VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES

WAVE Children's Learning Center
1000 North Great Neck Road
Virginia beach, VA 23454
(757) 962-9403

Current Inspector: Nanette Roberts (757) 404-2322

Inspection Date: July 2, 2024 and Aug. 26, 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. 8VAC20-770 Background Checks (8VAC20-770) 22.1 Background Checks Code, Carbon Monoxide

Technical Assistance:

Technical assistance was provided in the following areas; Effective January 1, 2025, the VDOE will begin determining compliance with ? 22.1-289.057 of the Code of Virginia, which is legislation passed by the General Assembly in 2020. The law requires all licensed child day programs, religious exempt child day centers that serve preschool age children, and certified preschools to test potable drinking water. The law requires that programs submit their plans and test results to the Virginia Department of Health Office of Drinking Water (VDH ODW) and the Superintendent. If the results of the testing indicate elevated lead levels, the program shall remediate, retest, and resubmit results to VDH ODW and the Superintendent. There is an additional alternative bottled water option that comes with additional requirements. The statutory requirement can be found online at https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title22.1/chapter14.1/section22.1-289.057/

Comments:

An unannounced, on-site monitoring and self-report inspection was initiated on 7/2/2024 and completed on 8/26/24. The self-reported incident regarding inappropriate contact was received on 6/22/24. Interviews were conducted and records regarding the self-report were reviewed on 7/2/24. The on-site monitoring inspection on 8/26/24 began at 9:45am and ended at 12:30pm. The inspector reviewed compliance in the areas listed above. There were 91 children present and 19 staff. The inspector reviewed 6 children?s records and 9 staff records on-site. This inspection included document review, tour of the facility, interviews, and observations. Information gathered during the inspection determined non-compliance with applicable standards or law, and violations are documented on the violation notice issued to the program. Please complete the plan of correction (POC) and date to be corrected sections for each violation cited on the violation notice. Specify how the deficient practice will be or has been corrected. Submit your POC within five (5) business days from today, which will be the close of business on 9/25/24. A POC submitted after this date will not appear on the public website.

Violations:

Standard #:	8VAC20-780-210-A
Description:	Based on the review of records and interview, it was determined the center did not ensure that all the requirements were met for staff assigned as program leaders. Evidence: 1.The record for staff #4, a lead teacher, did not contain a high school diploma or transcripts. 2.The record did not contain the required 24 hours of training for a program leader. 3.Staff #1 confirmed staff #4 was a lead teacher and the required documents for a program leader were not in the file.
Plan of Correction:	The missing documents were in the office, but in a different folder. The missing documents were placed in the staff's file on 8/27/2024.
Standard #:	8VAC20-780-340-A
Description:	Based on record review, observations and interviews, it was determined the facility did not ensure that when staff are supervising children, they shall always ensure their care and protection. Evidence: 1.The parent of child #1, a 15-month-old infant, communicated with staff that the child had difficulties with constipation at home. Staff told the parent the child had constipation at the center as well. a.On 6/21/2024 staff #2 said that child #1 was having constipation problems, ?he was pushing and straining?. Staff #6 told staff #2 and staff #5 that she was going to switch with staff #3 so staff #3 could get him to have a bowel movement. b.When asked, staff #5 told staff #2 the actions staff #3 takes to relive the child?s constipation. Staff #5 told staff #2 that staff #6 had also done this earlier in the day. c.Staff #3 placed the child on the changing table, removed the child?s diaper and used inappropriate actions to attempt to relieve constipation. Staff #2 said the child cried when staff #3 entered the room and continued to cry when staff #3 was touching the child. 2.Staff #2, #5, #6 and #7 were aware of the method used by staff #3. Staff #2, #5 and #7 were uncomfortable with those actions, but did not immediately notify the Director. a.Staff #2 and staff #5 watched as staff #3 took inappropriate actions to relive the child?s constipation. b.Staff #5 told the Director and staff #2 that it happened a couple of times the previous week and that she would go home and cry about it. She did not report the incidents. c.Staff #2 stated she was uncomfortable with what she saw and left the room. d.Staff #7 said prior to this date, she had observed staff #3 massaging the area. Staff #7 said she was uncomfortable but other staff told her it would work. Staff #7 said she was told previously that only staff #3 changes the child?s diaper. e.Staff #2 did not report the incident to the Director until approximately 4 hours later at 7:30pm.
Plan of Correction:	As soon as the Director was made aware of the situation, the Director immediately started an internal investigation; placed the staff involved on a Leave of Absence until further notice including the witnesses that did not report it to the Director; notified child #1's parents of what happened; and contacted Licensing all on 6/22/2024. Once the Director was able to complete the internal investigation and spoke with their Licensing Inspector, Staff #3 and Staff #6 were terminated. Staff #5 did not come back from the Leave of Absence either and was also terminated. Staff #2 and Staff #7 were given additional trainings on proper protocols, reminded to notify admin immediately if they see someone not following proper procedures as well as reminded it is between the parents and doctors on how to relieve a child's constipation.
Standard #:	8VAC20-780-500-B
Description:	Based on observation it was determined that the facility did not ensure that children?s hands are washed after toileting. Evidence: 1.On 6/21/24 staff #5 changed a child?s diaper and immediately, without washing the child?s hands, put the child on the floor. a.With unwashed hands the child crawled across the floor, interacted with another child who was awake and then put his hands on a sleeping child?s cot and blanket. b.The staff member did not wash the child?s hands until after she had cleaned the diaper changing surface and the child had crawled around the play area.
Plan of Correction:	Staff #5 was placed on a Leave of Absence on 6/22/2024 and did not return to the facility after that. The Director went over proper hand washing procedures with diapering classroom staff, floaters, substitutes, and new staff by reminding staff to either hold the child while cleaning the diaper changing surface to prevent them from touching anything and carrying them over to the sink or washing hands then washing the diaper changing surface. During our All-Staff training, the Director went over proper hand washing procedures with all staff.
Standard #:	8VAC20-780-540-E
Description:	Based on observation and interviews, it was determined the facility did not ensure the required nonmedical emergency supplies were available on each floor of the building. Evidence: 1.The facility did not have a battery-operated radio. a.Staff #1 confirmed a battery-operated radio was not available during the inspection.
Plan of Correction:	The facility has a battery-operated radio in both the downstairs and upstairs Disaster Kits and in the Directors' office. The one that was missing the day of the inspection on 8/26/2024 was the one located in the office. The Director showed admin where the battery-operated radio is located in the office on 8/27/2024.