VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES

Culpeper KinderCare Learning Center
673 Sunset Lane
Culpeper, VA 22701
(540) 825-6333

Current Inspector: Kelly Adriazola (804) 840-8245

Inspection Date: Sept. 23, 2022

Complaint Related: No

Areas Reviewed:

8VAC20-780 Administration. 8VAC20-780 Staff Qualifications and Training. 8VAC20-780 Staffing and Supervision. 8VAC20-820 THE LICENSE. 8VAC20-820 THE LICENSING PROCESS. 8VAC20-770 Background Checks (8VAC20-770)

Comments:

An unannounced non-mandated monitoring inspection, which was the result of a self-reported incident regarding forbidden actions and behavioral guidance, was conducted on-site September 23, 2022 and concluded remotely on October 20, 2022. The director was available during the inspection. There were 120 children present, ranging in ages from 1 month to 12 years, with 24 staff supervising. The inspector reviewed compliance in the areas of administration, staff qualifications and training, and staffing and supervision. A total of 2 child records and 3 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. 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. The provider's response(s) for the "plan of correction" were not received as of November 10, 2022 and will not appear on this Violation Notice.

Violations:

Standard #:	8VAC20-780-40-E
Description:	Based on a review of records and staff interviews, the licensee failed to ensure that the center complied with the center's own discipline policies and procedures regarding acceptable and unacceptable measures. Evidence: 1. The Kindercare Behavior Guidance Plan for Parents was reviewed. Per the Kindercare guidance plan, a) "staff are to model and reinforce appropriate behavior, b) staff will offer alternatives to children engaged in undesirable behavior by offering a different toy, suggesting a new activity, engaging the child in an activity with a teacher or another child, or by suggesting independent play, c) the teacher explains to the child the inappropriate behavior, and shows him/her the appropriate to handle the situation, d) the teacher helps the child understand the logical consequences of his/her actions by removing an object/activity that is causing the problem (for ex. if a child uses blocks to hit other children, the consequence is to remove the child from the block area). e) our policy does not permit the use of corporal punishment." 2. Per staff interviews, when playing on the playground on September 20, 2022, staff #3 was witnessed throwing rocks at children's faces in response to the children throwing rocks at each other and at staff and that staff #3 asked "you don't like it either right?" while throwing the rocks at the children. 3. Per staff interviews, when playing on the playground on September 20, 2022, staff #2 stated she witnessed children throwing rocks at each other. Staff #2 said that staff #3 walked over to child #2, turned him around, and said "we don't throw rocks at our friends," and then staff #2 took a handful of rocks and threw them in child #2's face. After throwing the rocks, staff #2 was heard to say "you don't like it either, right?" Staff #2 indicated that staff #3 was within 12 inches of child #2 when the rocks were thrown at his face. 4. Staff #4 confirmed that staff #3 was terminated as a result of the incident.
Plan of Correction:	Not available online. Contact Inspector for more information.
Standard #:	8VAC20-780-400-B
Description:	Based on interviews, the center failed to 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. Staff #1 reported witnessing the following while on the playground on September 20, 2022: children throwing rocks at each other and at staff #2; staff #3 "chuck rocks" at child #1's face and say "you don't like when I do that huh, so don't throw rocks at me". 2. Staff #2 reported witnessing the following while on the playground on September 20, 2022: children throwing rocks at each other; staff #3 walk over to child #2, turn him around, and say "we don't throw rocks at our friends"; staff #3 throwing a handful of rocks in child #2's face and asking "you don't like it either, right? 3. Staff #4 stated that staff #3 was terminated as a result of the incident.
Plan of Correction:	Not available online. Contact Inspector for more information.
Standard #:	8VAC20-780-410-1
Description:	Based on staff interviews, the center failed to ensure that physical punishment was forbidden. Evidence: 1. Staff #1 reported witnessing the following on the playground on September 20, 2022 in response to child #1 throwing rocks: staff #3 over-hand throw a handful of rocks at the face of child #1, who was standing approximately 2 feet away from staff #3; child #1 immediately grab her face and begin "whining" 2. Staff #2 reported witnessing the following on the playground on September 20, 2022 in response to child #2 throwing rocks: staff #3 pick up a handful of rocks and throw them at child #2's face. Child #2 walked away crying. 3. Staff #4 stated that staff #3 was terminated as a result of the incident.
Plan of Correction:	Not available online. Contact Inspector for more information.