VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES

The Imagination Station
11 Taylor Avenue
Pearisburg, VA 24134
(540) 921-4191

Current Inspector: Todd Scott (276) 608-3749

Inspection Date: Aug. 14, 2023

Complaint Related: Yes

Areas Reviewed:

8VAC20-780 Staffing and Supervision

Comments:

A complaint inspection was initiated on 8/14/23 and concluded on 8/14/23. The inspector reviewed compliance in the area of staffing and supervision. The inspection started at 1:10pm and concluded at 2:53pm. 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 #:	8VAC20-780-340-A
Complaint related:	Yes
Description:	Based on interviews, the center failed to ensure the care, protection, and guidance of a child. Evidence: Center staff were not aware that a four (4) year old child had left the playground and was missing for approximately 30 minutes. The child left the playground and proceeded to walk home on 8/9/23. The child was witnessed by an individual, who lived between the center and the child?s home, to be running down the middle of the neighborhood road that has a speed limit of 25 mph. The child stated to the individual he was going home. This individual walked the rest of the way with the child to his home. The child lived approximately .5 miles from the center. Upon arriving, at 1:19pm, no one was home. This individual saw the adjacent neighbor and asked him if the child lived there. This neighbor identified the child and then called the center at 1:28pm to inform them of the child?s whereabouts. The individual who initially saw the child walked the child back to the center where staff were waiting out front of the center for them.
Plan of Correction:	We have since put updated locks on our gates and discussed the importance of head counts to our staff and using attendance sheets to verify children in care.
Standard #:	8VAC20-780-340-F
Complaint related:	Yes
Description:	Based on interviews, the center failed to ensure children were always within actual sight and sound supervision of staff. Evidence: Center staff did not ensure a four (4) year-old child was in sight and sound supervision on 8/9/23, from approximately 1:00pm-1:35pm, when the child left the playground and proceeded to walk to his home. The child left the playground during outside time through an open gate at approximately 1:00pm. The center staff did not know the child was unaccounted for and missing until the center was notified at 1:28pm by a neighbor of the child. The staff and children had already come inside and were having nap time when the call was received from the neighbor.
Plan of Correction:	We have since put updated locks on our gates and discussed the importance of head counts to our staff and using attendance sheets to verify children in care.
Standard #:	8VAC20-780-350-B-3
Complaint related:	No
Description:	Based on review of documentation and interviews with staff, the center failed to ensure that ratios were met for the age grouping of two-year-olds as required. Evidence: Attendance records, staff time sheets, and staff interviews confirmed that on 8/9/23, from approximately 12:00pm-1:00pm, there was only one (1) staff member outside on the playground with a group of 11 two-year-olds. The required ratio for this age grouping was one (1) staff to eight (8) children.
Plan of Correction:	We have adjusted break times and hired additional staff and will continue to hire new people. We do disagree with some of the findings but at this time we cannot provide the proper documentation to prove this.
Standard #:	8VAC20-780-350-B-4
Complaint related:	No
Description:	Repeat and systemic Based on review of documentation and interviews with staff, the center failed to ensure that preschool ratios were met. Evidence: Attendance records, staff time sheets, and staff interviews confirmed that on 8/9/23, from approximately 12:00pm-1:00pm, there was one (1) staff outside on the playground with two (2) separate groupings of children aged three (3) years to five (5) years. There was a total of 29 preschool children (2 groups) with one (1) staff member. The required ratio for this age grouping was one (1) staff to ten (10) children.
Plan of Correction:	We have adjusted break times and hired additional staff and will continue to hire new people. We do disagree with some of the findings but at this time we cannot provide the proper documentation to prove this.