VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES

StepStone Family & Youth Services
2965 Colonnade Dr
Ste. 130
Roanoke, VA 24018
(540) 394-7110

Current Inspector: Dawn Espelage (540) 759-8852

Inspection Date: Sept. 24, 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 September 24, 2019 from 10:15 AM to 2:04 PM. Braley and Thompson reports a total of 5 provider homes and 11 foster children in placement. During this inspection, one personnel record, one provider home record and two foster child records were reviewed. One personnel was interviewed during the inspection. An exit interview was conducted at the conclusion of the inspection with the Program Manager and two case managers to review preliminary inspection findings. An acknowledgement form was signed. There was one violation. Upon the receipt of the violation notice, the licensee should identify the necessary corrective action and develop a plan of correction for the 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 #:	22VAC40-131-180-I
Description:	Violation: Based on a review of the record for a provider home (PH1) and interview with personnel (S1), the agency did not obtain a signed authorization from the applicant (PH1) allowing an agency (A1) to release information to the licensee about a previous application. Evidence: The record for PH1 contained a foster parent telephone questionnaire in which the provider home disclosed that they had been an applicant at a prior child-placing agency (A1). A signed authorization for that child-placing agency was not in the chart. Personnel (S1) acknowledged that the file for PH1 did not contain a signed authorization to release information.
Plan of Correction:	Team Lead, Program manager and compliance staff will audit all new foster parent charts to ensure that all documentation and forms are in the chart prior to certification. Team Lead will obtain a signed Authorization from PH1 to contact and receive information from previous child-placing agency.