VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES

Mt. Olive Brethren Church Building Blocks Children's Center
2977 Pineville Road
Mcgaheysville, VA 22840
(540) 289-7046

Current Inspector: Kelly Adriazola (804) 840-8245

Inspection Date: April 26, 2023

Complaint Related: Yes

Areas Reviewed:

8VAC20-780 Administration. 8VAC20-780 Staff Qualifications and Training. 8VAC20-780 Physical Plant. 8VAC20-780 Staffing and Supervision. 8VAC20-780 Programs. 8VAC20-820 THE LICENSE. 8VAC20-820 THE LICENSING PROCESS.

Comments:

An unannounced complaint inspection was conducted on April 26, 2023 and concluded on July 18, 2023. A complaint was received by the Department regarding allegations in the areas of forbidden actions and behavior guidance. Documents were reviewed and interviews were conducted. The evidence gathered during the investigation supported the allegation of non-compliance with standards or law and violations were issued. Any violations not related to the complaint 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 #:	63.2-1509-A*
Complaint related:	No
Description:	Based on interviews, staff who had reason to suspect that a child is abused or neglected failed to report the matter immediately to the local department of the county or city wherein the child resides or wherein the abuse or neglect is believed to have occurred or to the Department's toll-free child abuse and neglect hotline. Evidence: 1. In an interview with the board chairperson on May 10, 2023, it was confirmed the center was aware of an incident on April 17, 2023, involving staff #1 "putting his hands" on child #1. The board chairperson confirmed that on April 19, 2023, the parent of child #1 reported bruising on the hairline of child #1 from the April 17th incident and that staff #1 ?pulled? child #1?s arm and ?threw her on the cot and she hit her head?; and ?verbal and physical abuse is happening.? The board chairperson stated the incident was not reported as required. 2. In an interview with staff #4 on May 10, 2023, it was confirmed that staff #4 was also aware of an incident on April 17, 2023, involving staff #1 "dragging" child #1 across the floor resulting in hitting the child's head and leaving a "knot" and did not report this incident as required.
Plan of Correction:	All staff report any and all incidents to director. Document Director report to licensing and chairperson.
Standard #:	8VAC20-780-40-E
Complaint related:	No
Description:	Based on a review of records, the licensee failed to ensure that the center?s activities, services, and facilities are maintained in compliance with the center?s own policies and procedures that are required by these standards. Evidence: 1. On page 23 of the center's staff handbook it states "Behavioral guidance shall be constructive in nature, age and stage appropriate, and shall be intended to redirect children to appropriate behavior and resolve conflicts. Suggested methods of behavior intervention shall include: a. Positive wording of reminders. Avoid reminders in the negative sense (i.e. "Don't run; instead use "Use your walking feet)." In interviews with three staff on May 10, 2023, all three staff (#2, #3, and #4) indicated that staff #1 would yell at the children. Staff #2 witnessed staff #1 yell "you, stop doing that." 2. Documentation from the board chairperson stated she had a conversation with a parent of child #1 who witnessed staff #1 get ?snappy? and sound ?derogatory and nasty? to the children. The parent stated to the board chairperson that a little boy began talking about how bad her child was that day and staff #1's response to the boy was 'you're one to talk.' 3. On page 24 of the center's staff handbook it states "the following actions or threats thereof are forbidden: a. physical punishment, striking a child, roughly handling or shaking a child, restricting movement through binding or tying, forcing a child to assume an uncomfortable position, or exercise as punishment. e. withholding or forcing food or rest." 4. Review of the center's video footage of the incident on April 17, 2023, shows that from approximately 12:46pm to 1:04pm staff #1 roughly handles child #1 several times by pushing, pulling grabbing, and holding the child's various limbs. 5. Review of the center's video footage of the incident on April 17, 2023, shows that Child #1 was physically forced to rest for approximately 18 minutes from 12:46pm to 1:04pm by staff #1.
Plan of Correction:	Flip-it training has been completed by all staff. If a child has not fallen asleep within 30 minutes allow them to do a quiet activity. Use positive words when talking to children. Remind staff on how to handle behavior issues. Handbooks and Flip-It training.
Standard #:	8VAC20-780-70
Complaint related:	No
Description:	Based on a review of staff records and interview, the center failed to ensure each staff record contained the required information. Evidence: 1. The record of staff #1 did not contain documentation of the staff's date of separation. Staff #6 confirmed the date of separation was not documented.
Plan of Correction:	Make sure all paper work is up to date.
Standard #:	8VAC20-780-280-B
Complaint related:	No
