VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES

Gentle Touch Learning Center LLC
3621 Turnpike Road
Portsmouth, VA 23707
(757) 399-5437

Current Inspector: Emily Walsh (757) 404-2575

Inspection Date: Feb. 11, 2020

Complaint Related: No

Areas Reviewed:

22VAC40-185 ADMINISTRATION. 22VAC40-185 STAFF QUALIFICATIONS AND TRAINING. 22VAC40-185 PHYSICAL PLANT. 22VAC40-185 STAFFING AND SUPERVISION. 22VAC40-185 PROGRAMS. 22VAC40-185 SPECIAL CARE PROVISIONS AND EMERGENCIES. 22VAC40-185 SPECIAL SERVICES.

Comments:

An unannounced, mandated monitoring inspection was conducted today. The inspector was in the facility between 10:00 AM and 12:25 PM. Morning activities and snack service were observed. The outdoor play area was not inspected due to inclement weather conditions. Thirteen children were in care at the close of the inspection. A sample size of five staff records and five children's records were reviewed. An exit interview reviewing the Acknowledgement Form was conducted with staff 3, the designated person in charge, prior to closure of the inspection.

Violations:

Standard #:	22VAC40-185-70-A
Description:	Based upon review of five staff records and staff interview, the facility has not ensured that each staff records includes all required documentation. Evidence: 1. The record provided by staff 3 for staff 4 did not include the job title, date of employment or volunteering; and name, address and telephone number of a person to be notified in an emergency. Staff 1 stated that she began working "about a week ago". 2. The record provided by staff 3 for staff 4 did not include documentation that two or more references as to character and reputation as well as competency were checked before employment . 3. The record provided by staff 3 for staff 4 did not include documentation of the training and written information to be given to new staff prior to the end of their first date of employ.
Plan of Correction:	The facility responded with the following: Staff 4 file was being work on by the director early that morning most of the paperwork was on the desk being separated for a HR filed File information was place in the file on 2/11/2020
Standard #:	22VAC40-185-270-A
Description:	Based upon observation, the facility has not ensured that area and equipment are maintained to be clean and safe. Evidence: 1. The vinyl floor covering in the front multi-purpose room has two to three feet of buckling in five areas, creating a potential tripping/stumbling hazard. In the same front multi-purpose room, there are two long areas where the carpeting has buckled. 2. One table in the back classroom where children were observed eating morning snack, has stickers with the children's names attached to the table. Several of the stickers are peeling up from the table, thus the table cannot be appropriately sanitized before and after use for eating.
Plan of Correction:	The facility responded with the following: The 1 inch buckle on the vinyle has been fixed The name plates were remove from the table.
Standard #:	22VAC40-185-340-F
Description:	Based upon observation, the facility has not ensured that children under 10 years of age are always within actual sight and sound supervision of staff. Evidence: At 11:00 AM, staff 4 left the middle classroom of four children aged 19 months - 3 years, to answer the front door. Staff 4 stayed at the front door speaking with the parent of child 6 for five minutes, leaving the children in theclassroom unattended.
Plan of Correction:	The facility responded with the following: Staff 4 was reminded to use the buzer at hjer classroom window to let parents in. And leaving student unattended was discuss at staff meeting on 2/15/2020
Standard #:	22VAC40-185-350-E-2
Description:	Based upon observation, the facility has not ensured that for children 16 months to 2 years, there is one staff person for every five children. Evidence: 1. Upon arrival of the inspector at 10:00 AM, there were eleven children, aged 19 months and older at the tables in the back classroom. There were two staff (staff 3 and staff 4)on duty with the eleven children. 2. One of the two staff (staff 3) left the classroom to go into the kitchen to prepare morning snack for the children, leaving the grouping of eleven children with one staff person (staff 4) for seven minutes. 3. The children remained in the combined grouping of eleven children until 11:00 AM, when the four youngest children moved into the middle toddler classroom with staff 4 leaving seven children in the back classroom with staff 3. 4. At 12:00 PM, all of the children in care combined for story time in the front multi-purpose classroom. The combined grouping now included a total of twelve children, ages 19 months and older with two staff (staff 3 and staff 4). At 12:05 PM, an additional was dropped off into care in this group, raising the total children in the grouping to thirteen children ages 19 months and older with staff 3 and staff 4. The thirteen children were in the combined grouping until 12:15 PM, when staff 4 separated the four youngest children into the enclosed toddler area of the multi-purpose room bringing the required ratio back into compliance.
Plan of Correction:	The facility responded with the following: ON 2/11/2020, we had emergency health issues with two of our employees. We have discussed the procedures with staff if this should happen again. correctly, These violations were went over at staff meeting and training on 2/15/2020. Also staff was also info about using the multipurpose area
Standard #:	22VAC40-191-60-B
Description:	Based upon review of staff records, the facility has not ensured that a completed and signed sworn statement or affirmation is obtained before a staff person is employed. Evidence: Staff 4 was on duty with the children during the inspection. The record provided for staff 4 did not include documentation of a completed and signed sworn disclosure or affirmation statement.
Plan of Correction:	The facility responded with the following: Staff 4 file was being work on by the director early that morning most of the paperwork was on the desk being separated for a HR files File information was place in the file on 2/11/2020