VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES

YMCA Camp Red Feather
5817 Wesleyan Drive
Virginia beach, VA 23455
(757) 622-9622

Current Inspector: Rene Old (757) 404-1784

Inspection Date: Aug. 24, 2022

Complaint Related: Yes

Areas Reviewed:

8VAC20-780 Administration. 8VAC20-780 Staff Qualifications and Training. 8VAC20-780 Staffing and Supervision. 8VAC20-780 Special Services.

Comments:

A complaint inspection was conducted on 08/24/2022 in response to an allegation regarding care and protection of children. Based on the information gathered which included staff interviews and review of the program this complaint is found to be valid. A violation was found in the area of staffing and supervision and is listed on the violation notice issued to the facility.

Violations:

Standard #:	8VAC20-780-340-A
Complaint related:	Yes
Description:	Based on staff interviews, the center failed to ensure when staff are supervising children, they shall always ensure their care and protection. Evidence: The whereabouts of a five year old child were unknown to staff responsible for his supervision for approximately 45 minutes as demonstrated by the following incident which occurred on the afternoon of July 20, 2022: 1. The parent of child 1, age 5 years, arrived at approximately 4:55 pm on July 20, 2022, at the Greenbrier Family YMCA for pick-up as the child attends Camp Red Feather for summer camp. a. The Greenbrier Family YMCA is a designed pick-up and drop-off site for Camp Red Feather. b. Children are transported by a YMCA bus to and from Camp Red Feather to the Greenbrier Family YMCA. 2. The parent stated that staff 1 indicated her child was gathering his things and would be out shortly. a. A few minutes later the parent was told that her child was not at the Greenbrier YMCA and that they were not sure of child 1?s whereabouts. b. At approximately 5:15 pm the parent was told that child 1 had been left behind at Camp Red Feather. c. The parent stated that staff 1 confirmed that they were unaware that child 1 had failed to get on the bus as was the usual practice. 3. Staff 1, who identified herself as the lead bus counselor, confirmed that they were not aware that child 1 was not on the bus until the parent arrived for pick-up at the Greenbrier Family YMCA. a. Staff 1 stated that she had been in a meeting just prior to the buses leaving Camp Red Feather at approximately 4:30 pm. Staff 1 stated, "I was told to get on a bus which was not the bus I was usually on in the afternoon." b. Staff 1 stated she did not have her written attendance sheet with her and was told that roll had been taken prior to her getting on the bus. c. Staff 1 stated she was aware that child 1 was not on her bus but assumed he was on the 2nd bus utilized for transporting children to the Greenbrier Family YMCA. The second bus had departed just ahead of the bus staff 1 was on. d. Staff 1 confirmed that she initially told the parent of child 1 that the child would be out shortly as she assumed he had been on the bus that had already arrived and was inside of the Greenbrier Family YMCA. e. Staff 1 additionally confirmed that after searching for child 1, she told the parent that he was not on either bus or inside the designed classroom for Camp Red Feather inside the Greenbrier Family YMCA. f. Staff 1 stated she called the Program Director, staff 3, at Camp Red Feather and was told that child 1 was still at the camp. 4. Staff 2 stated that attendance was taken prior to dismissal as was the required practice. a. Staff 2 stated, ?We did a count before we got on the bus and I am not sure how he (child 1) didn?t get counted.? b. Staff 2 confirmed that they were unaware that child 1 had been left behind at Camp Red Feather until the parent arrived to pick him up 5. Staff 3 confirmed that child 1 had been left at Camp Red Feather on the afternoon of July 20, 2022 because staff had failed to properly take attendance prior to departure. a. Staff 3 stated that a different bus had to be obtained for transporting children that day and in the process of procuring a new bus normal attendance protocols had been improperly implemented. b. Staff 3 stated that the staff responsible for taking attendance had taken attendance however, she had somehow overlooked child 1 and did not realize he was not on the bus until the parent arrived to pick him up at the Greenbrier Family YMCA. c. Staff 3 confirmed that staff 1 called him from the Greenbrier Family YMCA to ascertain the whereabouts of child 1. Staff 2 stated he found child 1 in a classroom watching a movie and eating snack.
Plan of Correction:	Leadership team conducts a mandatory meeting after a complaint was made to the licensing inspector. Staff was retrained on the correct steps on how to ensure that every staff member that is supervising the campers know their count at all times during operational hours. Camp Red Feather bus staff will be seated prior to the first day of camp to walk through on how to load and unload the bus for summer camp. Also will be learn our new attendance process with leadership for support to ensure that each staff member can load and unload campers the most efficiently way every single day of camp. Communication logs will be placed at both Camp Red Feather and Greenbrier Family to ensure that any changes throughout the day will be logged so every staff member is aware of the transportation changes. Bus Route checklist will be with bus staff at all times to ensure that all paperwork is loaded on the bus prior to departure. The bus staff will also learn how to communicate with each other daily while loading and unloading to ensure that the attendance count is correct and make sure that all checks have been marked off the checklist. Daily leadership checks of the attendance during operational hours will ensure that any campers that arrive late or picked up early will be counted for on the bus daily attendance sheet.