VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES

Smart Start
610 18th Street
West point, VA 23181
(804) 843-4869

Current Inspector: LaTasha Smith (804) 588-2362

Inspection Date: Feb. 2, 2023

Complaint Related: Yes

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

Comments:

The licensing inspector completed an unannounced complaint inspection in response to a self-reported incident regarding forbidden action that occurred at the center on December 8, 2022. The department was notified of the incident on December 8, 2022. The investigation was initiated on February 2, 2023 and completed on February 24, 2023. On February 2, 2023, the licensing inspector conducted an unannounced inspection from approximately 10:00am until 12:30pm. Interviews were completed, observations were made, and documentation was reviewed. Additionally, the Licensing Inspector received and reviewed video footage on February 24, 2023. The preponderance of the evidence gathered during the investigation supports areas of noncompliance with the licensing standards related to forbidden action of children. Violations of standards were found during the inspection and are identified on the violation notice. 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. You should 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 stand(s), 2) measures to prevent the noncompliance from occurring again; and 3) person(s) responsible for implementing each step and/or monitoring any preventive measure(s). If you have any questions, please contact the licensing inspector, LaTasha Smith, at (804) 588-2362.

Violations:

Standard #:	8VAC20-780-410-1
Complaint related:	No
Description:	Based on a review of documentation, interviews, and video footage, the center did not ensure that staff did not use a forbidden action of rough handling a child. Evidence: 1) Video footage of the infant classroom reviewed on February 24, 2023, revealed that on December 8, 2023, Staff #1 roughly handled an infant in care. In the video, staff were observed feeding an infant, while another teacher was preparing formula. There was a third teacher who entered the classroom 15 seconds into the video with an infant that was asleep. The infant was placed on a mat on the floor with a blanket. The video, which was 1 minutes and 39 seconds in length, shows Staff #1 enter the classroom and places her things down. She then proceeds to pick up child # 1 by his right arm and swings him as she grabs his left arm and the child is dangling in the air. Staff #1 then proceeds to take a few steps toward a bean bag on the floor while holding Child #1 by both arms. Staff #1 picks up a stuff animal with one hand and drops it on the floor while holding child #1 by the left arm as the child dangled in the air while she then kicks the bean bag with her foot. Staff #1 then grabs child #1?s right arm and is holding the child by both arms. A staff then takes child #1 and holds the child in her arms. Child #1?s feet were observed off the ground for a approximately 17 seconds.
Plan of Correction:	Not available online. Contact Inspector for more information.
Standard #:	8VAC20-780-440-G
Complaint related:	No
Description:	Based on observation and video footage, the center failed to use a crib for children under 12 months of age who are not developmentally ready to sleep on a cot or mat. Evidence: 1. A teacher placed a sleeping infant on a mat. The teacher then covered the infant with a blanket.
Plan of Correction:	Not available online. Contact Inspector for more information.