Click Here for Additional Resources
Search for Child Day Care
|Return to Search Results | New Search |

Mini Miracles Learning Center 2 Inc.
5036 East Princess Anne Road
Norfolk, VA 23502
(757) 222-3002

Current Inspector: Nanette Roberts (757) 404-2322

Inspection Date: Jan. 24, 2020

Complaint Related: No

Areas Reviewed:
22VAC40-185 ADMINISTRATION.
22VAC40-185 STAFF QUALIFICATIONS AND TRAINING.
22VAC40-185 STAFFING AND SUPERVISION.
22VAC40-185 SPECIAL CARE PROVISIONS AND EMERGENCIES.
22VAC40-185 SPECIAL SERVICES.
22VAC40-191 Background Checks (22VAC40-191)
63.2 Child Abuse & Neglect
63.2(17) License & Registration Procedures

Comments:
The Licensing Inspector conducted an inspection on 1/24/20 with the local agency in response to a self-report made by the facility on 1/21/20 concerning a child being left on a bus unattended and unsupervised on 1/17/20. An additional interview of staff was conducted at the local agency on 2/4/20. During the inspection, a tour of the facility, including the outdoor areas and the parking lot was conducted, staff were interviewed, and all relevant documentation was reviewed. The evidence gathered during the investigation has resulted in a violations in the followings areas of the Standards for Licensed Child Day Centers; administration, supervision and transportation. The areas of non-compliance associated with this self-report are on the attached violation notice.

Violations:
Standard #: 22VAC40-185-40-E
Description: Based on a review of the facility's policies and interviews, it was determined that the licensee did not ensure that the facility follows it's own policies and procedures for supervision and transportation.

Evidence:
1. The facility's policy states that "The term 'walk the van' will always be used to ensure the proper safety of all children. Once all children are off-loaded the driver will check the van by walking inside of the van looking for any items or children left behind."
2. Staff #1 confirmed that after she parked the van upon returning from the local public schools, she did not walk the inside of the van and check all the seats on the van to ensure no child was unattended and unsupervised. As a result of staff #1 not following the facility's policy, child #1 was left sleeping on the van.

Plan of Correction: The facility responded: ?Walk the Van? has been a Mini Miracles Learning Center staple for over 12 years and staff 1 has always done this until the 17 th . This term means don?t just look thru the van or windows but actually walk thru the side door to the back looking on the floor and under the seats.

Resolution: A safety stand-down was held on 2/17/2020 to ensure everyone understands the language ?sight and sound? as well as ?walk the van?. Even in the center we must never relax the standards and I will ensure this happens.

Standard #: 22VAC40-185-80-B
Description: Based on interviews and a review of documentation, it was determined that the licensee did not ensure that the center shall inform the commissioner's representative as soon as practicable but not to exceed one working day of the circumstances surrounding any suspected incident of child abuse shall be reported in accordance with ? 63.2-1509 of the Code of Virginia.

Evidence:
1. Staff #3 contacted the Licensing Inspector by e-mail on January 22, 2020 about staff #1 leaving child #1 (five years old) unattended on the facility's van for approximately one hour and twenty minutes minutes on January 17, 2020.
2. When staff #3 was asked if he had contacted Child Protective Services within 24 hours of the incident, staff #4 stated that he had not contacted Child Protective Services as required.

Plan of Correction: The facility responded: My main goal at this time was ensuring the little girl was good and to fully investigate this issue in order to have all the facts about the incident. Once I called CPS I was still unable to report the incident because they stated they already had a call in on this issue.

Resolution: I will call immediately if anything requires me to do so in the future.

Standard #: 22VAC40-185-340-A
Description: Based on interviews, a tour of the facility, including the outdoor areas and parking lots, and a review of documentation, it was determined that the licensee did not ensure that when staff are supervising children, they shall always ensure their care, protection, and guidance.

Evidence:
1. On January 17, 2020, child #1 (five years old) was left unattended and unsupervised on the facility's van from approximately 4:30pm until 5:50pm when staff #1, staff #2 and the parent found the child alone and unsupervised on the facility's van in the parking lot.
2. The van was not parked curbside to the facility. It was located in a parking space on the opposite side of the parking lot that was adjacent to a heavily traveled road (35 MPH speed limit).
3. Staff #1 said child #1 must have fallen asleep during the van ride back to the center, and that is why she did not get off the van with the rest of the children. Child #1 remained asleep and alone on the van, and did not wake up until the van was opened by staff #1. According to Weather Underground, the temperature was between 38-40 degrees from 3:51pm-5:51pm on 1/17/2020.
4. When staff #1 was asked what she is supposed to do after she parks the van. Staff #1 stated that "I am supposed to walk to the back of the van to make sure there are no children still on the van, but I did not do that".
5. None of the staff working in the facility on January 17, 2020 were aware that child #1 was left in the van, and not in the center, until the parent of child #1 entered the facility to pick her up, and they were unable to locate her in the facility.

