VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES

Hope Lutheran Church
5350 Providence Road
Va. beach, VA 23464
(757) 424-4894

VDSS Contact: Kimberly Sampson (757) 354-7307

Inspection Date: May 17, 2023

Complaint Related: Yes

Areas Reviewed:

22.1 Religious Exempt; Background Checks Code; Carbon Monoxide 32.1 Report by person other than physician 63.2 Child abuse and neglect 8VAC20-770 Background Checks

Comments:

An unannounced complaint investigation was initiated on 05/17/2023 and concluded on 06/30/2023 in response to multiple complaints received by the licensing office on 05/17/2023 and 06/09/2023 regarding supervision and staff to child ratio. Observations, interviews, record reviews, and telephone contacts were conducted on 05/17/2023, 05/19/2023, 05/20/2023,05/23/2023, and 06/09/2023 related the allegations. The information gathered supported the allegations in the area of supervision making the complaint valid. An additional violation regarding obvious injury hazards was also cited. Areas of noncompliance are identified on the violation notice and were discussed with the administrator of the center at the conclusion of this investigation.

Violations:

Standard #:	22.1-289.031-A-3-a
Complaint related:	Yes
Description:	Based on observation, record review, and interviews it was determined that the center has not ensured that the required 1 staff member to every 4 children aged 0 to 16 months is maintained. Evidence: 1. 11 of 12 staff interviewed reported that the ratio for the required age group is not always maintained. 2. Time sheets and sign in logs for 5/8-5/19 show: a. The caterpillar class was over the required 1:4 ratio on 5/15/23 and 5/16/23. b. The firefly class was over the required 1:4 (youngest child 15 months) ratio on 5/9/23, 5/11/23, and 5/15/23. 3. Staff reported: a. The butterfly class was over the required ratio of 1 staff member to every 4 infants at least 9 days in March 2023. b. On 5/25/23 there was one staff member with 7 infants, where 1:4 is required on 5/25/23 in the caterpillar class. c. On 5/25/23 there was one staff member with 6 infants, where 1:4 is required on 5/25/23 in the butterfly class. d. On 5/30/23 there was one staff member with 6 infants, where 1:4 is required on 5/30/23 in the caterpillar class. e. On 3/8/23 staff left the studio twice without communicating with the other staff leaving them out of ratio where 1:4 was required. f. The firefly class (15 months-2 yrs.) is often out of ratio in the mornings. g. Administrative staff reported that 7 staff were out on either the 8th or 9th of May and they were out of ratio due to the staffing shortage. 4. A parent reported witnessing 1 staff with 7 infants that they have observed one staff person in the caterpillar class, at least 2-3 times in the last 30 days. The required infant ratio is 1:4. 5. Teacher and Administrative staff confirmed the center has been out of ratio. 6. Class and Administrative staff members reported that most of the ?out of ratio moments? happen because more children arrive in the morning before additional staff are scheduled to arrive causing them to be out of ratio. 7. Staff and parents have reported the issues with ratio to the Administration, Directors, Pastor, and Elders of the church without any noted changes. 8. Class and Administrative staff cited ?high turnover and lots of call outs? causing the center to be understaffed.
Plan of Correction:	Not available online. Contact Inspector for more information.
Standard #:	22.1-289.031-A-3-d
Complaint related:	Yes
Description:	Based on observation, record review, and interviews it was determined that the center has not ensured that the required 1 staff member to every 10 children aged 3 to 5 years is maintained. Evidence: 1. 11 of 12 staff interviewed reported that the ratio for the required age group is not always maintained. 2. Staff reported: a. The dragonfly class (3-4 year olds) is usually over the required ratio of 1:10 by 8:30 until 9 am. b. On 5/30/23 there was one staff member with 13 children, where 1:10 is required in the dragonfly class. c. On 5/30/23 at the transition between lunch and nap time one staff member was left alone with 20 children who were not all asleep or laying on their cots in the dragonfly class. 3. On 6/9/23 around 8:30 am this inspector observed: a. The 3?4-year-old class with 1 staff person supervising 12 children where a 1:10 ratio is required. b. The 4?5-year-old class with 1 staff person supervising 12 children where a 1:10 ratio is required. 4. Teacher and Administrative staff confirmed the center has been out of ratio. 5. Class and Administrative staff members reported that most of the ?out of ratio moments? happen because more children arrive in the morning before additional staff are scheduled to arrive causing them to be out of ratio.
Plan of Correction:	Not available online. Contact Inspector for more information.
Standard #:	22.1-289.031-B-2
Complaint related:	Yes
Description:	Based on interview it was determined the center has not implemented their procedures for appropriate supervision of children. Evidence: 1. Interviews with multiple staff members confirmed that there have been several occasions within the last 3 months that children have been left alone in building while in care. a. A staff person reported that child #3, 4-year-old, was observed alone in the hallway looking for someone to help her in the restroom. Staff member helped child #3 and took her back to her classroom. Staff did not know how long she was in the hallway alone. Another staff member reported this continues to be an ongoing issue with this child/class. b. Administrative staff acknowledged that although the classroom staff have previously been spoken with regarding bathroom supervision of the children, children, and more specifically child #3, have still been sent to the bathroom without supervision as recently as the last few weeks. c. Staff reported that a 3-year-old child was left alone on 5/17/23 in the area by the kitchen/chapel. d. Two staff members reported that a child was left in the studio around 8 am by their teacher and was taken to their classroom by another staff member. 2. Multiple staff have been observed sleeping in the classroom while they were working. a. On 3/6/23 staff A was observed by two staff other members sleeping in the Butterfly class (infants). b. Administration reported counseling staff A due to sleeping in the classroom. c. Staff reported that staff B was observed sleeping in the caterpillar class on both an unknown date and again in the Butterfly class on 5/19/23.
Plan of Correction:	Not available online. Contact Inspector for more information.
Standard #:	22.1-289.031-B-5
Complaint related:	No
Description:	Based on interviews it was determine the center did not ensure all areas of the premises accessible to children are free of obvious injury hazards. Evidence: 1. It was reported that staff have had hot beverages accessible to the children in care in the infant classrooms. a. Staff E was observed by two other staff members holding an infant in one arm and a cup of hot coffee in their other hand. b. Another staff member was observed by staff putting hot tea on a shelf within reach of crawling infants. c. Administrative staff acknowledged being aware of one of the two incidents above and staff ?are not allowed any food or drink in the classrooms?.
Plan of Correction:	Not available online. Contact Inspector for more information.