VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES

Noah's Ark Learning Center
8132 Shore Drive
Norfolk, VA 23518
(757) 524-4521

Current Inspector: Emily Walsh (757) 404-2575

Inspection Date: June 9, 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. 8VAC20-820 THE LICENSE. 8VAC20-820 THE LICENSING PROCESS. 8VAC20-820 HEARINGS PROCEDURES. 8VAC20-770 Background Checks (8VAC20-770) 20 Access to minor?s records 22.1 Background Checks Code, Carbon Monoxide 63.2 Child Abuse & Neglect

Comments:

A renewal inspection was conducted on June 9, 2022. There were 33 children present, ranging in ages from infant to 5 years, with 7 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 5 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 and discussed with the program director during the exit interview.

Violations:

Standard #:	8VAC20-780-160-A-1
Description:	Based upon review of records and staff interview, the facility has not ensured that documentation of a tuberculosis screening is submitted at the time of employment and prior to coming into contact with children. Evidence: 1. The record provided for staff 2, hired on 7/2/2021, included documentation that a tuberculosis screening was obtained on 1/26/2022. Staff 2 was on duty with the children since the date of hire. 2. The record provided for staff 6, hired on 1/24/22, included documentation that a tuberculosis screening was obtained on 1/31/22. Staff 6 was on duty with the children between the date of hire and the tuberculosis screening. 3. Staff 1 verified the timing of the tuberculosis screenings for staff 2 and staff 6 and that they have been on duty with the children.
Plan of Correction:	The facility responded with the following: In the future, new employees will be required to provide documentation of a negative tuberculosis screening obtained within 30 days prior to hire before being placed on duty with the children. The results will be filed in the employee file.
Standard #:	8VAC20-780-160-A-2
Description:	Based upon review of documentation and staff interview, the facility has not ensured that tuberculosis screenings for staff are completed within the last 30 calendar days of the date of employment. Evidence: 1. The record provided for staff 2 indicated a hire date of 7/2/2021 and the tuberculosis screening was dated 1/26/2022. 2. The record provided for staff 6 indicated a hire date of 2/1/2022 and the tuberculosis screening was dated 1/31/2022. 3. Staff 1 verified the timing of the tuberculosis screenings for staff 2 and staff 6.
Plan of Correction:	The facility responded with the following: In the future, new employees will be required to provide documentation of a negative tuberculosis screening obtained within 30 days prior to hire before being placed on duty with the children. The results will be filed in the employee file.
Standard #:	8VAC20-780-70
Description:	Based upon review of records and staff interview, the facility has not ensured that documentation that two or more references as to character and reputation as well as competency were checked before employment. Evidence: 1. The record provided for staff 2, hired on 7/2/2021, did not include documentation that two reference checks were obtained prior to employment. 2. The record provided for staff 6, hired on 2/1/2022, did not include documentation that two reference checks were obtained prior to employment. 3. Staff 1 verified that records provided for staff 2 and 6 did not included documentation that reference checks were obtained.
Plan of Correction:	The facility responded with the following: In the future, no employee will be hired until at least two references have been checked, documented and placed in the record.
Standard #:	8VAC20-780-240-B
Description:	Based upon review of records and staff interview, the facility has not ensured that staff have completed the required orientation training prior to working alone with children and no later than seven days of the date of assuming job responsibilities. Evidence: 1. The record provided for staff 6, hired on 2/1/2022, did not include documentation of the required orientation training. 2. Staff 1 verified that documentation of orientation training was not in the record for staff 6.
Plan of Correction:	The facility responded with the following: In the future, new staff will be given orientation training within seven days of hire and prior to being placed on duty with the children.
Standard #:	8VAC20-780-280-B
Description:	Based upon observation and staff interview, the facility has not ensured that hazardous substances, such as cleaning materials are kept in locked places with safe locking methods that prevent access by the children. Evidence: 1. There was an container of "Love My Carpet" in an unlocked bottom drawer of a filing cabinet in the preschool classroom. The container was labeled "caution" "keep out of reach of children". 2. There was a container of antibacterial hand soap within reach of the children in the two year old classroom. The container was labeled "warning" "external use only". 3. There was a container of air neutralizer and a container of bleach/water, both with warning labels' in the high cabinet in the girls' bathroom. The child safety latch on the cabinet was broken 4. Staff 1 acknowledged the storage of the above hazardous substances in areas accessible to the children.
Plan of Correction:	The facility responded with the following: All hazardous products were placed in locked cabinets during the inspection. All staff will be reminded that all chemicals must be kept in locked locations. Staff will also be reminded that their classroom is their responsibility to ensure that it is safe. If staff see a broken child proof latch, they are to report it to the program director to see that it is fixed.
Standard #:	8VAC20-780-330-B
Description:	Based upon observation, measurement and staff interview, the facility has not ensured that resilient surfacing complies with minimum safety standards when tested in accordance with the procedures described in the American Society for Testing and Materials standard F1292-99 as shown in Figures 2 (Compressed Loose Fill Synthetic Materials Depth Chart) and 3 (Use Zones for Equipment) on pages 6-7 of the National Program for Playground Safety's "Selecting Playground Surface Materials: Selecting the Best Surface Material for Your Playground," February 2004, is under equipment with moving parts or climbing apparatus to create a fall zone free of hazardous obstacles. The fall zone must encompass sufficient area to include the child's trajectory in the event of a fall while the equipment is in use. Evidence: 1. The facility placed a very large climbing structure and an airplane rocker/seesaw on the playground over a hard rubber surface. The facility did not have any documentation showing that the rubber surface meets ASTM standards for resilient surfacing. 2. Fall zones - large climbing structure a. There was not the required six feet of unobstructed fall zone around the large climbing structure. b.There was only 2 feet between the slide and the wall of the building. c. There was less than 6 feet of fall zone at the base of the large slide between the slide and the chain link fence. d. The airplane rocker/seesaw was located within the required fall zone of the large climbing structure. 3. Airplane rocker/seesaw a. There was less than six feet of unobstructed fall zone around the entire airplane rocker/seesaw.
Plan of Correction:	The facility responded with the following: Both playground pieces will be removed from the playground over the weekend. No climbers, slides or playground pieces with moving parts will be placed on the playground without the appropriate resilient surfacing meeting guidelines and adequate unobstructed fall zones.
Standard #:	8VAC20-780-340-A
Description:	Based upon staff interview, the facility has not ensured the protection of the children. Evidence: When asked how many children were currently in care in the two year old classroom, staff 7 and staff 8 looked at each other and responded fourteen children. There were only thirteen children in care at the time.
Plan of Correction:	The facility responded with the following: All staff will be reminded today that they must always have an accurate count of the number of children in their care. Failure to do so may result in counseling and/or disciplinary action.