VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES

Babysteps Child Development Center Too, LLC
4241 Portsmouth Boulevard
Portsmouth, VA 23701
(757) 465-1498

Current Inspector: Adrianna Walden (757) 404-2487

Inspection Date: April 18, 2024

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. 8VAC20-820 THE LICENSE. 8VAC20-820 THE LICENSING PROCESS. 8VAC20-820 HEARINGS PROCEDURES. 8VAC20-770 Background Checks (8VAC20-770) 20 Access to minor?s records 22.1 Background Checks Code, Carbon Monoxide 63.2 Child Abuse & Neglect

Comments:

A monitoring inspection was conducted on 04/18/2024. A tour of the facility was conducted, in addition to a record review and interviews with staff. Information gathered during the inspection determined non-compliance(s) with applicable standards or law and violations were documented on the violation notice issued to the program.

Violations:

Standard #:	22.1-289.018-A
Description:	Based on observation and interview the center did not afford the Superintendent reasonable opportunity to inspect all of their facilities. Evidence: 1. On 04/18/2024 inspectors arrived at the center at 10:30am to conduct a routine monitoring inspection. When no one answered the door or the center's phone and inspectors heard children crying in the building and staff "shushing", the city's police were called. 2. The center did not afford the licensing inspectors entry into the building until a police officer arrived at 11:23am and banged on the center's windows. During the 53 minutes, 2 different families attempted to drop their children off for care and stood outside with their children between 5 and 10 minutes before they left. 3. At 11:11am the inspectors observed the back door open and a woman wearing a red shirt quickly run into the building and the door shut.
Plan of Correction:	The center has recently experienced frequent cases where individuals were loitering as well as attempted break-ins. Center staff report not knowing who the new licensing person was, as the director did not inform them of the inspector's change. The staff report that there was more than one person outside, which made them more suspicious because they're use to the previous inspector who comes to the center solo. The staff member wearing the red shirt, was scheduled to begin work at 6:30am, evidenced by her arriving approximately 6:25am with the director, the morning in question. The director received a phone call regarding her own child who had to go to the hospital; therefore, she left the building at approximately 10am, evidenced by the camera at the center. The center staff was instructed to contact any parents who had not arrived by 9:30am to inform them that the center would not be able to accomodate them due to the director's emergency. There were exactly 17-children in care and no other children were permitted inside. The center will install an intercom that will allow individuals on the outside of the building to communicate with individuals on the inside.
Standard #:	8VAC20-780-270-A
Description:	Based on observation the center did not ensure all areas and equipment of the center were maintained in a clean and/or safe condition. Evidence: 1. The direct egress in the infant/toddler room was blocked by a shelf, creating a barrier to the emergency exit. 2. There was a tall shelf in the front entry of the daycare that was not secure and leaning over, posing a tipping hazard. 3. There was left over food and debris on the countertop and floors. A staff member told a child who was laying on a mat during nap, "don't out your face on the floor, it is dirty." 4. The kitchen sink had corrosion on the basin.
Plan of Correction:	: The floor book container was removed from the doorway and placed in an area that does not block direct egress. The mailboxes in the foyer of the building were secured to the wall. The trash can used for clean up after the children finish their food, will be placed near the dining area when the children are eating to avoid children placing their plates and/or food items on the counter. The kitchen sink basin was scrubbed with a brillo pad and inspected by the Portsmouth Health Department May 1,2024. Staff will monitor the sink basin and clean corrosion as needed.
Standard #:	8VAC20-780-350-B-1
Description:	Based on observation the center was not in compliance with the required ratios whenever children birth up to 16 months are in care. Evidence: Between 10:30am and 11:11am the infant/toddler classroom had 1 staff member supervising 8 children with the youngest child 11 months-old. The ratio is 1 staff : 4 children.
Plan of Correction:	The morning of the inspection there was a total of 17-children in care and 3 staff members. 8 children in the infant room, which included the youngest, a 14-month-old and the eldest a 4-year-old. The Center maintains classroom sign in logs, which the parents personally sign to acknowledge their child is assigned to a particular classroom. The classroom log will be offered to the inspectors upon request.
Standard #:	8VAC20-780-350-B-4
Description:	Based on observation the center was not in compliance with the required ratios whenever children 3- school-age are in care. Evidence: The preschool classroom had 1 staff member supervising 11 children between the ages of 3 and 4 years-old . The ratio is 1staff: 10 children.
Plan of Correction:	The classroom containing children ages 3-years and older had 10 children in the room before nap time. The last child to enter the building was signed into the infant room by her parent, which kept the ratio of 1 to 10 in the 3-year-old classroom. Staff will make the classroom sign in book available to inspectors upon request.
Standard #:	8VAC20-780-440-A
Description:	Based on observation and interview the center did not provide children during the designated rest period a cot. Evidence: 1. When the inspectors arrived the lights in the building were out and the children in the preschool room were preparing for nap at approximately 11:23am. 2. At approximately 12:35pm a child in the infant/toddler room was asleep in the staff's arms. Another child was observed rolling around on a bean bag and was heard telling staff , "I'm sleepy." 3. The inspector asked staff why the children did not have cots to rest on. Staff replied that they have cots however, they didn't have time to get them out.
Plan of Correction:	In the future, staff will ask the inspector to wait for them to finish their duties before reviewing paperwork with the inspector.
Standard #:	8VAC20-780-440-E
Description:	Based on observation the center did not ensure there was at least 12 inches of space between occupied cots. Evidence: A baby was observed sleeping in a crib that did not have at least 12 inches of space between the cot next to it, due to a bouncer stored between them.
Plan of Correction:	The staff member's received remediation regarding the amount of space that is to be between cots and cribs 4/18/24