VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES

Springfield Academy
5236 Backlick Road
Springfield, VA 22151
(703) 256-3773

Current Inspector: Eureka Nance (703) 638-5968

Inspection Date: Feb. 15, 2024

Complaint Related: Yes

Areas Reviewed:

8VAC20-780 Administration. 8VAC20-780 Staffing and Supervision. 8VAC20-780 Programs. 8VAC20-770 Background Checks 22.1 Background Checks Code, Carbon Monoxide 63.2 Child Abuse & Neglect

Technical Assistance:

Technical assistance on center's policy that all staff should follow appropriate guidelines to "teach the children that when lights out this is quiet time."

Comments:

An unannounced complaint investigation was was conducted on February 15, 2024, approximately 10:30 am and 12:15 pm, with another local agency in response to a complaint made to our office regarding Forbidden Actions. The information gathered during the investigation did support the allegation, so the complaint is determined to be valid. Please submit plan of corrections within 5 business days in order for it to be included on the website. If you have any questions regarding this inspection, please call or email. Licensing Inspector, Eureka Nance Office of Child Care Health and Safety Division of Early Childhood Care and Education Phone# 703-638-568 eureka.nance@doe.virginia.gov

Violations:

Standard #:	63.2-1509-A
Complaint related:	Yes
Description:	Based on staff interview and documentation, the center failed to report a suspected incident of child abuse or neglect to Child Protective Services immediately as required. Evidence: 1. On March 15, 2024, Inspector viewed video camera footage of an incident recorded on February 15, 2024 that showed Staff 2 present in the classroom when Child #1 (three-year-old) was hit with Staff 1?s croc shoe. 2. Staff 2 was interviewed and confirmed that they did not report the incident to administration. 3. The center administration staff also stated they did not contact CPS about the allegations of abuse and stated they conducted their own internal investigation.
Plan of Correction:	Plan of Correction: 1) Steps to correct the noncompliance with the standard(s): The administration team has established a new CPS reporting procedure used to document any suspicion of forbidden actions against a child. Staff members were counseled on the mandated reporting law, 63.2-1509-A, and the law was reviewed verbally and in writing. Staff #2 who witnessed the incident, but did not ensure that her supervisor was aware of what happened or show her the video she took is no longer employed Springfield Academy. 2) Measures to prevent the noncompliance from occurring again: The administration team will provide ongoing training to staff to ensure that they understand what types of conduct require reporting. The Administration will also require staff to report questionable conduct even if the staff person is unsure that what they witnessed or learned of constitutes a reportable offense so that the School Administrators can report it and take responsibility. Any reports of misconduct will be documented regardless of whether the misconduct constitutes reportable conduct under the law. Where there is difficulty understanding the staff member making a report, the administrator will invite other staff who may be able to engage and elicit a complete report. 3) Person(s) responsible for implementing each step and/or monitoring any preventive measure(s): The administration team will make sure that the lines and methods of communication are clear with all staff. The team will continue to communicate the individual responsibilities of each and every staff member of the above preventions and follow both scho ol and state policies to report immediately any suspicion of forbidden actions against a child. Date To Be Corrected: The CPS reporting procedure was created and implemented on February 16, 2024. Staff counseling was conducted on February 16 and 17, 2024. Staff #2?s last day was February 17, 2024.
Standard #:	8VAC20-780-40-E
Complaint related:	Yes
Description:	Based on review of records and video camera footage, the center did not ensure the center?s own policies and procedures of discipline were maintained in compliance with required standards. Evidence: 1. Staff Handbook states ?Please do not discipline the children by yelling. There shall be no physical punishment or disciplinary action administered to the body such as spanking.? 2. Staff 1 did not follow the center?s policies and procedures as determined by video camera footage. Staff 1 was observed hitting Child #1 (three-year-old) with her croc shoe three times on February 14, 2024, on the bottom and once on the back. 3. Handbook states ?Anytime any school employee receives information or observes a child as being abused or neglected, the school employee must report this situation to the Designated School Personnel (DSP) immediately. The DSP must report ALL incidents to Child Protective Services (CPS) immediately! No exceptions! The report must be made to CPS regardless of whether or not the DSP believes the reported incident is factual. The report can and shall be made even if no physical evidence is present. The incident must be documented on the attached CPS Reporting form.? 4. Staff 2 was in the three year old classroom on February 14, 2024, and observed Staff 1 hit Child #1, and stated they did not report the incidents to administration.
