VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES

LeafSpring School at Hanover
8218 Atlee Road
Mechanicsville, VA 23116
(804) 730-1010

Current Inspector: LaTasha Smith (804) 588-2362

Inspection Date: Jan. 6, 2020 , Jan. 8, 2020 , Jan. 23, 2020 , Jan. 29, 2020 and Feb. 8, 2020

Complaint Related: No

Areas Reviewed:

22VAC40-185 ADMINISTRATION. 22VAC40-185 STAFF QUALIFICATIONS AND TRAINING. 22VAC40-185 STAFFING AND SUPERVISION. 22VAC40-185 PROGRAMS. 22VAC40-185 SPECIAL CARE PROVISIONS AND EMERGENCIES. 22VAC40-191 Background Checks (22VAC40-191) 63.2 Child Abuse & Neglect

Technical Assistance:

N/A

Comments:

On December 20, 2019, the department received a self-reported incident regarding forbidden action. Two licensing inspectors initiated an unannounced monitoring inspection on January 6, 2020. The licensing inspectors were on site January 6, 2020 from approximately 12:50 PM until 6:00 PM. During the inspection, interviews with staff were completed, documentation was reviewed and classroom observations were conducted. Additional interviews were completed on January 8, 2020 and January 23, 2020. On January 29, 2020, the licensing inspector and an official from a local agency met off site and reviewed additional interviews conducted with involved parties. The center?s policies and procedures were reviewed on February 10, 2020. The preponderance of the evidence gathered during the investigation supports areas of noncompliance with the licensing standards related to behavioral guidance, forbidden action and center policies. Please complete the ?plan of correction? and ?date to be corrected? for each violation cited on the violation notice and returned it to me within five business days from today. Your plan of correction should contain: 1) steps to correct the noncompliance with the standard(s), 2) measures to prevent the noncompliance from occurring again; and 3) person(s) responsible for implementing each step and/or monitoring any preventive measure(s). If you have any questions regarding this inspection, please contact the licensing inspector at (804) 662-9790.

Violations:

