VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES

Guidepost Montessori at West Alexandria
3475 N. Beauregard St., Suite 301
Alexandria, VA 22302
(571) 206-1687

Current Inspector: Sarah Marbert (703) 479-4678

Inspection Date: Oct. 30, 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 20 Access to minor?s records 22.1 Early Childhood Care and Education 63.2 Child Abuse & Neglect During the inspection, the inspector reviewed the areas listed above to include standards found out of compliance during the previous inspection. Unless otherwise noted as a violation within this inspection report, the provider was in compliance with the standards reviewed. If there were any serious injuries or fatalities related to a violation, the details will be included in the description of the violation.

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. *Discussed with Head of School: Behavior management, definition of serious injury vs. minor injury, background search requirements as of 7/1/24.

Comments:

An unannounced, on-site monitoring inspection was initiated and completed on 10/30/2024 as a part of NOTICE OF INTENT TO REQUIRE THE LICENSEE TO CONTACT PARENTS, GUARDIANS, OR OTHER RESPONSIBLE PERSONS REGARDING HEALTH AND SAFETY VIOLATIONS. The on-site inspection began at 10:10 AM and ended at 1:25 PM. The inspector reviewed compliance in the areas listed above. There were 102 children present and 23 staff. The inspector reviewed 7 children?s records and 3 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 violation will be or has been corrected. Submit your POC within five (5) business days from today, which will be the close of business on November 15, 2024. A POC submitted after this date will not appear on the public website. This is an amended report to correct the room identifications.

Violations:

Standard #:	8VAC20-780-140-A
Description:	Each child shall have a physical examination within 30 days after the first day of attendance. Child #2's physical was overdue by 13 months.
Plan of Correction:	Not available online. Contact Inspector for more information.
Standard #:	8VAC20-780-40-E
Description:	Repeat Violation Systemic Deficiency The operational responsibilities of the licensee shall include ensuring compliance with the center?s own policies as required by the standards. 1. The policy of using the daily tracker sheet for knowing where children are at all times was not completed in room # 1 for the last 7 school days. 2. The tracking sheet in room #3 was not completed every 30 minutes since 8:00 AM. 3. Medication policy regarding expired medications was not followed as one medication in room # 2 was expired by 2 months.
Plan of Correction:	Not available online. Contact Inspector for more information.
Standard #:	8VAC20-780-40-M
Description:	The center shall maintain, a current written list of all children's allergies and shall be dated and kept confidential in each room or area where children are present. The posted allergy list in Room #2 revealed children's information.
Plan of Correction:	Not available online. Contact Inspector for more information.
Standard #:	8VAC20-780-50-A
Description:	Staff and children's records shall be treated confidentially. Two child injury reports were posted publicly in room #2.
Plan of Correction:	Not available online. Contact Inspector for more information.
Standard #:	8VAC20-780-60-A
Description:	Repeat Violation Each center shall maintain and keep at the center a separate record for each child enrolled which shall contain documentation of child updates and confirmation of up-to-date information. The update for the allergy action plan for Child #5 was overdue by 9 days.
Plan of Correction:	Not available online. Contact Inspector for more information.
Standard #:	8VAC20-780-60-A-8
Description:	Repeat Violation A written care plan shall be maintained for each child with a diagnosed food allergy. Child #2 had a diagnosed food allergy with no written action plan on file for 13 months.
Plan of Correction:	Not available online. Contact Inspector for more information.
Standard #:	8VAC20-780-70
Description:	Staff records shall be kept for each staff person to include documentation that two or more references were checked before employment or volunteering. Phone reference documentation shall include the results of the reference. References for staff B and C did not include the results of the phone reference.
Plan of Correction:	Not available online. Contact Inspector for more information.
Standard #:	8VAC20-780-260-A
Description:	The center shall provide to the licensing representative an annual fire inspection report from the appropriate fire official having jurisdiction. The fire inspection report available for review was 8 months overdue.
Plan of Correction:	Not available online. Contact Inspector for more information.
Standard #:	8VAC20-780-270-A
Description:	Equipment of the center shall be maintained in a safe condition. In room #3 there were two charging cords plugged into the wall, accessible to children, not charging any device.
Plan of Correction:	Not available online. Contact Inspector for more information.
Standard #:	8VAC20-780-400-B
Description:	Behavioral guidance shall be constructive in nature. Multiple interaction reports stated Child #7 was removed from the room after incidents of physical interactions.
Plan of Correction:	Not available online. Contact Inspector for more information.
Standard #:	8VAC20-780-510-L
Description:	Medication shall be kept in a locked place. Medications were unlocked in room #2 and room #4.
Plan of Correction:	Not available online. Contact Inspector for more information.
Standard #:	8VAC20-780-510-P
Description:	When an authorization for medication expires, the medication needs to be picked up within 14 days or the parent must renew the authorization. Child #5 had a medication authorization, for a medication present at the center, that was expired by 15 days.
Plan of Correction:	Not available online. Contact Inspector for more information.
Standard #:	8VAC20-780-550-P
Description:	The center shall maintain a written record of children's injuries. The record shall include the time and date of parent notification. Injury reports were reviewed that did not include the time and date of parent notification.
Plan of Correction:	Not available online. Contact Inspector for more information.