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Gentle Touch Learning Center LLC
3621 Turnpike Road
Portsmouth, VA 23707
(757) 399-5437

Current Inspector: Emily Walsh (757) 404-2575

Inspection Date: April 14, 2022

Complaint Related: No

Areas Reviewed:
8VAC20-780 Administration.
8VAC20-780 Staff Qualifications and Training.
8VAC20-780 Physical Plant.
8VAC20-780 Staffing and Supervision.
8VAC20-780 Programs.
8VAC20-780 Special Care Provisions and Emergencies.
8VAC20-780 Special Services.
8VAC20-770 Background Checks (8VAC20-770)
22.1 Background Checks Code, Carbon Monoxide

Technical Assistance:
Ensuring that Program Leader qualifications are clearly documented in the staff files was discussed with the director.

The director stated that she is currently updating the emergency preparedness plan to reflect changes in the procedures and possibly the location for evacuation from the site.

Comments:
A monitoring inspection was conducted on 4/14/2022. There were 8 children present, ranging in ages from 19 months to school aged, with 3 staff supervising. The inspector reviewed compliance in the areas of administration, physical plant, staffing and supervision, programming, medication, special care and emergencies and nutrition. A total of 2 child records and 5 staff records were reviewed.

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 #: 22.1-289.035-A
Description: Based upon review of staff records and staff interview, the facility has not ensured that all employees undergo background checks (fingerprinting, child protective services (CPS) central registry searches and sworn disclosure or affirmation statements) every five years.
Evidence:
1. The most recent CPS central registry search in the record provided for staff 2 is dated 3/30/2016.
2. Staff 1 verified that a more recent CPS central registry search had not been obtained for staff 2.

Plan of Correction: The facility responded with the following during the exit interview.
A central registry search will immediately be requested for staff 2. All staff records will be reviewed to ensure that all required background checks are obtained within every five years.

Standard #: 8VAC20-780-60-A
Description: Based upon review of two children's records and staff interview, the facility has not ensured that each child's record includes the complete street address for the persons to be contacted in an emergency when a parent cannot be reached.
Evidence:
1/ The record provided for child 1 did not include the city and state for the two emergency contact persons listed.
2. Staff 1 verified that the city and state of the emergency contacts was not written in the record for child 1.

Plan of Correction: The facility responded with the following during the exit interview:
All children's records will be reviewed to ensure that all required information is included.

Standard #: 8VAC20-780-70
Description: Based upon review of staff records and staff interview, the facility has not ensured that each staff records contains documentation of 2 or more references as to character and reputation as well as competency were checked before employment.
Evidence:
1. The record provided for staff 5 did not include documentation of 2 or more reference checks.
2. Staff 1 verified that the record for staff 5 did not include reference checks.

Plan of Correction: The facility responded with the following during the exit interview:
Reference checks were obtained for staff 5, however they could not be located. In the future, we will ensure that at least two references are checked and documented prior to the employ of any applicants.

Standard #: 8VAC20-780-80-A
Description: Based upon observation and staff interview, the facility has not ensured that for each group of children, there is a written record of daily attendance documenting the arrival and departure of each child as it occurs.
Evidence:
1. Upon arrival of the inspector, there were three groups of children, one child in a toddler group, four children in a preschool group and three school age children in a group. None of the groups had attendance records for the group.
2. Staff 2 showed the inspector an attendance record for the entire facility. The record did not include arrival and departure times and was not specific for each group of children.
3. Staff 1 acknowledged that separate attendance records documenting arrival and departure times of the children were not being kept.

Plan of Correction: The facility responded with the following during the exit interview:
Attendance forms for each group of children will be developed with space in which the staff write the arrival and departure times. These records will be kept with the staff in each classroom and will be adjusted as children may move from one grouping to another.

Standard #: 8VAC20-780-270-A
Description: Based upon observation and staff interview, the facility has not ensured that areas and equipment, inside and outside, are maintained to be clean and safe.
Evidence:
1. The children must pass along the grassy area behind the building to access the outdoor playground. There were numerous cars parked throughout the area, inhibiting safe transit to the playground.
2. The playground was strewn with various forms of litter to include plastic and bags.
3. Staff 1 acknowledged that the parked cars and litter are making the playground unsafe.
4. In the back exit area that children must pass through to access the playground, there was a janitorial floor mop bucket full of dirty water.
5. In the back exit area that children must pass through to access the playground, there was a broken plastic waste basket with sharp edges.
6. The rubber child guard on the pointed corner of the changing table in the hallway that children pass through to access the bathrooms and the outdoor playground had fallen off, creating a hazard at the head height of the children.

Plan of Correction: The facility responded with the following during the exit interview:
The owner of the property behind the facility will be contacted to make arrangements to ensure that cars are not parked in the area through which the children must walk to access the playground. A staff person will go outside to the playground every morning and before children use the playground to pick up trash and ensure there are no hazards.
The back area through which the children transit to the playground will be cleaned of all items in storage there. Broken equipment will be disposed. Doors to the janitorial closet and kitchen will be kept locked. Cleaning water will be dumped from the janitorial bucket after each use.
The corner of the diaper changing table will be sawed off/rounded and sanded to no longer be a potential hazard of children bumping their heads.

Standard #: 8VAC20-780-280-B
Description: Based upon observation and staff interview, the facility has not ensured that hazardous substances are kept in a locked place using a safe locking method that prevents access by children.
Evidence:
1. There was a spray bottle of sanitizer on the changing table within reach of children.
2. The door from the school age classroom to the back exit where the janitorial closet is located was not locked. The janitorial closet was standing open. On the floor inside the closet was GLH 600, Pine Sol, Raid and Signet cleaner. All had warning labels.
3. The door to the kitchen was standing open. There was a container of Ajax with a warning label on the sink.
4. Staff 3 acknowledged that the door to the back exit was not locked while the school age children were in care in the back room.

Plan of Correction: The facility responded with the following during the exit interview:
All staff will be reminded that the doors to back exit, the janitorial closet and the kitchen must remain locked at all times while children are in care. The doors will be routinely checked to ensure that they are locked.

Standard #: 8VAC20-780-280-E
Description: Based upon observation, the facility has not ensured that cleaning materials and insecticides/pesticides are stored in areas physically separate from each other.
Evidence:
There was a can of aerosol Raid pesticide on the floor of the janitorial closet beside the GLH 600 and Pine Sol.

Plan of Correction: The facility responded with the following during the exit interview:
All insecticides/pesticides will be stored in separate areas from cleaning materials.

Disclaimer:

A compliance history is in no way a rating for a facility.

The online compliance history includes only information after July 1, 2003. In addition, the online compliance history includes information regarding adverse actions that may be the subject of a pending appeal. An adverse action is not final until a provider has exhausted or waived all due process rights. For compliance history prior to July 1, 2003, or information regarding the status of pending adverse actions, please contact the Licensing Inspector listed in the facility's information. The Virginia Department of Social Services (VDSS) is not responsible for any errors in or omissions from the compliance history information.

Virginia Quality is a voluntary quality rating and improvement system for early care and education facilities serving children ages birth through pre-K. To find programs participating in Virginia Quality, click here.

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