VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES

Hopetree Family Services
860 Mount Vernon Lane
Salem, VA 24153
(540) 444-0566

Current Inspector: Jamie Morgan (276) 525-5656

Inspection Date: Aug. 14, 2019

Complaint Related: No

Areas Reviewed:

22VAC40-131 PERSONNEL 22VAC40-131 PROVIDER HOMES 22VAC40-131 CHILDREN'S SERVICES 22VAC40-131 ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS FOR SPECIFIC PROGRAMS 22VAC40-191 Background Checks for Child Welfare Agencies

Comments:

An unannounced monitoring inspection was conducted on August 14, 2019 from 9:20 AM - 3:50 PM. Hope Tree Family Services reports a total of 25 provider homes and 25 foster children in placement. During this inspection, five provider home records (background checks only for two of the homes), three foster child records, and one personnel record were reviewed. One personnel was interviewed during the inspection. An exit interview was conducted at the conclusion of the inspection with the Director of Foster Care and Adoption - Western Region to review preliminary inspection findings. An acknowledgement form was signed. There were two violations. Upon the receipt of the violation notice, the licensee should identify the necessary corrective action and develop a plan of correction for each violation. The plan of correction should include the following: The steps to correct noncompliance with the standard(s); measures to prevent re-occurrence of noncompliance; person(s) responsible for implementation and monitoring of preventative measure(s); and date by which noncompliance will be corrected. The licensee has five (5) calendar days from receipt of the inspection documentation to complete the section titled Plan of Correction, sign each page of the documentation and return it to the Licensing Office. The licensee should retain a copy to be posted at the facility. Results of the inspection documentation are subject to public disclosure and will be posted on the VDSS web site within 5 days, regardless of whether the Plan of Correction is completed.

Violations:

Standard #:	22VAC40-131-260-B
Description:	Violation: Based on a review of the record for foster child 1 (FC1) and an interview with personnel (S2) the agency did not include required elements in the social history. Evidence: The social history of FC1 did not address: 260.B.5 Child's previous placement history, including dates and names of previous care takers, if any; 260.B.8 Education and occupation of the child's maternal aunts, uncles, and grandmother; 260.B.9 Medical and psychiatric history of the child's maternal aunts, uncles, and grandmother. Personnel (S2) acknowledged that this information was not captured in the social history for FC1.
Plan of Correction:	Intake Worker will ensure all avenues are exhausted in regards to information being obtained for the social history reports. Information will be obtained through phone calls to relatives, interviews with child in care, and interviews with relatives who visit with child in care. Secure email contact will also be used if information cannot be obtained in person or by phone.
Standard #:	22VAC40-191-40-C-1-f
Description:	Violation: Based on a review of the records for provider homes and interview with personnel (S2), the agency did not obtain a sworn statement or affirmation prior to approval for two adults (OHM3 and OHM 4) living in the prospective foster home (PH5). Evidence: The record for PH5 did not contain a sworn statement or affirmation signed by OHM3 or OHM4. S2 acknowledged that the file did not contain the required document signed by OHM3 and OHM4.
Plan of Correction:	The record for PH5 did not contain a sworn statement or affirmation signed by OHM3 or OHM4 (sworn statement was signed by foster mother for adult children with intellectual disabilities after reading it to them). Sworn statements will be re-signed by the two adult children and added to the foster parent file. Foster mother will not sign anything further as she does not have legal guardianship of the adult children. No placements will be made in the foster home until the sworn statements are received by agency.