VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES

Honeytree Early Learning Center #4
1980 Electric Road
Salem, VA 24153
(540) 769-2300

Current Inspector: Nicole Scott (804) 588-2372

Inspection Date: Feb. 8, 2024

Complaint Related: No

Areas Reviewed:

8VAC20-780 STAFF QUALIFICATIONS AND TRAINING. 8VAC20-780 PHYSICAL PLANT 8VAC20-780 STAFFING AND SUPERVISION. 8VAC20-780 PROGRAMS.

Comments:

An unannounced monitoring inspection, resulting from a self-reported incident received on 02/02/2024, was initiated on 02/05/2024. An onsite inspection was conducted on 03/15/2024. The inspector interviewed 5 staff, reviewed 6 staff records, and 1 child record. The inspector and administrator arrived at the center at 8:15am and departed at 1:00pm. On 3/15/2024, the inspector and administrator watched a video recording of the center parking lot taken on 2/2/2024 at an outside organization. An additional audio recording of the child interview with an outside agency was reviewed on 3/27/2024. A record review was conducted on 04/05/2024 at the corporate location. Information gathered during the inspection determined non-compliance with applicable standards or law and violations are documented on the violation notice issues to the provider. If you have any questions about this inspection, please contact Nicole Scott, Licensing Inspector Phone-804.588.2372 Email- nicole.scott@doe.virginia.gov.

Violations:

