VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES

Skipwith Academy at Westchester (#65)
300 Schofield Drive
Midlothian, VA 23113
(804) 794-0531

Current Inspector: Molly Muscat (804) 588-2367

Inspection Date: Aug. 1, 2023

Complaint Related: Yes

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. 8VAC20-770 Background Checks (8VAC20-770) 20 Access to minor?s records 63.2 Child Abuse & Neglect

Comments:

A complaint inspection was initiated on August 1, 2023 in response to a complaint that was received on July 19, 2023 in reference to supervision. Documentation was reviewed and interviews were conducted. The preponderance of evidence gathered during the investigation supports violation of standards regarding the complaint. 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, 08/23/2023. 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 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 measure(s).

Violations:

Standard #:	22.1-289.035-B-4
Complaint related:	No
Description:	Based on record review, and interview, the center failed to obtain a copy of the results of a sex offender registry check, and a search of the child abuse and neglect registry from any state in which the individual has resided in the preceding five years. Evidence: The record for staff 1, date of employment 05/15/23, indicated that staff #1 has lived in three other states outside of Virginia in the last 5 years. Interview with the Director confirmed that the out of state background checks have not been completed.
Plan of Correction:	Per the center "obtaining prior to hire any states the staff may have lived in outside of the Virginia statute of 5 years will be assess and proper CPS searches will be conducted according to that state in a timely fashion. Out of state background checks have been submitted."
Standard #:	8VAC20-780-40-E
Complaint related:	No
Description:	Based on interviews, and documentation review, the center failed to follow it's own policies. Evidence: 1. The center's playground safety policy states that the playground safety checklist should be conducted each time the class re-enters the playground. One step of the playground safety checklist asks if the gates are secured and in good repair. Interviews with staff #1 and staff #2 revealed that they did not check the gates to confirm if they were secured. 2. The center's name to face accountability policy states that name to face should take place as the class crosses a threshold and on a regular basis. Interviews with staff #1 and staff #2 revealed that they did not perform the name to face check on a regular basis and did not perform it at all on July 18th when the class transitioned outside or while on the playground.
Plan of Correction:	Per the center "staff have been re-trained on conducting the playground review upon entering and exiting the playground area. Name to Face checks as well as alarms have been set on the I-Pads to ensure the teachers are completing this hourly. Name to Face signs have been posted at every potential check point as a reminder."
Standard #:	8VAC20-780-340-A
Complaint related:	No
Description:	Based on interviews, the center failed to ensure that when staff are supervising children, they shall always ensure their care, protection, and guidance. Evidence: On July 18th, at approximately 4 pm, child #1 (18 months) walked through an unlatched gate on the toddler playground which is located on the front of the building next to a parking lot and busy streets. Staff #3 saw child #1 walk past the front door of the center and immediately went outside to get the child. Staff #1, and staff #2 did not notice that child #1 had gone through the gate until staff #3 brought the child back.
Plan of Correction:	Per the center "all staff have been retrained on playground safety along with Name to Face Accountability. Playground safety checklists are completed daily."
Standard #:	8VAC20-780-340-F
Complaint related:	No
Description:	Based on interviews, the center failed to ensure that children under 10 years of age always shall be within actual sight and sound supervision of staff. Evidence: Interviews revealed that on July 18th at approximately 4:00 pm, child #1 (18 months) walked through an unlatched gate on the Toddler playground and towards the front of the building. Staff #3 saw the child walk past the front of the building and went out to get the child and brought the child back to the class. Staff #1, and staff #2, did not realize the child was missing until staff #3 brought the child back.
Plan of Correction:	Per the center "sight and sound supervision retraining has been completed by all staff. The gates have also been re-enforced to ensure the gates are properly catching as well as alarms have been added along with staff regularly checking them."
Standard #:	8VAC20-780-350-B-2
Complaint related:	No
Description:	Based on documentation review, and interview, the center failed to ensure that the staff to children ratios are followed whenever children are in care. Evidence: The Daily sign in-out report dated July 18th indicates that there were 12 children signed in to classroom #1 with children ages 16 months to 24 months with 2 staff at approximately 4:00 pm. Interview with the Director confirmed that there were two staff in the classroom at approximately 4:00 pm. The ratio for this age group is 1 staff for every 5 children.
Plan of Correction:	Per the center "a ratio check will be conducted hourly with staff calling a member of management to report if they have gone over ratio The ages for any child moved to another classroom will be checked first."