VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES

Christopher Academy
3300 Cedar Lane
Portsmouth, VA 23703
(757) 484-6776

Current Inspector: Heather Harrell (757) 334-4329

Inspection Date: Sept. 23, 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) 20 Access to minor's records 22.1 Background Checks Code, Carbon Monoxide 63.2 Child Abuse & Neglect

Technical Assistance:

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/. Resources are now available for providers on the "What's New" webpage on the ChildCareVA website at https://www.childcare.virginia.gov/providers/what-s-new.

Comments:

An unannounced, on-site monitoring inspection was initiated and completed on 9/23/24. The on-site inspection began at 10:50am and ended at 1:20pm. The inspector reviewed compliance in the areas listed above. There were 47 children present and 10 staff. The inspector reviewed 5 children?s records and 5 staff records on-site. This inspection included document review, a 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.

Violations:

Standard #:	8VAC20-780-160-A
Description:	Each staff member shall submit documentation of a negative tuberculosis screening at the time of employment, prior to coming into contact with children and shall have been completed within the last 30 calendar days of the date of employment. The screening for Staff 1 was completed two months before hire and the screening for Staff 2 was completed fifteen days after hire.
Plan of Correction:	The center responded with the following: Going forward, center administration will ensure TB screenings are completed within the required timeframes.
Standard #:	8VAC20-780-280-B
Description:	Hazardous substances such as cleaning materials shall be kept in a locked place using a safe locking method that prevents access by children. One tub of disinfecting wipes, three cans of Lysol disinfecting spray, two cans of air freshener, one bottle of Lysol bleach multipurpose cleaner and one bottle of hand soap with warning labels, ?Keep out of reach of children,? were unlocked in the preschool bathroom, within reach of children.
Plan of Correction:	The center responded with the following: The cleaning supplies in the preschool bathroom were locked up at the time of the inspection. Staff will be reminded that all hazardous substances must be locked up when not in use.