VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES

The Merit School of Stafford #75
1001 & 1081 Parkway Boulevard
Stafford, VA 22554
(540) 602-7296

Current Inspector: Angela Dudek (804) 629-8167

Inspection Date: Nov. 16, 2020 , Nov. 17, 2020 , Nov. 18, 2020 , Nov. 27, 2020 and Nov. 30, 2020

Complaint Related: No

Areas Reviewed:

22VAC40-185 STAFF QUALIFICATIONS AND TRAINING. 22VAC40-185 PHYSICAL PLANT. 22VAC40-185 STAFFING AND SUPERVISION. 22VAC40-191 Background Checks (22VAC40-191) 63.2 Child Abuse & Neglect

Comments:

This inspection was conducted by licensing staff using an alternate remote protocol, necessary due to a state of emergency health pandemic declared by the Governor of Virginia. A monitoring inspection was initiated on November 16, 2020 and concluded on November 30, 2020. A self-reported incident was received by the department regarding allegations in the area of supervision. The director was contacted by telephone to conduct the investigation. The inspector emailed the director a list of documentation required to complete the investigation. The evidence gathered during the investigation supported the self-report of non-compliance with standards or law and violations were issued. Any violations not related to the self-report but identified during the course of the investigation can be found on the violation notice.

Violations:

Standard #:	22VAC40-185-270-A
Description:	Based on interviews, not all of the areas outside the facility were maintained in a safe condition. On November 16, 2020 gate of the enclosed playground was not locked. Child A, 2 years of age, opened the unlocked gate to leave the enclosed playground on a scooter.
Plan of Correction:	Playground safety checklist was performed that morning of November 16 th and no issues were noted. The landscape company had been using the gate while doing lawn upkeep in and around the building. The parents were immediately notified, and they let us know that their child had begun to exhibit the same behavior at home, and was able to unlock gates, open doors and get out of places that were locked and thought to be secure. An additional lock was added to the outside gate as an added layer of security. Playground supervision checklists continue to happen daily, and gates will continued to be checked/monitored to ensure all are secured daily. If the gate is used by an outside vendor, a member of management will ensure all doors and gates are secure before allowing children to re-enter the area.
Standard #:	22VAC40-185-340-F
Description:	Based on staff interviews, the facility failed to ensure that all children under 10 years of age were within the actual sight and sound supervision of staff at all times. Evidence: On November 16, 2020 at approximately 3:00 Child A, 2 years of age, was out staff A's sight and sound supervision for an indeterminable amount of time. Child A opened the gate to the enclosed playground and rode a scooter outside the playground area. Outside the gated playground area is the sidewalk and parking area. The child was retrieved by a center parent but brought back to the facility by a unknown member of the community.
Plan of Correction:	Playground safety checklist was performed that morning of November 16th and no issues were noted. The landscape company had been using the gate while doing lawn upkeep in and around the building. Staff A was on the playground with eight children and noticed two children playing by the gate that appeared to be closed and asked them to step away from the gate and they complied. She then bent down to assist another child and when she looked up the gate was ajar. She immediately got the attention of another staff member that came out on the playground. This allowed staff A to leave the enclosed area to retrieve the child. When she left the playground, she went to the left and did not see the child, so she then went to left and saw the child being brought back to the school by the Assistant Director. The parents were immediately notified, and they let us know that their child had begun to exhibit the same behavior at home, and was able to unlock gates, open doors and get out of places that were locked and thought to be secure. An additional lock was added to the outside gate as an added layer of security. Additionally, child proof door handles were installed on the interior doors and buzzers were added for the doors that led to the playground areas from the classrooms. If the gate is used by an outside vendor, a member of management will ensure all doors and gates are secure before allowing children to re-enter the area. The child is still in attendance at the school.