VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES

Unique Little Hands Inc.
3000 Godwin Boulevard
Suffolk, VA 23434
(757) 925-3708

Current Inspector: Melinda Popkin (757) 802-5281

Inspection Date: Jan. 24, 2024

Complaint Related: Yes

Areas Reviewed:

8VAC20-780 Administration. 8VAC20-780 Staff Qualifications and Training. 8VAC20-780 Staffing and Supervision. 8VAC20-780 Programs. 8VAC20-780 Special Care Provisions and Emergencies 8VAC20-770 Background Checks 63.2 Child Abuse & Neglect

Technical Assistance:

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 five (5) business days from today. You will need to 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 or person(s) responsible for implementation.

Comments:

An unannounced complaint inspection was initiated by a local agency representative and inspector on January 24, 2024 and completed on 4/1/2024 regarding concerns of Supervision and Staff Qualifications and Training. There were 7 children present and 2 staff supervising in the waddler room. During the inspection the following were completed: interviews with administrative staff and classroom staff, a review of two staff records and documentation, observation of the physical classroom where the incident occurred, and a review of video footage of the incident on January 23, 2024. Additionally, collateral interviews were conducted, and a review of pertinent documentation was completed during the investigative process. The preponderance of the evidence gathered during the investigation does support the allegation related to supervision and staff qualifications; therefore, the complaint is determined to be valid. The inspection determined non-compliance with applicable standards or law and violations were documented on the violation notice issued to the program. Repeat violations were found and are identified within this report.

Violations:

Standard #:	8VAC20-780-340-A
Complaint related:	Yes
Description:	***REPEAT VIOLATION*** Based on a review of video footage, written documentation, and interview, staff did not always ensure the care, protection and guidance of children they were supervising. Evidence: 1. Staff failed to ensure child #1's care protection and guidance when a two-year-old child (child #1) was bitten in the face by another child during a physical struggle between the two children in the Waddler classroom on 1/23/2024. There were 7 children between the ages of 12 months and 2 years of age in the care of two staff in the classroom at the time. 2. Classroom footage of the Waddlers classroom (ages 12 months through 2 years old) showed four children, to include child #1 and child #2, playing on the rug in the front room of the classroom. No staff were present in the front room of the two-room open suite which is divided by a large open archway. Child #2 pushes child #1 over from a sitting position, and lays on top of child #1. Staff #1 walks from the back half of the classroom down a side corridor within the classroom as child #1 is pinned underneath child #2, kicking her legs. Child #2 lowers his face to child #1's face for several seconds before sitting upright, still on top of child #1. Child #1 raises her hands to cover her face. Approximately 10 seconds pass between when child #1 was pushed over by child #2 and when staff #1 lunges to quickly move a table blocking the corridor from the classroom and separates the children. Staff #2 is then seen walking into the view of the camera from the furthest rear portion of the classroom. 3. Interviews reveal that staff #1 was hanging the children's artwork to dry in the corridor with her back to the children when she heard child #1 cry out. Staff #2 was hanging up the children's coats on the coat hooks at the far side of the back room. Staff were unaware that a physical struggle was talking place for approximately 10 seconds before child # 1 cried out upon being bitten by child #2. 4. A photograph taken of child #1 following the incident on 1/23/2024 shows a dark red bite mark on child #1's cheekbone under her right eye. 5. The incident report written following child #2 being bitten states that child #1 was bitten by another child who was "playing aggressively".
Plan of Correction:	The following written response was received by the licensee: "A staff member was terminated. Staff #2 was terminated. The child who was bit was her responsibility at the time. 1/24/2024" "All staff have received training on biting. We also added sight and sound to our orientation training 4/14/2024."
Standard #:	8VAC20-780-340-D
Complaint related:	Yes
Description:	Based on a review of records and interview, the licensee did not ensure that at least one staff member who meets the qualifications of a program leader or program director is regularly present in each grouping of children. Evidence: Records were reviewed for the two staff (staff #1 and staff #2) who were regularly assigned to the Waddler classroom and who were the only staff present in the waddler classroom on 1/23/2024 when a child was injured. Neither of the two staff records contained documentation to demonstrate the staff persons' program leader qualification. The program director stated that she did not have additional documentation to demonstrate qualifications at the time of the inspection, but stated that she would check for staff #2's record at the program was previously employed. However, that documentation was not provided during or following the inspection, as discussed.
Plan of Correction:	The following written response was submitted by the licensee: "We now have qualified lead teachers in all rooms. 2/1/2024".