VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES

Churchland KinderCare #1348
6025 Churchland Boulevard
Portsmouth, VA 23703
(757) 484-9377

Current Inspector: Heather Harrell (757) 334-4329

Inspection Date: Sept. 18, 2023

Complaint Related: No

Areas Reviewed:

8VAC20-780 Administration. 8VAC20-780 Staff Qualifications and Training. 8VAC20-780 Physical Plant. 8VAC20-780 Staffing and Supervision. 63.2 Child Abuse & Neglect

Comments:

An investigation was initiated on 9/13/23 in response to a self-reported incident received by the department regarding supervision of children. The incident was investigated jointly with the local agency. An on-site inspection was conducted on 9/18/23 and interviews with staff were conducted. Documentation and records related to the incident were also reviewed. Based on the information gathered during the investigation, the self-reported incident is determined to be valid. Violations in the areas of administration and supervision are cited on the violation notice and were discussed with center management at the conclusion of the investigation.

Violations:

Standard #:	8VAC20-780-40-E
Description:	Based on interviews and a review of the center?s policies, the center failed to demonstrate operational responsibilities ensuring that the center?s activities, services and facilities are maintained in compliance with the center?s own policies and procedures. Evidence: The center failed to follow their written policies regarding supervision of children as demonstrated by the following incident: 1. The center?s policy for supervision of children states ?All individual and/or groups of children must be supervised at all times while in our care?children must not be left alone or unsupervised in classrooms, hallways, offices, lobbies, bathrooms, playgrounds or vehicles?. The center?s policy for playground supervision further states ?Children must be counted name-to-face using the CSR (child supervision record) every half hour and during transition to and from the classroom and the playground?. a. It was reported that on 9/12/23, child 1, age 18 months, was left alone on the playground without staff supervision for approximately 5 minutes. b. The staff members responsible for the direct care of child 1, confirmed that they did not follow the center?s policies for supervision of children, nor did they follow the center?s policy for playground supervision and the use of the Child Supervision Record (CSR).
Plan of Correction:	The center responded with the following: The AD/CD management team conducted a staff meeting on 9/20/23 where we retrained on safety and supervision for the entire staff, bathroom supervision, playground safety and supervision, and safe transitions from one area to another using the Child Supervision Record sheet to ensure children are always within sight and sound. We have a chalkboard and notebook in the Infant and toddler rooms to establish proper group care where a teacher is assigned a specific child for the day.
Standard #:	8VAC20-780-340-F
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: 1. The center self-reported that on 9/12/23, child 1, age 18 months, was left unattended on the playground by staff in the toddler classroom. 2. Staff 1 stated she was working in the two-year old classroom when she heard a ?whining? sound and saw a shadow on the window. Staff 1 stated she looked out of the window and saw child 1 alone outside on the playground. 3. Staff members responsible for the direct care of child 1 confirmed that child 1 was found unsupervised on the playground. 4. Child 1 was out of sight and sound supervision of staff for approximately 5 minutes from the time the toddler class came inside from the playground until the time staff 1 found her alone on the playground.
Plan of Correction:	The center responded with the following: On 9/18/23, all toddler staff did a mandatory retrain on how to complete the name-to-face transition properly on the Child Supervision Record sheet to ensure children are always within sight and sound. The AD/CD management team monitored all transitions for the toddler team for the next 4 weeks to ensure things were done correctly for transition. Anytime, there was an error this allowed us to coach in the moment and demonstrate to the team the proper way to complete the transition. On 10/9/23, we had a professional development training with the entire staff where we had all staff retrain on the proper way to complete a name-to-face transition on the Child Supervision Record sheet to ensure children are always within sight and sound. On 9/20/23, our corporate partner visited the center to help map out a training plan for the newly hired toddler team. She also observed transitions and answered questions in the moment.