VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES

Alpha House II
3903 West Autumn Drive
Petersburg, VA 23803
(804) 861-0533

Current Inspector: Irvin Goode (804) 543-5188

Inspection Date: Aug. 3, 2022 and Sept. 29, 2022

Complaint Related: Yes

Areas Reviewed:

22VAC40-151 Administration 22VAC40-151 Programs and Services 22VAC40-151 Programs and Services

Technical Assistance:

None

Comments:

Type of inspection: Complaint Date(s) of inspection and time the licensing inspector was on-site at the facility for each day of the inspection: 8/3/22 from 11:10 AM to 4:56 PM The Acknowledgement of Inspection form was signed and left at the facility for each date of the inspection. A complaint was received by VDSS Division of Licensing on 8/2/22 regarding allegations in the area(s) of: Suspected Child Abuse or Neglect. Number of residents in care at the beginning of the inspection: 3 Number of resident?s records reviewed: 1 Number of staff records reviewed: 1 Number of interviews conducted with residents: 2 Number of interviews conducted with staff: 2 Additional Comments/Discussion: An entrance meeting was held on 8/3/22. The Program Director was accessible and available during the inspection. The following is a listing of the activities for this inspection: The record for a discharged resident was reviewed. The personnel record for the staff member named in the complaint was reviewed. Relevant policies and procedures as well as applicable sections from the daily log were reviewed. Two residents were interviewed on 8/3/22. The above-mentioned staff member was interviewed on 8/16/22. The Program Director was interviewed on 8/3/22 and 9/21/22. An exit meeting was conducted on 9/29/22 to review the inspection findings. The evidence gathered during the investigation did not support the allegation of non-compliance with standard(s) or law. However, violation(s) not related to the complaint, but identified during the course of the investigation can be found on the violation notice. The licensee has the opportunity to submit a plan of correction to indicate how the cited violation(s) will be addressed in order to return the facility to compliance and maintain future compliance with applicable standard(s) or law. If the licensee wishes to provide a plan of correction: (i) type the plan on a separate Word document, (ii) identify the standard violation number being addressed, (iii) include the date the violation will be corrected, (IV) do not include any names or confidential information, and (V) return to the licensing inspector by email within five (5) business days of the exit interview. Compliance with all applicable regulations and law shall be maintained and any areas of noncompliance must be corrected. Within 15 calendar days of your receipt of the inspection findings (inspection summary, violation notice, and supplemental information), you may request a review and discussion of these findings with the inspector's immediate supervisor. To make a request for review and discussion, you must contact the licensing supervisor at the regional licensing office that serves your geographical area. Regardless of whether a supervisory review has been requested, the results of the inspection will be posted to the DSS public website within 5 business days of your receipt of the Inspection Summary and/ or Violation Notice. The department's inspection findings are subject to public disclosure. Please Note: A copy of the findings of the most recent inspection are required to be posted on the premises of the facility. For more information about the VDSS Licensing Programs, please visit: www.dss.virginia.gov Should you have any questions, please contact Michele Freeman, Licensing Inspector at (804) 662-7062 or by email at michele.freeman@dss.virginia.gov.

Violations:

Standard #:	22VAC40-151-840-J
Complaint related:	Yes
Description:	Violation: Based on review of the resident?s record for discharged resident, DR1, review of the facility?s policies and procedures, and interviews with staff, the facility failed to ensure that restraints may only be implemented, monitored, and discontinued by staff who have been trained in the proper and safe use of restraint, including hands-on techniques. Findings: 1) The complaint focuses on an incident that occurred between DR1 and staff, S1. 2) The serious incident report (SIR) dated for 5/27/22 was completed and signed by S1 states the following: a. An ?X? was placed by ?Yes? for the following question ? ?Was physical restraint required?? b. ?3 minutes? was documented by the following ? ?If yes, give duration of restraint in minutes.? c. ?Physical Restraint on ground? was documented by the ?Methods of physical restraint used.? d. S1?s name was documented by ?Who administered the restraint?? 3) ?Part IV-Alpha House Policy and Procedure ? revised 2/2020, page 2? states the following: ?Alpha House is currently not teaching staff physical restraint techniques; therefore, should not physically restrain a child. In the event physical restraint is required the police will be called to assist. Staff shall not physically restrain a resident.? 4) On 8/3/22, S2 was interviewed jointly by a local agency representative and the Licensing Inspector about the SIR. S2 acknowledged that S1 physically restrained DR1. 5) On 8/16/22, S1 was interviewed jointly by a local agency representative and the Licensing Inspector about the SIR. S1 acknowledged that she completed the report and physically restrained the youth. S1 also acknowledged that the facility has not trained her or other staff to physically restrain residents. 6) On 9/21/22, S2 was interviewed solely by the Licensing Inspector in regard to the facility?s policies and procedures about Behavior Interventions. S2 stated that ?S1 violated the policy.?
Plan of Correction:	Alpha House staff began training in Crisis Wave, a behavior management training with a physical restraint component, on Wednesday, October 5, 2022. Mr. Edward Gates Jr is the facilitator of the training. It is anticipated that all of Alpha House Staff will have completed this training by December 14, 2022. The CPS investigation found no findings of neglect or abuse by the staff administering the restrain. This was a seasoned staff member who has multiple years experience working with challenging youth and utilizing crisis intervention techniques. The staff member was trained in the techniques used by DJJ and not Alpha House, there being the issue resulting in the violation. The source of the training.