VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES

Gateway Freewill Baptist Church
5473 Virginia Beach Boulevard
Virginia beach, VA 23462
(757) 499-6551

VDSS Contact: Trisha Brown (757) 404-2601

Inspection Date: April 9, 2019

Complaint Related: Yes

Areas Reviewed:

22VAC40-191 Background Checks for Child Welfare Agencies 63.2(17) License & Registration Procedures 63.2 Facilities & Programs.

Comments:

An unannounced complaint inspection was conducted on 4/9/19 in response to a complaint that was self-reported by the center on 4/3/19 regarding alleged noncompliance related to the supervision of children in care. Two staff were interviewed, polices were reviewed and video footage was viewed. A third staff was interviewed via telephone on 5/6/19. The information gathered during the investigation supports the allegations, so the complaint is found to be valid. Violations were cited in areas of the Code of Virginia applicable to Religiously Exempt Child Care Centers and appear of the violation notice. The information gathered during the investigation supports the allegations, so the complaint is found to be valid. Thank you for your time during today's inspection. Please do not hesitate to contact me if I may be of assistance.

Violations:

Standard #:	63.2(17)-1716-B-2
Complaint related:	No
Description:	Based on interviews and review of video recordings, the center failed to implement their established procedures for appropriate supervision of all children in care, to ensure the safety of children. Evidence: The center director self -reported to the inspector on 4/3/19 that on 4/2/19 a parent reported that five two-year-old children were observed unsupervised in the hallway for a brief amount of time. Staff interviews confirmed that there were 10 children and 2 staff in the classroom on 4/2/19. Staff confirmed that 5 two-year-old children exited their classroom through the door which was left slightly ajar by a staff#2 who had walked across the hall to retrieve a cabinet key. Staff #1 confirmed that the children wandered down the hallway toward the cafeteria and were observed by a parent who entered the building. Staff #1 stated that she was wiping down the snack table when she realized the room was very quiet and looked up to find 5 of the children gone. Staff #1 stated that as she was walking out of the classroom door to look for the children a parent was approaching and calling out to staff. Staff #2 who had walked across the hall stated that she heard staff #1 call out for assistance and and ran down the hallway retrieving the children from the cafeteria and bringing them back to the classroom. Video footage shows the children in the hallway at 4:24 then staff running to retrieve them at 4:26 and children coming back into the classroom at 4:27. Staff #1 and #2 both confirmed that the children were unsupervised for 3 to 5 minutes and that they were both unaware that the children had exited the classroom during this period of time. Staff #1 and Staff #2 stated that the children appeared happy and unharmed as they returned to the classroom.
Plan of Correction:	The program director stated that retraining and a review of supervision policies were ronducted with all staff. Continued training and spot checking by administration is being implemented. A gate is installed on the door to this classroom which will be kept closed at all times.