VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES

Noah's Ark Daycare Center, Inc.
585 Deer Ridge Road
Hillsville, VA 24343
(276) 766-3502

Current Inspector: Todd Scott (276) 608-3749

Inspection Date: Sept. 30, 2021 , Oct. 5, 2021 and Nov. 3, 2021

Complaint Related: Yes

Areas Reviewed:

22VAC40-185 STAFFING AND SUPERVISION.

Comments:

A complaint inspection was initiated on 09/30/2021 and concluded on 11/03/2021. A complaint was received by the department regarding allegations in the areas of staffing and supervision. The director was contacted by telephone to conduct the investigation. Staff were interviewed. The inspector reviewed compliance in the areas of staffing and supervision. Information gathered during the inspection determined non-compliance with applicable standards or law and violations were documented on the violation notice issued to the program.

Violations:

Standard #:	22VAC40-185-340-A
Complaint related:	No
Description:	Based on interviews, center staff failed to ensure care, protection and guidance to a child they were supervising. Evidence: 1. On September 14, 2021, at approximately 5:00pm, staff 1 and staff 2 left a 14 month old child (child 1) alone in a classroom when staff and children exited the classroom and walked into the hallway. 2. The inspector interviewed staff 1. Staff 1 stated, ?Kids were all together on the playground and it was time to transition and come inside. I was in front of the line and staff 2 was also there. Staff 3 was behind getting the rest of the kids. We walked through the classroom and into the hallway and child 1?s dad was there to get him. I told child 1?s dad that child 1 was still on the playground and he went to see and came back inside and found child 1 in the classroom. Staff 3 was at the door in the classroom from the playground side. I went on into another room with the kids that I had.? 3. The inspector interviewed staff 2. Staff 2 stated, ?We all came inside from the playground. Staff 3 was still outside trying to get a couple of kids to come inside. Staff 1 was leading the kids inside and I was on the side. Staff 3 would have been in the back. We walked through the classroom and into the hall. Child 1?s dad was there and asked where child 1 was. Staff 1 told child 1?s dad that child 1 was still outside. I was still in the hallway waiting with two kids and child 1?s dad came back in. About that time, I guess child 1?s dad saw child 1 in the classroom. Staff 3 was with him.? 4. The inspector interviewed staff 3. Staff 3 stated, ?We were on the playground and everyone was coming in except two kids, one had his shoes off and I had to go and get him. The door was propped open to the classroom from the playground side while I was getting the kids in. While I was still on the playground, child 1?s dad came and asked me where child 1 was and I said he went in with the other kids. I then walked in the door and saw child 1 playing at the kitchen and child 1?s dad came in from the hallway. I walked child 1 over to his dad.?
Plan of Correction:	All staff were met with and trained on supervision and transitioning on September 15, 2021. The training covered not leaving the area until all children are lined up and ready to transition. The lead teacher will be in front and the teacher?s aide behind children always. Head counts from one area to the next will be taken. Reviewed staff doing room sweeps to make sure all children are accounted for before leaving any area and making a class list to use for an advantage each evening to mark off each child as they leave and help with head counts. Children and staff will not use the classroom doors as entrance/exit to and from the playground if they are in a mixed group. They will use the hallway door that directly leads inside/outside to the playground. Two?s and Toddlers may still use their classroom doors to exit and enter as a class, if it?s not in a group. 3?s and 4?s will always enter/exit by hallway door. All preventive steps were implemented on September 15, 2021, by the Director and Assistant Director. The Lead teacher will be responsible for head counts and making sure all children are accounted for before leaving each area and taking head counts when getting to each destination. The teacher?s aide will conduct a room sweep at the end of the line. The Director and Assistant Director will monitor all these steps to make sure they are implemented and continue to be followed.
Standard #:	22VAC40-185-340-F
Complaint related:	No
Description:	Based on interviews, center staff failed to have a child under 10 years of age in actual sight and sound supervision. Evidence: 1. Staff 1, staff 2 and staff 3 reported that a 14 month old child (child 1) was left unsupervised in a classroom on September 14, 2021, at approximately 5:00pm. Staff 1 and staff 2 entered the classroom from the playground with a group of children, including child 1. Both staff 1 and 2 reported that they walked through the classroom and exited the classroom into the hallway. Child 1 did not exit the classroom and was left alone in the classroom. Staff 3 remained on the playground when staff 1, staff 2 and the group of children entered the classroom and exited the classroom into the hallway. Staff 3 entered the classroom from the playground and saw child 1 alone in the classroom. 2. The inspector interviewed staff 1, staff 2 and staff 3 and asked how long child 1 was alone in the classroom. Staff 1 stated, ?Child 1 was alone in the classroom for a few seconds.? Staff 2 stated, ?Child 1 was probably alone just a little while, a minute or a few seconds.? Staff 3 stated, ?Child 1 was in the classroom for just a few seconds.?
Plan of Correction:	All staff were met with and trained on sight and sound supervision on September 15, 2021. The training covered that all children under the age of 10 must always be in sight and sound supervision. All children are never to be unsupervised. Staff are always to do head counts and sweeps of the area before leaving and when getting to their destination to prevent any child from being left alone. As a group, the lead teacher will be conducting head counts and the aide will conduct the sweeps. All preventive steps were implemented on September 15, 2021, by the Director and Assistant Director. The Lead teacher and teacher aide will be responsible for making sure the children are always in sight and sound supervision. The Director and Assistant Director will monitor all these steps to make sure they are implemented and continue to be followed by conducting unannounced walk-throughs.