Standard #:	22VAC40-185-40-E
Description:	Based on a review of documentation and interviews, the center did not ensure that the center's policies and procedures regarding acceptable and unacceptable discipline polices were followed. Evidence: During the January 6, 2020, January 8, 2020 and January 23, 2020 interviews, the following was determined: 1. The center?s policies and procedures regarding discipline were not followed on December 17, 2019 when Staff #1 yelled and shook Child #1 (17 months old). The center?s policies and procedures were reviewed on February 10, 2020. The center?s operations manual regarding discipline stated, ?Disciple and guidance shall be based on an understanding of the individual needs and the development of the child. Methods used shall be constructive in nature and shall include the following techniques: `Positively focused communication?. Children will not be subjected to harsh and cruel treatment involving physical punishment (spanking, restraining movement, shaking/rough handling, forcing child to assume an uncomfortable position, enclosing child in a confined space, etc.), humiliation, abusive language, or punishment associated with food, napping or toilet training.? 2. Four staff stated they heard Staff #1 yell at the children multiple times, ranging in frequency from a few times to a couple times to everyday for a month.
Plan of Correction:	The administrative team of LeafSpring School at Hanover will hold a mandatory staff meeting for all teachers and staff on Monday, March 2nd. Included is our outline of information to be reviewed during the staff meeting. During this staff meeting, the Center will review discipline policy, correct ways to communicate with infants and toddlers, and developmentally appropriate practices. Each staff member has updated and completed the required child abuse and neglect training mandated by the state of Virginia by Monday, March 2nd. Additionally, all infant and toddler teachers have completed training on ?Shaken Baby Syndrome and Abusive Head Trauma? and ?Managing Challenging Situations- Infants and Toddlers?. All teachers and staff will review and resign our discipline policy after reviewing during the meeting on Monday, March 2nd. Moving forward, all staffed hired to work in the Preschool program will be required to complete ?Shaken Baby Syndrome and Abusive Head Trauma? in addition to ?Child Abuse and Neglect? trainings prior to working in classrooms.
Standard #:	22VAC40-185-400-B
Description:	Based on interviews and documentation review, the center did not ensure behavioral guidance was constructive in nature, or age and stage appropriate. Evidence: During the January 6, 2020, January 8, 2020 and January 23, 2020 interviews, the following was determined: Four staff stated Staff #1 repeatedly yelled at the children in the Older Infant room. A staff member stated? ?[Staff #1] would say in an aggressive tone when the babies were crying, `Shut up, I?m over it, I?m done with you, get away?. [Staff #1] would say `Shut up? maybe seven times a day to the babies.? Another staff stated ?I have heard [Staff #1] say `Go away, don?t touch me, shut up?. Not every day. I have heard it a couple of times?. One staff member stated ?Several times I heard [Staff #1] yelling `Stop it, shut up, sit down in a loud tone. Loud enough it could be heard from the other side of the room. Most of the times this would make the babies cry harder. Mostly this was an everyday thing.?
Plan of Correction:	Immediately, the staff member was terminated effective Monday, December 23rd, 2019. The administrative team of LeafSpring School at Hanover will hold a mandatory staff meeting for all teachers and staff on Monday, March 2nd. Included is our outline of information to be reviewed during the staff meeting. During this staff meeting, the Center will review discipline policy, correct ways to communicate with infants and toddlers, and developmentally appropriate practices. Each staff member has updated and completed the required child abuse and neglect training mandated by the state of Virginia by Monday, March 2nd. Additionally, all infant and toddler teachers have completed training on ?Shaken Baby Syndrome and Abusive Head Trauma? and ?Managing Challenging Situations- Infants and Toddlers?. All teachers and staff will review and resign our discipline policy after reviewing during the meeting on Monday, March 2nd. Moving forward, all staffed hired to work in the Preschool program will be required to complete ?Shaken Baby Syndrome and Abusive Head Trauma? in addition to ?Child Abuse and Neglect? trainings prior to working in classrooms.
Standard #:	22VAC40-185-410-1
Description:	Based on interviews and documentation review, the facility did not ensure the forbidden action of roughly handling a child did not occur. Evidence: During the January 6, 2020, January 8, 2020 and January 23, 2020 interviews, the following was determined: A staff member stated ?On December 17, 2019 [Staff #1] was sitting on the floor and [Child #1] was crying. [Staff #1] tried to soothe [Child #1]. [Child #1] kept crying and wanting to be held by [Staff #1]. [Staff #1] said things like; `I don?t want you any more?, I am done with you, I am over this, shut up?. Eventually, [Staff #1] grabbed [Child #1] by the torso, with her hand?s under [Child #1]?s armpits and shook [Child #1] vigorously 3 to 4 times. Staff #1 stated in a January 23, 2020 interview ?Maybe I did rock [Child #1] a little hard, patting her on the back a little bit hard when I was grabbing her to get her to come here. I was talking, trying to console, not trying to harm or hurt her, just rock her?.
Plan of Correction:	The administrative team of LeafSpring School at Hanover will hold a mandatory staff meeting for all teachers and staff on Monday, March 2nd. Included is our outline of information to be reviewed during the staff meeting. During this staff meeting, the Center will review discipline policy, correct ways to communicate with infants and toddlers, and developmentally appropriate practices. Each staff member has updated and completed the required child abuse and neglect training mandated by the state of Virginia by Monday, March 2nd. Additionally, all infant and toddler teachers have completed training on ?Shaken Baby Syndrome and Abusive Head Trauma? and ?Managing Challenging Situations- Infants and Toddlers?. All teachers and staff will review and resign our discipline policy after reviewing during the meeting on Monday, March 2nd. Moving forward, all staffed hired to work in the Preschool program will be required to complete ?Shaken Baby Syndrome and Abusive Head Trauma? in addition to ?Child Abuse and Neglect? trainings prior to working in classrooms.