VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES

Rhema's "Gentle Care" Child Development Center
321 Alleghany Avenue
Lynchburg, VA 24501
(434) 847-0257

Current Inspector: Rebecca Forestier (540) 309-2835

Inspection Date: July 26, 2023

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 22.1 BACKGROUND CHECKS, CODE, CARBON MONOXIDE 63.2 CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT

Comments:

An unannounced monitoring inspection was conducted on 07/26/2023. There were 39 children, 3 months-11 years, and 7 staff members present during the inspection. The inspector reviewed compliance in the areas of administration, staff qualifications and trainings, staffing and supervision, physical plant, programs, emergencies and nutrition. A total of 5 children?s records and 5 staff records were reviewed. The children were observed watching television, in free choice activities, having lunch, and during rest time. The inspector arrived for the inspection at 9:50 am and departed at 1:20 pm. Information gathered during the inspection determined non-compliance with applicable standards or law and violations were documented on the violation notice issued to the provider.

Violations:

Standard #:	8VAC20-770-60-C-2
Description:	Based on record review, the center failed to obtain the finding from a search of the central registry within 30 days of employment. Evidence: The record for Staff 5 contained a documented hire date of 06/23/2023; there were not findings from the search of the central registry available for review during the inspection.
Plan of Correction:	Will follow up on the check.
Standard #:	8VAC20-780-140-A
Description:	REPEAT VIOLATION Based on record review, the center failed to obtain documentation that each child shall have a physical examination by or under the direction of a physician before the child?s attendance or within 30 days after the first day of attendance. Evidence: The record for Child 3 contained a documented start date of 06/02/2023. There was not documentation of a physical examination in the record for Child 3.
Plan of Correction:	Will request the document from the parent.
Standard #:	8VAC20-780-160-A
Description:	REPEAT VIOLATION Based on record review, the center failed to ensure that each staff member shall submit documentation of a negative tuberculosis screening at the time of employment or prior to coming into contact with children and that the documentation shall have been completed within the last 30 calendar days of the date of employment. Evidence: The record for Staff 1 contained a documented hire date of 02/08/2023. The tuberculosis screening in the record for Staff 1 was dated 02/16/2022; the tuberculosis screening had not been completed within the last 30 calendar days of the date of employment.
Plan of Correction:	TB screening will be done at hire.
Standard #:	8VAC20-780-80-A
Description:	REPEAT VIOLATION Based on document review and interviews, the center failed to ensure that for each grouping of children, the center shall maintain a written record of daily attendance that documents the arrival and departure of each child in care as it occurs. Evidence: 1. Child 6 was documented in attendance on the pre-k group attendance record. Child 6 was not observed with the pre-k group of children but rather with the school-age group of children. 2. Child 5 was observed in the pre-k group of children but their attendance was not documented on the pre-k group attendance record. 3. There were 6 children were observed in the 2 year old group of children. The attendance record for the 2 year old group contained documentation that there were currently 4 children in care. A total of 6 children had been marked as arriving on 07/26/2023. Two children had been marked as having departed for the day, however, the 2 children were observed to still be in attendance. The attendance record did not document the departure of each child as it occurred. 4. There were 10 children observed in the infant group of children. The attendance record for the infant group contained documentation that there were 6 children in care. The attendance record did not document the arrival of each child as it occurred. 5. The attendance records for each group of children did not properly document the arrival and/or departure of each child as it occurred.
Plan of Correction:	Will separate the meal count and attendance records. The staff will be responsible for the attendance record for their own group of children.
Standard #:	8VAC20-780-350-B-4
Description:	Based on observation, record review and staff interviews, the center failed to maintain the required staff-to-child ratio for children 3 year olds up to school age eligibility. Evidence: There were 12 children observed in the school-age group of children. Staff 2 was the only staff member supervising the group. Staff 2 identified Child 2 as the youngest child in the group. Child 2 was determined to be 3 years old. Based on an allowable variance for staff-to-child ratio issued to the center, the required staff-to-child ratio for children 3 year olds up to school age eligibility is 1:11. Staff 2 stated that Child 2 had been in the school-age group of children since approximately 8:30 am. Child 2 was observed with the school-age group at 10:55 am. Child 2 was observed with the school-age group during lunch and during the designated rest/quiet time after lunch.
Plan of Correction:	The children will return to the pre-k class.
Standard #:	8VAC20-780-450-C
Description:	Based on staff interviews, the center failed to ensure that crib sheets shall be clean and washed daily. Evidence: Staff 4 stated that the crib sheets are washed weekly.
Plan of Correction:	The crib sheets were changed during the inspection and they will be washed daily.
Standard #:	8VAC20-780-500-A
Description:	REPEAT VIOLATION Based on observation, the center failed to ensure that that children?s hands shall be washed with soap and running water or a disposable wipe before and after eating meals or snacks and that staff shall wash their hands with soap and running water before preparing or serving food or beverages. Evidence: 1. The school-age group of children were observed leaving the upstairs classroom to come downstairs to eat lunch. The children were observed using hand sanitizer as they entered the room. The children did not wash their hands with soap and running water or a disposable wipe before eating lunch. 2. Child 2 was observed eating lunch, getting up from the table and immediately running around the classroom playing and climbing on various items in the classroom. Child 2 did not wash their hands with soap and running water or a disposable wipe after eating lunch. 3. Staff 2 was observed leaving the upstairs classroom to come downstairs to serve the children lunch. Staff 2 was observed serving lunch to the children. Staff 2 did not wash their hands with soap and running water before serving food or beverages.
Plan of Correction:	Instruct the teachers to wash hands before serving food. The staff will be retrained on handwashing.