VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES

Springfield KinderCare
7901 Rolling Road
Springfield, VA 22153
(703) 866-9228

Current Inspector: Kelly Patterson-Savittiere (703) 479-4746

Inspection Date: May 24, 2021 , May 25, 2021 and June 9, 2021

Complaint Related: No

Areas Reviewed:

22VAC40-185 ADMINISTRATION. 22VAC40-185 STAFFING AND SUPERVISION. 22VAC40-185 PROGRAMS. 22VAC40-185 SPECIAL CARE PROVISIONS AND EMERGENCIES.

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. An unannounced non-mandated monitoring inspection was initiated, in conjunction with another agency, on 05/24/2021 and was concluded with an exit interview on 6/9/2021. A self-reported incident was reported to the Fairfax Licensing Office regarding an allegation of a forbidden action. Based on interviews conducted and review of documentation during the investigation, the evidence does support the allegation. Violations related to the self-report, identified during the course of the investigation, can be found on the violation notice.

Violations:

Standard #:	22VAC40-185-40-E
Description:	Based on review of the licensee?s policies and procedures, interviews and documentation reviewed, it was determined that the licensee did not ensure that staff followed the center?s own policies and procedures required by the standards regarding discipline. Evidence: 1. The Center?s orientation policy on Behavioral Guidance states ?Employees are required to use positive guidance techniques and to refrain from any unacceptable measures while caring for children. According to the policy, physical discipline or corporal punishment is defined as ?any kind of physical discipline or corporal punishment, including but not limited to hitting, pinching, pushing, biting or grabbing a child is unacceptable.? 2. On 5/20/2021, Staff A grabbed Child A?s (age 8) upper left arm, leaving a bruise approximately the size of a standard business card, which is against the center?s own policies.
Plan of Correction:	We will retrain all staff members on positive behavior guidance. Staff A was placed on administrative leave w/out pay immediately, pending completion of the investigation. If Staff A is allowed to return, additional training will be provided and Staff A will be placed on probation. We will also retrain all staff on "Child Abuse & Neglect: Recognizing, Reporting and Responding for Educators".
Standard #:	22VAC40-185-340-A
Description:	Based on interviews and review of documents, staff supervising children did not always ensure their care, protection and guidance. Evidence: 1. On 5/20/21 at approximately 4:30 pm, Staff C observed a bruise on Child A's (age 8) upper left arm. Child A told Staff C, "[Staff A] grabbed my arm and told me to go to the back of the line". 2. Staff C stated on 5/24/2021: A) [Staff A] stepped into the classroom to cover ratio with [Staff B] while I went for a bathroom break. I had instructed the children to clean up so we could all go outside B) After returning from the bathroom break of approximately 2-3 minutes, [Staff A] walked up to me and stated "You need to call [Child A's] mother. She is not following directions and did not line up". C) At approximately the same time, Child A walked up to me and stated ?[Staff A] grabbed my arm? when instructing to line up. Staff C observed a spot on Child A's upper left arm, which started to turn red within 20 minutes. An ice pack was applied; Staff C notified Staff D of the incident. 3. Staff A stated on 5/24/2021: A) She was asked to cover the class for [Staff C] to have a bathroom break. She went into the class and told everyone to line up to go outside. B) [Child A] and another child were standing by the table trying to clean up and not following directions. Staff A asked "Did you hear me?? Staff A asked the children, again, to line up. The children were never close enough to touch, even accidently, and Staff A states she was always 1 to 1 1/2 meters from the children. C) Staff C came back into the room and Staff A told Staff C that Child A's mother needed to be told that Child A wasn't listening to directions. Staff A went back to her room and then home. 4. Staff A provided additional information on 5/25/21. Staff A stated "when I leaned over to clean up paper, I may have leaned on Child A to stand back up. There were 2 children on each side of me, all facing the same direction, so it would've been on [Child A's] right arm." 5.) Adult 1 stated on 5/24/21, a phone call was received from the center on the way to pick up Child A the date of the incident. Upon arrival to the center [Child A] told Adult 1, ?[Staff A] grabbed my arm hard". Child A explained she was trying to clean up, as directed by Staff C, before lining up. 6. Child A stated on 5/24/2021: [Staff C] told me to clean up before leaving for the bathroom break. I was finishing cleaning up the room and [Staff A] told me to go line up. I asked if I could keep cleaning up. She grabbed me and when [Staff C] walked back in the room she let go. She squeezed it. I was sad and it was painful. I tensed up because I didn?t want to cry. [Staff A] told [Staff C] to talk to my mother because I wasn?t listening. I started crying.
Plan of Correction:	We will retrain all staff on "Guidance, Protection and Respect for Children" in the company policies and procedures.
Standard #:	22VAC40-185-410-1
Description:	Based on interviews and review of documents, a staff member used a forbidden action by roughly handling a child. Evidence: 1. On 5/20/21 at approximately 4:30pm, Staff C observed a bruise developing on Child A's upper left arm. Child A told Staff C, "[Staff A] grabbed my arm and told me to go to the back of the line". 2. Staff C stated on 5/24/2021, "After returning from the bathroom break of approximately 2-3 minutes, Child A walked up to me and stated "[Staff A] grabbed my arm" when asking her to line up. Staff C observed a bruise approximately the size of a standard business card on Child A's upper left arm, which started to turn red within 20 minutes. An ice pack was applied. 3. Adult 1 stated on 5/24/2021, [Child A] said Staff A "grabbed her arm hard" when she was trying to clean up, as directed by Staff C, before lining up. 4. Staff A stated on 5/24/21 the children were never close enough to touch, even accidently, and she was always 1 to 1 1/2 meters from the children. 5. Staff A stated on 5/25/21, "When I leaned over to clean up paper, I may have leaned on Child A to stand back up. There were 2 children on each side of me, all facing the same direction, so it would've been on [Child A?s] right arm.? 6. Child A stated on 05/24/2021, [Staff C] told me to clean up before leaving for the bathroom break. I was finishing cleaning up the room and [Staff A] told me to go line up. I asked if I could keep cleaning up. She grabbed me and when [Staff C] walked back in the room she let go. She squeezed it. I was sad and it was painful. I tensed up because I didn?t want to cry. [Staff A] told [Staff C] to talk to my mother because I wasn?t listening. I started crying.
Plan of Correction:	We will retrain all staff on child abuse and neglect.
Standard #:	22VAC40-185-550-M
Description:	Based on interviews, the center did not maintain a written record of a child's injuries in which entries are made the day of the occurrence. Evidence: On Thursday, 5/20/2021 at approximately 4:30pm, Staff C observed a bruise on Child A's upper left arm. Staff C notified Staff D of the incident. Staff D notified Staff E and Staff F, who notified Staff G. Adult 1 was notified via telephone and in person upon arrival at the facility. Adult 1 had not been given a written incident report the day of the incident. An incident report was written on Monday, 5/24/2021.
Plan of Correction:	We will retrain all staff on incident report policies/procedures. Contact was made with the parent immediately.