Description:	Repeat Violation Based on observation and interview, the center failed to ensure that hazardous substances were kept in a locked place using a safe locking method that prevents access by children. Evidence: Two children were observed in the director's office. Located on a shelf in the office were Lysol wipes, Steramine tablets, Dawn dish soap, 2 bottles of disinfect spray, activated charcoal and wood glue. The labels of each stated "keep out of reach of children" and/or "caution" "warning."
Plan of Correction:	Items have been moved to a safe locked cabinet out of reach from children.
Standard #:	8VAC20-780-400-B
Complaint related:	Yes
Description:	Based on staff 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. In an interview with staff #2 on May 10, 2023, it was stated that staff #1 would yell at the kids. Staff #2 witnessed staff #1 yelling "you, stop doing that." and say "I don't like kids." 2. In an interview with staff #3 on May 10, 2023, it was stated that staff #1 would yell and get angry at the kids. Staff #3 witnessed staff #1 tell children they were "acting like a baby." 3. In an interview with staff #4 on May 10, 2023, it was stated that staff #1 would yell at the kids and that staff #1 didn't like kids.
Plan of Correction:	Complete trainings on positive behavior management. Use positive reinforcing words when speaking to children.
Standard #:	8VAC20-780-400-C
Complaint related:	No
Description:	Based on staff interviews, the center failed to ensure when time out is used as a behavior technique it shall be used sparingly and shall not exceed one minute for each year of the child's age. Evidence: 1. In an interview with staff #4 on May 10, 2023, it was stated that staff #1 worked in the 4 and 5 year old classroom. Staff #4 witnessed staff #1 make the kids sit in timeout for over ten minutes. 2. In an interview with staff #5 on May 10, 2023, it was stated that she witnessed staff #1 make 4 and 5 year old children sit in time out for over 10 minutes.
Plan of Correction:	Flip-it training to learn about positive behavior management trainings.
Standard #:	8VAC20-780-410-1
Complaint related:	Yes
Description:	Based on review of video footage and interviews, the center failed to ensure that roughly handling a child was forbidden. Evidence: The following was determined from watching video recorded by the center on April 17, 2023. Times are approximate. 1. At 12:46pm staff #1 and child #1 enter the hallway where the child is made to rest separately from the classroom. Child #1 crawls across the floor and staff #1 pulls the child and picks her up under both arms and swings her onto the cot. Child #1 tries to get off the cot and staff #1 grabs one of child #1?s legs and forces it onto the cot. Child #1 tries to move her upper body off the cot and is pulled back by staff #1. Staff #1 holds child #1 down with his right hand on her right ankle and then staff #1 forces both legs down. Child #1 tries to move her upper body again and he forces her back down. 2. At 12:50pm child #1 tries to get off the cot and staff #1 pulls both arms and legs to force her to return. 3. At 12:51pm child #1 rolls off the cot and staff #1 puts her back on the cot and crosses her feet at the ankles and holds them down. 4. At 12:54pm child #1 is off the cot, laying on the floor. Staff #1 grabs child #1 by one leg and pulls child #1 across the floor approximately 5 feet towards the cot. 5. At 12:58pm child #1 is on her knees on the cot and staff #1 grabs child #1 by the arm and pulls the child face down onto the cot. Child #1 sits up to her knees again and is pulled forward back down onto her stomach by staff #1. 6. At 12:59pm child #1 tries to turn and get up and is forced back down onto her stomach by staff #1. Child #1 flips over and sits up and is pulled backwards onto the cot by staff #1. Child #1 tries to sit up and is pushed back by the shoulder. Child #1 tries to sit up and is forced backwards by the arm by staff #1. 7. At 1:00pm child #1 sits up and is being held at the ankles by staff #1. 8. At 1:03pm to 1:04pm child #1 is pushed backwards by the shoulder, while the ankles are still being held by staff #1. Child #1 sits up and is grabbed by the arm and pulled backwards down onto the cot by staff #1. Staff #1 then throws the child's blanket into the classroom and child #1 crawls on all fours to try to get it but is then grabbed by the waist and arm and pulled backwards back to the cot by staff #1. 9. In an interviews with three staff it was reported that child #1 could be heard ?screaming? from the lower level of the building to the upper level and crying on April 17, 2023 at naptime.
Plan of Correction:	Not available online. Contact Inspector for more information.
Standard #:	8VAC20-780-410-5
Complaint related:	No
Description:	Based on a review of video footage, the center failed to ensure the use of the forbidden action of forcing rest. Evidence: The following was determined from watching video footage recorded by the center on April 17, 2023. Between approximately 12:46pm to 1:04pm, staff #1 physically forced child #1 (age 5) to lay down on a cot approximately 30 times.
Plan of Correction:	Remind staff that we do not force children to sleep. Use positive words.