VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES

Children First Learning Center LLC
5000 US Highway 29
Blairs, VA 24527
(434) 836-9156

Current Inspector: Rebecca Forestier (540) 309-2835

Inspection Date: Aug. 2, 2021 , Aug. 4, 2021 and Aug. 24, 2021

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 SPECIAL CARE PROVISIONS AND EMERGENCIES. 22VAC40-191 Background Checks (22VAC40-191) 63.2(17) License & Registration Procedures

Comments:

This inspection was conducted by licensing staff using a combination of an alternate remote protocol, including telephone contacts, document review and an on-site visit to include review of the physical plant and interviews with the staff. A non-mandated inspection, resulting from a self-reported incident, was initiated on 07/27/2021 and concluded on 08/25/2021. The inspector reviewed video footage of the incident, reviewed policies and procedures, interviewed 3 staff members and reviewed 2 children?s records. Information gathered during the investigation determined non-compliance with applicable standards or law and violations were documented on the violation notice issued to the provider.

Violations:

Standard #:	22VAC40-185-40-E
Description:	Based on the review of required policies and procedures and interviews with staff, the center failed to maintain the operational responsibility of the licensee to ensure that the center?s activities, services and facilities are maintained in compliance with the center?s own policies and procedures that are required by the standards. Evidence: 1. The center?s required Playground Safety Procedures, provided by the facility, state the following: ?3. When two or more staff are on the playground, one should be at the door position while the second staff is on opposite side of playground. If more than two staff, one should have door position while others spread to opposite sides. Staff should be prepared to shift as children move to different areas of the playground. If one staff is handling an incident, other staff should shift to help cover their area also. 4. Staff should not group together or leave their area to talk to each other unless it is to briefly discuss an activity happening on playground or a transition: maintaining view of children is still needed at all times.? 2. Staff 1 stated that there were two staff, Staff 2 and Staff 3, and 28 school-aged children on the playground when the incident occurred on 07/26/2021. Staff 1 stated that Staff 2 and Staff 3 were both located on the deck area of the playground when the incident occurred on 07/26/2021. 3. Staff 2 and Staff 3 stated that they were located on the deck area of the playground when the incident occurred on 07/26/2021. 4. The center was not in compliance with its own Playground Safety Procedures on 07/26/2021.
Plan of Correction:	All center staff were retrained on the Playground Safety and Injury Prevention Procedures to review the following policy: Active Supervision on the Playground The playground incident reports will be reviewed during staff meetings to review the following: 1. Number of incidents that have occurred over a period of time 2. Patterns of recurring injuries with regards to location, type, and frequency, etc. 3. Corrective actions in as a result of the injury or incident Additional training during the review of the Playground Safety Procedures included: 1. Scenarios of when to shift and what specific areas to cover if more than one incident is occurring at the exact same time that requires teacher attention/involvement. 2. Licensing Standards Training was provided by our Licensing Inspector with the staff as a refresher to review policies and procedures in accordance with the Department of Social Services Standards for Licensed Child Day Centers. Additionally, as a best practice to reduce to the amount of traffic in and out of the building and maintain active supervision from the staff while on the playground, the children are asked to do the following before going outside: 1. Bring a water bottle and fill it 2. Use the bathroom or at least try to use it Staff 2 was positioned on the deck (attached to the center?s doorway) supervising children on the playground while opening the door to the building to allow children in to get water and use the bathroom simultaneously during this incident. Staff 3 temporarily shifted to the deck to help cover Staff 2?s area and was handling a development issue involving other children at the exact same time that this incident was occurring. During the time that Staff 2 and 3 scanned the playground this incident did not appear to be going on because all children appeared to be playing normal (laughing, running, playing, building, talking, and creating). The incident lasted for 1 minute 58 seconds. 23 seconds of this incident appears that the children are playing because Child 1 chased Child 2 around the playground (which appears normal when children are on the playground). For 20 seconds of this incident there was no physical contact of the two children at all because Child 2 walked away from Child 1. Child 1 stated that he never yelled for help nor did any of the other children on the playground notify the teacher that this incident was occurring because they thought that Child 1 and Child 2 were playing. Staff 2 and Staff 3 were aware that the incident occurred once they saw Child 1 walking towards them. Staff 2 and Staff 3 immediately intervened and provided first aid to Child 1, while gathering information about what occurred, because he had a zigzag print on the right side of his head and 2 abrasions on the left side of his head. Actions were completed on 8/10/2021 and 8/11/2021
