VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES

Luray United Methodist Church
1 West Main Street
Luray, VA 22835
(540) 743-6540

VDSS Contact: Julie Kunowsky (540) 430-9256

Inspection Date: Sept. 26, 2019

Complaint Related: No

Areas Reviewed:

22VAC40-191 Background Checks for Child Welfare Agencies 63.2 Child Abuse & Neglect 63.2(17) License & Registration Procedures

Comments:

An unannounced monitoring inspection was conducted at Luray United Methodist Church on 9/26/19 from 9:00 am until 11:00 am to review the religious exempt requirements. At the time of the inspection 16 children were in care with six staff members present. The sample size consisted of six staff's records and five children's records. Children and staff were observed during free play, educational and artistic activities, music, snack, bathroom break, hand washing, transitions and behavioral guidance. Violations were found during this inspection and are documented on the violation notice. If you have questions or concerns contact the licensing inspector at (540) 848-4123 for further assistance.

Violations:

Standard #:	22VAC40-191-40-D-2
Description:	Based on record review and interview, the center failed to have staff sign a sworn disclosure statement prior to the first day of employment and have a completed central registry record check by the end of the 30th day of employment. Evidence: 1. Five staff records were reviewed. Staff 1's start date was 9/3/15. The sworn statement was dated 10/28/15 and the central registry was dated 4/15/16. Staff 3's start date was 9/5/17. There was no sworn statement or central registry for staff 3. Staff 4's start date was 9/3/15. The sworn statement was dated 1/18/16 and the central registry was dated 4/15/16. Staff 5's start date was 9/5/17. There was no sworn statement or central registry for staff 5. 2. The director verified the dates are accurate.
Plan of Correction:	Staff 3 and staff 5 will be required to complete the sworn statement and paperwork for the central registry within five days and the central registry will be mailed upon receipt. In the future the sworn statement and the documentation for the central registry will be completed as part of the application. The central registry will then be mailed upon hire.
Standard #:	63.2(17)-1716-A-4
Description:	Based on record review and interview, the center failed to ensure each staff member has been certified by a physician, physician assistant, or nurse practitioner to be free from any disability which would prevent him from caring for children under his/her supervision. Evidence: 1. Staff 6 was observed teaching songs to the children in care. The director stated staff 6 regularly sings with the children and is a paid staff member of the church. 2. The director stated staff 6 does not have a staff health report.
Plan of Correction:	Staff 6 will be required to obtain a staff health report. In the future any staff that work with the children and are employed by the church will be required to obtain a staff health report.
Standard #:	63.2(17)-1716-B-3
Description:	Based on record review and interview, the center failed to establish and implement a procedure in which a daily health screening and exclusion of sick children by a person trained to perform such a screening is conducted daily. Evidence: 1. None of the staff records reviewed contained documentation of daily health screening training. The written policies reviewed did not contain information regarding daily health screening. 2. The director stated they have a sick child and exclusion policy and conduct daily health screenings each day but no staff are formally trained.
Plan of Correction:	At least one staff member will be trained in daily health screening. In the future someone will always be present with daily health screening training.
Standard #:	63.2(17)-1716-B-6
Description:	Based on record review and interview, the center failed to establish and implement a procedure to ensure that all staff are able to recognize the signs of child abuse and neglect. Evidence: The director stated all staff except staff 6 are retired teachers and received training in recognizing child abuse and neglect prior to working at the center. Staff 6 has not received the training.
Plan of Correction:	Staff 6 will be required to obtain the training in recognizing child abuse and neglect. In the future all new staff that are unable to provide documentation of completing training in recognizing child abuse and neglect will be required to complete the training prior to working with children.
Standard #:	63.2(17)-1720.1-B-2
Description:	Based on record review and interview, the center failed to obtain fingerprint-based criminal history check determination letters prior to the first day of employment for staff hired after 1/22/18 and by 9/30/18 for staff hired prior to 1/22/18. Evidence: 1. The records for six staff were reviewed. All staff were hired before 1/22/18. None of the staff have fingerprint-based criminal history check determination letters completed with fieldprint. 2. The director stated they thought the fingerprint background checks they obtained from the state police met the requirement.
Plan of Correction:	All staff will have an appointment set up with fieldprint as soon as it can be scheduled. In the future new staff will be required to provide fingerprint-based criminal history check determination letters completed with fieldprint prior to hire.
Standard #:	63.2(17)-1720.1-B-3
Description:	Based on record review and interview, the center failed to obtain a search of child abuse and neglect registry or equivalent registry maintained by any other state in which a new staff has resided in the preceding five years for any founded complaint of child abuse or neglect against him/her by the end of the 30th day of employment. Evidence: 1. The records of six staff were reviewed. Staff 2's record has documentation of staff 2 living in TN within the last five years. There is not documentation in the record of a completed out-of-state child abuse and neglect search being conducted in TN. 2. The director verified they have not completed a child abuse and neglect search in TN.
Plan of Correction:	A child abuse and neglect background search request will be sent to TN. In the future when new staff are hired they will be asked if they have lived outside of VA within the last five years and if they have a search will be requested upon hire.