular classroom and playground activities.
Standard #:	8VAC20-780-340-A
Description:	Based on interviews and review of documentation, the facility failed to ensure that when staff are supervising children, they always ensure their care, protection, and guidance. Evidence: 1. On 9/12/2022 at approximately 3:24 p.m., leadership was informed that Child 1 (age 2 years) was unable to be located on the playground. The teachers had searched the playground and the classroom. 2. At 3:28 p.m., law enforcement received a call from Passerby 1 regarding a child unattended in the Aldi parking lot. A second passerby reportedly ?scooped the child up? when he started running down the handicap ramp toward the intersection. Passerby 2 took the child into the grocery store to wait for law enforcement. 3. The police report stated that Staff 1 entered the Aldi store approximately 10 minutes after their arrival. Staff 1 stated the child was missing from the day care facility. 4. The grocery store is located off of a four-lane road at the intersection of Parham Road and Starling Drive. The speed limit on Parham road is 45 MPH.
Plan of Correction:	Not available online. Contact Inspector for more information.
Standard #:	8VAC20-780-340-D
Description:	Based on review of two staff records and interviews, the center failed to ensure at least one staff in each grouping of children meets lead teacher qualifications. Evidence: 1.The records of the two teachers in charge of the combined twos and threes class were reviewed. There was no documentation to support that either one meets lead teacher qualification. 2. The administrator stated that Staff 2 was the lead teacher in the class, but Staff 2 stated that she did not have the training or experience required to be lead.
Plan of Correction:	Staff #1 operated her own home day care center for a year and therefore, Administrator #1 believed that she met "lead teacher" qualifications. Administrators/program directors have been re-trained regarding the qualifications and documentation required to support a lead teacher or program leader designation. In the future administrators will pair a new qualified lead teacher with one of the center's 11 (eleven) qualified program leader/lead teachers until such time as the new teacher has demonstrated proficiency to be assigned to an independent grouping of children. All staff must take the 10-hour VA Department of Education's Pre-Service Training for Child Care Staff, the 3-hour VA Annual Health and Safety Update Training for Child Care Staff, the ?-hour Starling Orientation Video Training and In-Person Orientation, as well as passing the new "Classroom Ready" Tests
Standard #:	8VAC20-780-340-D
Description:	Based on review of two staff records and interviews, the center failed to ensure at least one staff in each grouping of children meets lead teacher qualifications. Evidence: 1.The records of the two teachers in charge of the combined twos and threes class were reviewed. There was no documentation to support that either one meets lead teacher qualification. 2. The administrator stated that Staff 2 was the lead teacher in the class, but Staff 2 stated that she did not have the training or experience required to be lead.
Plan of Correction:	Staff #1 operated her own home day care center for a year and therefore, Administrator #1 believed that she met "lead teacher" qualifications. Administrators/program directors have been re-trained regarding the qualifications and documentation required to support a lead teacher or program leader designation. In the future administrators will pair a new qualified lead teacher with one of the center's 11 (eleven) qualified program leader/lead teachers until such time as the new teacher has demonstrated proficiency to be assigned to an independent grouping of children. All staff must take the 10-hour VA Department of Education's Pre-Service Training for Child Care Staff, the 3-hour VA Annual Health and Safety Update Training for Child Care Staff, the ?-hour Starling Orientation Video Training and as well as passing the new "Classroom Ready" Tests, including but not limited to knowledge of: ? Job Responsibilities ? Policies and Procedures from Parent Handbook ? Playground Safety ? Child Abuse Reporting ? Confidentiality ? Emergency Preparedness and Response Plan ? Prevention of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome/Safe Sleep Practices ? Prevention of Shaken Baby Syndrome and Abusive Head Trauma ? Prevention of and Response to Emergencies Due to Food and Other Allergic Reactions ? Prevention and Control of Disease ? Procedures for Supervising a Child Who Arrives After Classes Have Begun ? Procedures to Confirm Absence of a Child When the Child is Scheduled to Arrive from Another Program ? Procedures for Identifying Where Attending Children Are at All Times ? Procedures for Action In Case of Lost or Missing Children ? Policy for Any Administration of Medication ? Emergency Evacuation, Relocation, Shelter-in-Place, and Lockdown Procedures
Standard #:	8VAC20-780-340-F
Description:	Based on interviews and a review of documentation, the facility failed to ensure children under the age of 10 years of age always shall be within actual sight and sound supervision of staff. Evidence: 1. At approximately 3:24 p.m. on 9/12/2022, leadership was informed that a (2 year old) child could not be located by staff. 2. Passerby 1 and Passerby 2 found the child alone in the Aldi parking lot. Passerby 1 contacted police at approximately 3:28 p.m. 3. Passerby 2 took the child into the Aldi store to wait for law enforcement. 4. The police report stated that a Staff 1 arrived at the grocery store 10 minutes after their arrival. Staff 1 stated the child was missing from the day care facility. 5. It is estimated that the child was out of sight and sound supervision of staff for a minimum of 15 minutes.
Plan of Correction:	A review of the center's timed security cameras saw the child break away and run ahead of the teachers in the direction of the gate at 3:24pm. When administrators/program directors were informed that a child was missing, administrator #1 called police and at 3:28pm, the police dispatcher reported that the child had been located and was safe. Administrator #1 did not know where the child was being held, so it took a few minutes to notify the other staff who were searching for the child and to find the child at Aldi's where he had been for approximately 10 minutes. The time between when the cameras saw the child running ahead of his teachers on the playground and the police reporting that the child was found safe was approximately 4 minutes.