Standard #:	22VAC40-185-340-A
Description:	Based on document review, interviews and the review of photographs and video footage, the center failed to ensure that when staff are supervising children, they shall always ensure their care, protection, and guidance. Evidence: 1. Video footage from 07/26/2021 shows the following: Child 1 approaches Child 2 on the playground, Child 2 then begins to chase Child 1 around the playground. Child 2 pushes Child 1 to the ground. Child 2 is seen walking away and Child 1 remains down on the ground for approximately 20 seconds. Child 2 walks back over to where Child 1 is lying on the ground and kicks Child 1 in the head. Approximately 1 minute and 15 seconds later Child 1 can be seen running towards the area where the teachers state they were located. 2. The incident lasted for 1 minute and 58 seconds; during that time there was no teacher intervention to stop the incident. 3. Staff 2 and Staff 3 both state they were unaware that the incident had occurred; they were notified of the incident by Child 1 when he went to the staff for help. 4. Photographs taken by center staff of Child 1 following the incident show a clearly visible a zig-zag pattern on the right side of child 1?s head extending from above the cheekbone and between the temple area from the bang hairline to top of the ear and two abrasions, approximately 1 inch in length, in the temple area near the hairline on the left side of the head
Plan of Correction:	All center staff were retrained on the Playground Safety and Injury Prevention Procedures to review the following policy: Active Supervision on the Playground The playground incident reports will be reviewed during staff meetings to review the following: 1. Number of incidents that have occurred over a period of time 2. Patterns of recurring injuries with regards to location, type, and frequency, etc. 3. Corrective actions in as a result of the injury or incident Additional training during the review of the Playground Safety Procedures included: 1. Scenarios of when to shift and what specific areas to cover if more than one incident is occurring at the exact same time that requires teacher attention/involvement. 2. Licensing Standards Training was provided by our Licensing Inspector with the staff as a refresher to review policies and procedures in accordance with the Department of Social Services Standards for Licensed Child Day Centers. Additionally, as a best practice to reduce to the amount of traffic in and out of the building and maintain active supervision from the staff while on the playground, the children are asked to do the following before going outside: 1. Bring a water bottle and fill it 2. Use the bathroom or at least try to use it Staff 2 was positioned on the deck (attached to the center?s doorway) supervising children on the playground while opening the door to the building to allow children in to get water and use the bathroom simultaneously during this incident. Staff 3 temporarily shifted to the deck to help cover Staff 2?s area and was handling a development issue involving other children at the exact same time that this incident was occurring. During the time that Staff 2 and 3 scanned the playground this incident did not appear to be going on because all children appeared to be playing normal (laughing, running, playing, building, talking, and creating). The incident lasted for 1 minute 58 seconds. 23 seconds of this incident appears that the children are playing because Child 1 chased Child 2 around the playground (which appears normal when children are on the playground). For 20 seconds of this incident there was no physical contact of the two children at all because Child 2 walked away from Child 1. Child 1 stated that he never yelled for help nor did any of the other children on the playground notify the teacher that this incident was occurring because they thought that Child 1 and Child 2 were playing. Staff 2 and Staff 3 were aware that the incident occurred once they saw Child 1 walking towards them. Staff 2 and Staff 3 immediately intervened and provided first aid to Child 1, while gathering information about what occurred, because he had a zigzag print on the right side of his head and 2 abrasions on the left side of his head. Actions were completed on 8/10/2021 and 8/11/2021
Standard #:	22VAC40-185-550-M
Description:	Based on document review and discussion with staff, the center failed to maintain a written record of children?s serious and minor injuries that contains all of the elements as required by the standards. Evidence: The injury report for Child 1 was reviewed on 08/02/2021 and did not contain the following required elements: the time when parents were notified, any future action to prevent recurrence of the injury and staff and parent signatures or two staff signatures (the document only contained one staff signature).
Plan of Correction:	All center staff were retrained on properly completing an Incident/Injury Report which included the following: 1. Date and time of injury 2. Name of injured child 3. Type and circumstances of the injury 4. Staff present and treatment 5. Date and time when parents were notified 6. Any future action to prevent recurrence of the injury 7. Staff and parent signatures or two staff signatures 8. Documentation on how parent was notified Parents were notified of the incident via text message, phone call, and picture messaging. Additionally, Incident/Injury Reports are required to have the signature of two staff the day of the incident or injury in the event that the parent is not available for a signature or refuses to sign the report. Actions were completed on 8/3/2021