Plan of Correction: The facility responded: Staff 1 knows and understand the rule of transporting before, during and after picking up and
dropping off. I understand no one wants excuses but staff 1 was sick and it?s the only way this situation happened. Instead of walking the van staff 1 rushed the children off the van and went to the restroom. During staff training the van procedures are always reviewed and everyone knows the routine.

Resolution: To prevent this from ever happening I have installed a Child Check-Mate System. This system sounds an alarm once the key is turned off and the driver must walk the van to disable the alarm. I placed the device at a point where you can?t open the back door and push the button but you have to walk the inside of the van to disable the alarm. I have also enhanced our attendance sheets for transportation with 2-person integrity which means two people has to sign the document to verify they both walked van to ensure no child was left behind.

Standard #: 22VAC40-185-340-F
Description: Based on interviews and a review of documentation, it was determined that the licensee did not ensure that children under 10 years of age always shall be within actual sight and sound supervision of staff.


Evidence:
1. On January 17, 2020 child #1 (five years old) was left alone and unsupervised by staff #1 for approximately one hour and twenty minutes when she was left asleep on the van.
2. Staff #1 confirmed that child #1 was not within actual sight and sound supervision of any staff as she was left on the van upon returning from the local public school.

Plan of Correction: The facility responded: We have a 15-passenger van and If you don?t ?walk the van? you will have a blind spot. My
plan is to trade the van in as soon as possible.

Resolution: Until I trade the van in for a more open transportation vehicle I am assuming the responsibility of driving the van in the evening until I find a suitable replacement. I?ve been doing this for 12 years and no matter how long I?ve been in this field I still walk the van every day.

Standard #: 22VAC40-185-580-D
Description: Based on interviews, it was determined that the facility did not ensure that children shall enter and leave the vehicle from the curb side of the vehicle or in a protected parking area or driveway.

Evidence:
1. Staff#1 returned from picking up children at the local public school and parked the facility's van in a public parking lot with moving traffic that is shared by several business. The van was located in a parking space that was not curbside to the center.
2. When the children exited the van, they had to cross the parking lot to enter the facility.

Plan of Correction: The facility responded: Our policy is to drop children off curb side to the center and then park the van in any available
spot. So, no matter where the driver parks the van dropping them off should have been curbside to the center. Parking the van across the parking lot and unloading is not in our training or practices.

Resolution: This was a core topic during the safety stand-down and everyone understands the rule as well as why this rule is effective.

Standard #: 22VAC40-185-580-K
Description: Based on interviews and a review of documentation, it was determined that the licensee did not ensure that staff shall verify that all children have been removed from the vehicle at the conclusion of any trip.

Evidence:
1. On January 17, 2020, staff #1 completed her bus run from the local public schools by parking the van and entering the facility with the children at approximately 4:30pm. However, staff #1 did not verify to see if all children had been removed from the bus because child #1 was still on the van sleeping.
2. When staff #1 was asked if she had checked the van to make sure all the children were off at the conclusion of her van run, staff #1 stated that she did not walk to the back of the van to ensure all children had exited the vehicle.

Plan of Correction: The facility responded: On the 17 th of February we held a safety stand-down and went over the procedures for children
loading and unloading to/from the van. We also discussed the procedures for knowing where each child is at in the center. Communication is the key to the safety and well-being of each child in our care.

Resolution: Each person signed the training document and knows they are responsible for knowing the standards as well as knowing the discussion topics from the training. This training will be conducted monthly.

Standard #: 63.2(17)-1720.1-B-2
Description: Based on a review of two staff records, it was determined that the facility did not ensure that an employee is allowed to begin employment without a completed national criminal history record check (finger printing).

Evidence:
1. The record for staff #2 (date of hire 8/22/17) did not contain documentation of a completed national criminal history record check (finger printing).
2. Staff #3 reviewed the record for the staff #2 and confirmed that there was no documentation available for viewing during the inspection to demonstrate that national criminal history record check (finger printing) for staff #2 had been completed.

Plan of Correction: The facility responded: This was a complete oversight on my part as the owner. I have reviewed the records of my assistant director many time and for some reason I didn?t catch it. The background checks were mailed out on the 20 th and we are awaiting results. Also she did have a an expired CPS background that expired 08/2019. However, this was not the new check.

Resolution: I will have my assistant director at MMLC review files as a second pair of eyes.

Disclaimer:

A compliance history is in no way a rating for a facility.

The online compliance history includes only information after July 1, 2003. In addition, the online compliance history includes information regarding adverse actions that may be the subject of a pending appeal. An adverse action is not final until a provider has exhausted or waived all due process rights. For compliance history prior to July 1, 2003, or information regarding the status of pending adverse actions, please contact the Licensing Inspector listed in the facility's information. The Virginia Department of Social Services (VDSS) is not responsible for any errors in or omissions from the compliance history information.

Virginia Quality is a voluntary quality rating and improvement system for early care and education facilities serving children ages birth through pre-K. To find programs participating in Virginia Quality, click here.

Google Translate Logo
×
TTY/TTD

(deaf or hard-of-hearing):

(800) 828-1120, or 711

Top