VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES

Gentle Touch Learning Center LLC
3621 Turnpike Road
Portsmouth, VA 23707
(757) 399-5437

Current Inspector: Brandie Viscayda (757) 636-3427

Inspection Date: April 3, 2024

Complaint Related: No

Technical Assistance:

Technical assistance was provided in the following areas; Email the program leader qualification checklist to director.

Comments:

An unannounced renewal inspection was conducted on 04/03/24 from 12:30pm to 2:07pm. At the time of the inspection there were 22 children in care and 4 staff members. Children were observed participating in various activities including center play, lunch, and nap time. Records were reviewed for three children and two staff members. Evacuation drills, emergency supplies and other required records and postings were reviewed. The information gathered during the inspection determined non-compliance with applicable standards or law and violations were documented on the violation notice and discussed with the director during the exit interview.

Violations:

Standard #:	8VAC20-780-140-A
Description:	Based on record review, the center failed to ensure that each child has 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: 1. Child #3 (Enrollment date- 4/3/2023) did not have a physical in the record. 2. Staff #3 (Director) confirmed that the physical was not in the record for Child #3.
Plan of Correction:	The facility responded with the following: Parent provided a copy
Standard #:	8VAC20-780-40-E
Description:	Based on observation and interview, the center failed to ensure that they operate within the terms of their current license issued by the department. Evidence: 1. A staff member had their own child who was eight months old in care (in her arms upon arrival of the inspector) at the center. The center is licensed to only care for children who are one year and four months to twelve years and eleven months old. 2. Staff #3 (Director) confirmed that the eight month old child was in care at the center.
Plan of Correction:	The facility responded with the following: Staff caregiver had an emergency
Standard #:	8VAC20-780-60-A
Description:	Based on record review, the center failed to ensure that each center maintain and keep at the center a separate record for each child enrolled. Evidence: 1. The following items were not documented in the record for Child #1. a. No city and state listed for the two emergency contacts. b. No date of enrollment. 2. The following items were not documented in the record for Child #2. a. The father was listed as not authorized to pick up and appropriate legal paperwork was not in the record. 3. The following items were not documented in the record for Child #3. a. No work number listed for the mother. 4. Staff #3 (Director) confirmed that the items were not documented in the record for Child #1, Child #2 and Child #3.
Plan of Correction:	The facility responded with the following: 1, I confirm city & state with parents 2. I contacted parent and she gave us a copy of the custody 3. Child #2 mother goes school no job 1&3 provided it
Standard #:	8VAC20-780-70
Description:	Based on record review, the center did not ensure that each staff person's record included documentation to demonstrate that the individual possesses the education, certification, and experience required by the job position. Evidence: 1. The record provided for staff #2 indicated that staff #2 is a program leader. There was insufficient documentation to verify that staff #2 is qualified as a program leader as only a high school diploma and 4 hours of training was documented. 2. Staff #3 (Director) confirmed that program leader qualifications were not documented in the staff?s file.
Plan of Correction:	The facility responded with the following: 1. The staff has had train but was not document We will document it 2
Standard #:	8VAC20-780-245-A
Description:	Based on record review, the center did not ensure that staff complete annually a minimum of 16 hours of training appropriate to the age of children in care. Evidence: 1. Staff #1 (Hire date 6/13/2022) and Staff #2 (Hire date 11/30/2020) did not have documentation of 16 hours of training for the year of 2023. 2. Staff #3 (Director) confirmed that documentation of 16 hours of annual training was not in the file of staff #1 and staff #2.
Plan of Correction:	The facility responded with the following: 1. Staff will be completing hours by April 30, 2024
Standard #:	8VAC20-780-270-A
Description:	Based on observation and interview, the center failed to ensure that areas and equipment of the center, inside and outside, shall be maintained in a clean, safe and operable condition. Evidence: 1. The following physical plant violations were observed during the inspection. a. A child napping on a torn cot in the back preschool room. b. Broken plastic bin with sharp edges in the hallway accessible to children. c. A janitorial bucket with standing water accessible to children. d. Peeling baseboards by the front window. e. Stained ceiling tiles. f. Milk crates that were tied together and being used to store children's personal items were pushed over by a child creating a tipping/entrapment hazard, 2. Staff #3 (Director) confirmed the listed physical plant items.
Plan of Correction:	The facility responded with the following: a. taken out b. taken out c. teacher just mop up spill milk d. covered up e. removed f. safely connected to the shelf
Standard #:	8VAC20-780-290-A-3
Description:	Repeat violation Based on observation and interview, the center has not ensured that electrical outlets shall have protective covers that are of a size that cannot be swallowed by children. Evidence: 1. There were a total of four uncovered outlets in the center. Two were behind the director desk by the front window and two in the hallway. These areas are accessible to children. 2. Staff #3 (Director) confirmed that the plugs were uncovered.
Plan of Correction:	The facility responded with the following: replace covers
Standard #:	8VAC20-780-350-B-1
Description:	Based upon observation, the center has not ensured that for children aged birth to 15 months of age the ratio for the grouping is no more than four children per caregiver. Evidence: At the time of arrival for the inspection, there were eleven two year old children and one eight month old child in care in the front classroom with two staff. The required ratio for a grouping in which an infants are in care is no more than four children per caregiver.
Plan of Correction:	The facility responded with the following: The employee child care had closed for spring break and her family member that was caring for the child had an emergency
Standard #:	8VAC20-780-500-B
Description:	Based on observation and interview, the center failed to ensure that disposable diapers are disposed in a leakproof or plastic-lined storage system that is either foot-operated or used in such a way that neither the staff member's hand nor the soiled diaper touches an exterior surface of the storage system during disposal. Evidence: 1. The trashcan in the diaper changing area does not have a foot operated pedal and staff was observed touching the lid with their hands while disposing diapers. 2. Staff #3 confirmed that the diaper disposal can did not have a foot operated pedal to lift the lid.
Plan of Correction:	The facility responded with the following: 1. Teacher do not put diaper in trash can in the hallway. The diapers are placed in a trash bag and is dispose of same time foot pedal was purchased
Standard #:	8VAC20-780-560-F
Description:	Based on observation, the center did not ensure that a menu listing foods to be served for meals and snacks during the current one-week period was posted. Evidence: 1. A menu for the current week was not posted in the center. When inspectors arrived, the children were preparing for lunch, Without the posted menu, the components being served for lunch could not be verified with the menu. 2. Staff #3 (Director) confirmed that a menu was not posted in the center.
Plan of Correction:	The facility responded with the following: 1. there was a current one in the kitchen 2 I posted update one in the front of the building