VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES

Just Beginning Day Care
377 Hanbury Road West
Chesapeake, VA 23322
(757) 482-9007

Current Inspector: Trisha Brown (757) 404-2601

Inspection Date: Sept. 30, 2021

Complaint Related: Yes

Areas Reviewed:

8VAC20-780 Physical plant. 8VAC20-780 STAFFING AND SUPERVISION. 8VAC20-780 PROGRAMS. 8VAC20-780 SPECIAL SERVICES.

Comments:

A complaint investigation was received and initiated on September 30, 2021. The investigation concluded on November 24, 2021. During the investigation on site and telephone interviews were conducted. Classroom observations were completed and staff and children records were reviewed. Additionally, parent interviews were conducted. The complaint alleges inappropriate discipline. The information gathered during the investigation supports the allegation and the complaint is found to be valid. Violations found regarding the complaint include the areas of behavior guidance and forbidden actions. Violations found but not reported include the areas of physical plant, care and protection, cots, nutrition and food services.

Violations:

Standard #:	8VAC20-780-270-A
Complaint related:	No
Description:	There is a yellow chair in the preschool room that had cracks in the seat area which pinched an adult?s skin upon sitting then standing up from the chair.
Plan of Correction:	Chair was removed on the day it was discovered Staff will monitor and remove any nonfunctioning equipment or furnishings.
Standard #:	8VAC20-780-340-A
Complaint related:	No
Description:	Based on observation the center failed to ensure the care and protection of children when staff are directly supervising children in care. Evidence: 1 - On October 18th child 3 was observed rocking on a plastic rocking horse in the toddler classroom when the rocking horse tipped over and the child fell off the horse and cried briefly. However, neither staff present in the room was aware of the incident or went to this child?s aid after the incident occurred. 2 - On October 18th at approximately 7:41am staff 3 left the classroom to meet the morning bus leaving staff 2 standing between the toddler/two year old room and the preschool/school-age room caring for a total of 27 children alone. This continued for approximately seven minutes.
Plan of Correction:	The rocking horse has been removed from the classroom. Center management has discussed with all staff members that if staff are running late they are to require parents to remain present until a staff arrives.
Standard #:	8VAC20-780-350-C
Complaint related:	No
Description:	Based on observation and interview the center failed to ensure that when children are in ongoing mixed age groups the ratio of the youngest child present applies to the entire group. Evidence: 1 - On October 18, 2021, from 7:30 - 745am, there were 14 children with two staff where three staff are required. The children present in this group ranged in age from 16 months to 3 years. 2 - At approximately 7:53am, on October 18th there were 13 children present with one staff member where two are required. The children present ranged in age from three to five years old
Plan of Correction:	The staffing pattern has been adjusted to ensure that ratios are met during the morning hours as follows: At 6:15am two staff are present in the building, at 6:45am an additional staff is scheduled to arrive, at 7:30am another staff member is scheduled to arrive. Then at 8am two staff members arrive and at 8:30am another staff member is scheduled to arrive. The director will revisit and adjust the staffing pattern as needed.
Standard #:	8VAC20-780-400-B
Complaint related:	No
Description:	Based on interview, the center failed to ensure that behavior guidance is age and stage appropriate and is intended to redirect children to appropriate behavior and resolve conflicts. Evidence: On October 4, 2021 during interview staff 1 stated that she used timeout when interacting with child 3 who was 20 months old at the time and therefore not age or stage appropriate.
Plan of Correction:	Center management retrained all staff and informed them that timeout may not be used with any child under two years of age.
Standard #:	8VAC20-780-410-1
Complaint related:	No
Description:	Based on interviews the center failed to ensure that rough handling of children is a forbidden action. Evidence; 1 - Staff 1 stated that she grabbed Child 3 by the shirt and pulled him up by the back collar of his shirt. She stated this action lifted him up off the floor ?he was dead weight.? Staff 1 stated that she then put him in a chair for time out. 2 - A parent stated that she ?didn't like what she saw.? She observed staff 1 use an open-hand to smack child 3 on the back of head so hard that he fell forward and then staff 1 ?yoked him up and he fell over.? Staff 1 then ?grabbed child 3 up and his feet left the floor. She then ?carried him through the air like a rag doll and threw him into a plastic chair.? 3 - Staff 4 stated that she was unaware that the child was seen at CHKD. However, it has been confirmed that the child was seen at CHKD the morning after the incident occurred.
Plan of Correction:	1 - Center management retrained all staff and informed that the consequence of any physical punishment will result in immediate suspension for no less than two days without pay. 2 - Center management provided handouts to all staff regarding the proper way to pick up a child.
Standard #:	8VAC20-780-440-L
Complaint related:	No
Description:	Based on observation and interview the center failed to ensure that fiber-filled blankets and comforters are not used with children under the age of 2 years old. Evidence: On September 30, 2021: 1 - Two children under the age of 2 years old were observed napping. Child 1 had a fiber-filled blanket and a pillow, child 2 was napping under a fiber filled blanket. 2 - Staff present during this observation confirmed that the children were under the age of two years old and that the blankets were fiber-filled and that there was a pillow in use.
Plan of Correction:	Center management will post a memo in classroom notification that pillows and fiber filled blankets may not be used or given to children under the age of two years.
Standard #:	8VAC20-780-560-J
Complaint related:	No
Description:	On October 18th at approximately 7:55am a child was seated at a table in the preschool room to eat breakfast. However, the table was not cleaned or sanitized before the child was fed. Broken yellow chair in preschool room
Plan of Correction:	Parents will be provided a memo making it clear when and where children can eat meals and snacks. Cleaning/sanitizing materials will be made available to parents whose children require a meal or snack outside of the scheduled meal and snack times.