VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES

Kid's Cottage LLC
10212 Kings Highway
King george, VA 22485
(540) 775-4936

Current Inspector: Susan Ellington-Sconiers (804) 588-2368

Inspection Date: May 21, 2019 and July 3, 2019

Complaint Related: Yes

Areas Reviewed:

22VAC40-185 ADMINISTRATION. 22VAC40-185 STAFF QUALIFICATIONS AND TRAINING. 22VAC40-185 PHYSICAL PLANT. 22VAC40-185 STAFFING AND SUPERVISION. 22VAC40-185 PROGRAMS.

Technical Assistance:

n/a

Comments:

The licensing inspector conducted an unannounced complaint inspection in response to complaints received by the department on 05/15/2019 and 07/03/2019 regarding morning ratios and the supervision of children. The investigation was initiated on 05/21/2019 and completed on 07/26/2019. On 05/21/2019, the inspector was on site from 8:20am to 9:15am. Interviews were completed, observations were made at the center, and documentation was reviewed. On 07/03/2019, the inspector was on site from approximately 12:35pm to 2:57pm conducting additional interviews and observations. The preponderance of the evidence gathered during the investigation supports part of the allegation, therefore the complaint is determined to be valid. See the violation notice for more details. Please complete the 'plan of correction' and 'date to be corrected' for each violation cited on the violation notice and return it to me within 5 business days from the date of receipt. Please specify how the deficient practice will be or has been corrected. Your plan of correction should contain: 1) steps to correct the noncompliance with the standards, 2) measures to prevent the noncompliance from occurring again, and 3) person(s) responsible for implementing each step and/or monitoring any preventative measure(s). If you have any questions about this inspection, please contact the licensing inspector, Florence Martus, at (804) 662-9772.

Violations:

Standard #:	22VAC40-185-350-C
Complaint related:	Yes
Description:	Based on information obtained during interviews on 07/03/2019, the center did not ensure that when children are regularly in ongoing mixed age groups, the staff-to-children ratio applicable to the youngest child in the group shall apply to the entire group. Evidence: 1) During interview, the center's staff reported that two-year-old and three-year-old children are regularly combined daily each morning until the three year old teaching staff arrive. 2) The staff interviewed reported that on an average three days a week Classroom #1 has been out of ratio in the morning. 3) The staff interviewed reported that some days, for approximately 15 minutes, there have been up to 11 children in Classroom #1 in the direct care of one staff member with the youngest child being 2-years-old. The applicable staff-to-child ratio for two-year-old children is one staff member for every eight children.
Plan of Correction:	Per the Center: "At the time of this inspection this was not an issue. We had changed some of our employees' to four 10 hr shifts, allowing for more staff to be present in the mornings. We have not been out of ratio at all since this plan was implemented because it also helps to cover if someone has called off. We also have an extra teacher at each location daily and substitute teachers. The owners and the three's teacher closely monitor ratios at all times and move teachers and children if needed."