Plan of Correction:	Plan of Correction: 1) Steps to correct the noncompliance with the standard(s): The administration team met with the staff after the incident to review and retrain on the following: Abuse and Neglect Policies, Mandated Reporting Policies, and Proper/ Appropriate Disciplining Policies. During this meeting that the School owe their primary responsibility to the children in their care and to obey the law. The administration team reiterated that this can only be accomplished when all staff members thoroughly follow the policies in their teacher/ teacher assistant handbook that includes information about mandatory reporting requirements and responsibilities. The School continues to believe that we must always place the children?s well-being above all else. 2) Measures to prevent the noncompliance from occurring again: The teacher/ teacher assistant responsibility Handbook review will be expanded and initiated as part of employment orientation. The School will review and determine whether the amount of current instruction on the Handbook is reasonable to achieve compliance. For continuing employees, a review of the Handbook and key areas will be conducted annually during the back -to-school staff meeting. Children that have reoccurring behavior management issues will be closely monitored and evaluated in consultation with the parents. Where School administration determines that the School cannot provide reasonable care and safety they will take reasonable s teps to support the parent?s efforts to find an appropriate placement in a facility that meets the needs of the child(ren). 3) Person(s) responsible for implementing each step and/or monitoring any preventive measure(s): The administration staff will conduct frequent documented observations in each classroom to ensure the above-mentioned preventative measures and a general increase in monitoring occur and ensure policies are being followed. Additionally, the administration team will pay close attention to staff performance and intervene when reasonable to support the staff or remove them from the classroom. Date To Be Corrected: Corrected on February 16, 2024, with completion of retraining and staff meeting.
Standard #:	8VAC20-780-410-1
Complaint related:	Yes
Description:	Based on staff interviews and observation of video camera footage, a staff member used forbidden actions on a child. Evidence: 1. On February 14, 2024, Staff 1 hit Child #1 (three-year-old) three times on their bottom and once on the back with her croc shoe. 2. Video camera footage review confirmed that after the first two incidents of striking a child, Staff # 1 yelled at Child #1 to lay down and hit child #1 again with Staff 1?s croc shoe on their bottom and back.
Plan of Correction:	Plan of Correction: 1) Steps to correct the noncompliance with the standard(s): The staff person who witnessed it failed to follow School rules to come forward to school administration or her supervisor to inform them of what had happened. She left the School and reported it to the police after leaving on the day it occurred. When the school learned of the incident, Staff #1 was immediately removed from being with the children and subsequently removed from February 15, 2024. Although CPS returned a finding that the allegation of child abuse was unfounded and Staff #1 provided four years of exemplary service, she was terminated for engaging in actions that broke the school's very clear rules of conduct. 2) Measures to prevent the noncompliance from occurring again: The school has implemented a plan to provide extra help in classes where the administration reasonably believes it is necessary, teachers request such assistance, or students need additional supervision and support. The School conducted additional refresher training within days of the incident occurring. We specifically emphasized that whenever associates/staff believe they need additional help they should ask for such help. We have also reinforced existing school po licy that spanking or the use of physical punishment is never acceptable and will not be tolerated at any time. The school has also implemented an improved enrollment screening process to ensure we have the necessary resources for each child we welcome into our school. We are reviewing and will provide continuing training to staff to help them learn additional effec tive ways to manage behavior child or discipline issues. The administration team has counseled staff about the importance of asking for help when dealing with a child whose behavior required additional intervention. 3) Person(s) responsible for implementing each step and/or monitoring any preventive measure(s): The administration staff will continue to conduct frequent documented observations in each classroom to ensure the above-mentioned preventative measures and a general increase in monitoring are working. Date To Be Corrected: February 15, 2024, with the immediate dismissal of Staff # 1