VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES

New Direction Childcare & Learning Center
140 East Belt Boulevard
Richmond, VA 23224
(804) 231-7030

Current Inspector: LaTasha Smith (804) 588-2362

Inspection Date: Sept. 30, 2021

Complaint Related: No

Areas Reviewed:

22VAC40-185 ADMINISTRATION. 22VAC40-185 STAFF QUALIFICATIONS AND TRAINING. 22VAC40-185 STAFFING AND SUPERVISION. 22VAC40-185 PROGRAMS. 22VAC40-80 THE LICENSE. 22VAC40-80 THE LICENSING PROCESS.

Comments:

This inspection was conducted by licensing staff using an alternate remote protocol, including telephone contact, documents review, and interviews. A monitoring inspection was initiated on September 30, 2021 and concluded on November 19, 2021. A self-reported incident was received by the department regarding allegations in the areas of behavior guidance and forbidden actions. 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 inspector contacted witnesses and staff by telephone to conduct interviews. 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. Please complete the ?plan of correction? and ?date to be corrected? for each violation cited on the violation notice and return it to me within 5 business days from today. Please specify how the deficient practice will be or has been corrected. Your plan of correction should contain: 1) steps to correct the noncompliance with the standard(s), 2) measures to prevent the noncompliance from occurring again; and 3) person(s) responsible for implementing each step and/or monitoring any preventative measures. Please do not use staff names; list staff by positions only.

Violations:

Standard #:	22VAC40-185-40-E
Description:	Based on review of documentation and interviews, the center did not ensure to comply with the center's own policies and procedures required by the standards. Evidence: 1. The center's discipline policy states "Our techniques for discipline involve positive reinforcement for good behavior and careful explanation of behavior that is unacceptable. Our disciplinary techniques are: redirection or removal of the child from the situation, verbal warning, taking away privileges, and time out." 2. Staff #1 provided a written statement indicating that on September 29, 2021, she said to a child in care, "girl, I'm going to slap you and tell mom I did it." 3. Administration acknowledged the Staff did not act within the center's policies and procedures.
Plan of Correction:	Not available online. Contact Inspector for more information.
Standard #:	22VAC40-185-400-B
Description:	Based on a review of documentation and interviews, the center did not ensure behavioral guidance shall be constructive in nature, age and stage appropriate, and shall be intended to redirect children to appropriate behavior and resolve conflicts. Evidence: 1. An outside witness stated Staff #1 verbally threatened to "smack" a child and "smack" a phone out of the child's hand and that the Staff member then told the child she was going to tell her mom she smacked her. 2. During an interview Staff #1 stated she said "if you don't be quiet, I'm going to smack you and tell your mother I smacked you." Staff #1 provided the center a written statement. Review of the documentation of the written statement the staff member provided stated on September 29, 2021, she said "girl, I'm going to slap you and tell mom I did it." 3. Administration acknowledged that Staff #1 did make statements threatening to slap a child.
Plan of Correction:	Not available online. Contact Inspector for more information.