Standard #:	8VAC20-780-40-E
Description:	Based on documentation review and interviews, the center failed to maintain the operational responsibility of the licensee 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 the standards. Evidence: 1. Per the transportation policy, drivers must use approved child safety belts when necessary. Child 1 (age 5 years) was not using a child restraint device while being transported on the center bus on 2/2/2024. 2. Per the transportation procedure in the parent handbook, children are assisted on and off the van and are never left unattended. On 2/2/2024, Child 1 (age 5 years) was not assisted off the center bus and left alone and unsupervised on the center bus for approximately 2 hours.
Plan of Correction:	1.Honeytree Early Learning Center #4 staff was in-serviced on this regulation and the center's bus attendance log. 2. Staff #2 is no longer an employee of Honeytree Early Learning Center. 3.Honeytree is in the process of revising its Transportation Policy to further outline the requirements of the Virginia Administrative Code regarding the transportation of children.
Standard #:	8VAC20-780-80-A
Description:	Based on interviews and documentation review, the center failed to ensure for each group of children, the center shall maintain a written record of daily attendance that documented the arrival and departure of each child in care as it occurs. Evidence: The arrival of Child 1 into afterschool care was logged on the attendance of approximately 2:52pm, even though the child was left alone on the center bus after being transported. Child 1 did not arrive into the center until approximately 4:45pm, after they were taken off be locked center bus.
Plan of Correction:	Honeytree Early Learning Center #4 staff was in-serviced on this regulation and the Center's bus attendance log.
Standard #:	8VAC20-780-270-A
Description:	Based on observation, the center failed to ensure areas and equipment of the center, inside and outside, shall be maintained in a clean, safe and operable condition. Evidence: Two of the bus seats have ripped apart on the backside of the seat. The vinyl material no longer covers the entire back seat area and the inside foam cushion is exposed. Some of the foam is gone exposing the underneath metal of the seat. Bus seat backs need to be well-padded, as children could strike them if there?s an incident or accident.
Plan of Correction:	Honeytree is currently in the process of repairing the damaged seat coverings and bringing such into compliance.
Standard #:	8VAC20-780-340-A
Description:	Based on interviews, documentation review, and video recording, the center failed to ensure that when staff are supervising children, they shall always ensue their care, protection, and guidance. Evidence: On 2/2/2024, Child 1 (age 5 years) was left unattended on the center bus by Staff 2 at approximately 2:44 pm. Staff 2 did not remove all children from the center bus who were picked up from schools and brought to the center. Staff 2 did not complete the transportation attendance of children on 2/2/2024. Staff 2 checked Child 1 into after school care at approximately 2:52pm, even though the child was still on the bus. Staff 4 stated they were taking out the trash in the afternoon and observed Child 1 standing in the center bus banging on the front windows and screaming. Staff 4 ran over to the bus and stated the child?s face was ?blood red? and the child was crying hysterically. Staff 4 went to get help and at approximately 4:45 pm, Staff 3 unlocked the bus to get the child off. Staff 3 stated the child jumped into their arms once the door was opened. The child stated they had fallen asleep and stated Staff 2 left them on the bus. The child forgot to ask to unbuckle and fell asleep. When the child woke up, no one else was on the bus. The child stated they couldn?t get out and was screaming and crying very loud until the teacher came. Staff 4 stated that after the child was taken into the center, they talked with Staff 2 about the incident. Staff 2 was unaware any children were missing in after school care. Staff 2 did not ensure the care, protection, and guidance of Child 1 when they were left unsupervised on a locked bus for approximately 2 hours.
Plan of Correction:	1.Honeytree Early Learning Center #4 staff was in-serviced on this regulation and the center's bus attendance log. 2. Staff #2 is no longer an employee of Honeytree Early Learning Center. 3.Honeytree is in the process of revising its Transportation Policy to further outline the requirements of the Virginia Administrative Code regarding the transportation of children.
Standard #:	8VAC20-780-340-F
Description:	Based on interviews and video recording, the center failed to ensure that children under 10 years of age shall always be within actual sight and sound supervision of staff. Evidence: On 2/2/2024, Child 1 (age 5 years) was left alone and unsupervised on a locked center bus for approximately 2 hours.
Plan of Correction:	1.Honeytree Early Learning Center #4 staff was in-serviced on this regulation and the center's bus attendance log. 2. Staff #2 is no longer an employee of Honeytree Early Learning Center. 3.Honeytree is in the process of revising its Transportation Policy to further outline the requirements of the Virginia Administrative Code regarding the transportation of children.
Standard #:	8VAC20-780-580-C
Description:	SYSTEMIC VIOLATION Based on interviews and video recording, the center failed to meet all the requirements of the standards during the transportation of children. Evidence: 1. Multiple staff interviewed stated that on 2/2/2024, Staff 2 left Child 1 (age 5 years) on the center bus. There were no other staff on the bus with the child. The child was left unsupervised on a locked bus for approximately 2 hours. 2. Child 1 (age 5 years) was not using a child restraint device while being transported on the center bus on 2/2/2024. 3. The list of children being transported on Bus 39 and Bus 25 was not completed on 2/1/2024 and 2/2/2024.
Plan of Correction:	Honeytreen request an appeal of this alleged violation. A plan of correction may be supplemented pending the outcome of the appeal.
Standard #:	8VAC20-780-580-K
Description:	SYSTEMIC VIOLATION Based on interviews and video recording, the center failed to ensure that staff shall verify that all children have been removed from the vehicle at the conclusion on any trip. Evidence: Multiple staff interviewed stated that on 2/2/2024, Staff 2 left Child 1 (age 5 years) alone on the center bus. Staff 2 did not remove all children from the center bus who were picked up from schools and brought to the center for after school care. The child was left unsupervised on a locked bus from approximately 2:44 pm until 4:45 pm.
Plan of Correction:	1.Honeytree Early Learning Center #4 staff was in-serviced on this regulation and the center's bus attendance log. 2. Staff #2 is no longer an employee of Honeytree Early Learning Center. 3.Honeytree is in the process of revising its Transportation Policy to further outline the requirements of the Virginia Administrative Code regarding the transportation of children.
Standard #:	8VAC20-780-580-L
Description:	SYSTEMIC VIOLATION Based on record review, the center failed to ensure that parental permission for transportation and field trips shall be secured before the scheduled activity. Evidence: Child 1 was transported on the center bus on 2/2/2024. Child 1 had no parental permission for transportation in the record during the inspection on 03/07/2024.
Plan of Correction:	1.Honeytree Early Learning Center #4 staff was in-serviced on the regulation. 2.The new customer intake process was reviewed, and all staff was reoriented to the appropriate parental authorization form that must ne completed prior to transportation of a child.