VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES

Embrace Foster Care
6345 Center Drive
Norfolk, VA 23502
(757) 847-9385

Current Inspector: Sherry Woodard (757) 987-0839

Inspection Date: July 8, 2020 and July 31, 2020

Complaint Related: No

Areas Reviewed:

22VAC40-131 ORGANIZATION AND ADMINISTRATION 22VAC40-131 PROVIDER HOMES 22VAC40-131 CHILDREN'S SERVICES

Comments:

This inspection was conducted by the licensing staff using an alternate remote protocol, necessary due to a state of emergency health pandemic declared by the Governor of Virginia. The inspection was conducted on various dates beginning on 07/08/2020 and concluding on 7/31/20. A serious incident report was received via email from the agency (self-report) regarding a behavioral intervention. The Executive Director was contacted by telephone on 07/08/2020 to initiate the inspection. The licensing inspector requested access to electronic records in order to conduct the remote inspection. The inspector reviewed the serious incident report, foster parents' record, the record for the child in foster care placement, and policies and procedures. Interviews were conducted by phone with agency representative AR1, foster parent FP1, and the child in foster care placement, FC1. Exit meeting was held by phone with AR1 on 07/31/2020. Please complete the plan of correction and date to be corrected for each violation cited on the violation notice and return to the Licensing Office within 5 business days from receipt of the inspection documentation. You will need to specify how the deficient practice will be or has been corrected (merely writing the word corrected is not acceptable). Your plan of correction must contain the steps to correct the noncompliance with the standard(s), the measures to prevent the noncompliance from occurring again; and the position responsible for implementing each step and/or monitoring any preventive measure(s). 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 #:	22VAC40-131-40-B
Description:	Violation: Based on the review of the 07/04/2020 serious incident report, review of the licensee's policies and procedures, and interviews with foster child, FC1, foster parent FP1, and agency representative AR1, the licensee failed to comply with its own policies and procedures. Findings: 1. Review of the licensee's policy and procedure titled "Restraint Free, IVg" revealed "Embrace TFC prohibits the use of manual/physical restraint". 2. The 07/04/2020 serious incident report and 07/04/2020 progress note, documented in FC1's record, revealed, "(FP1 and FP2) were holding (FC1?s) arms down to prevent (FC1) from hurting them". 3. AR1, FC1 and FP1 were interviewed by the Licensing Inspector. During an interview with AR1 on 07/08/2020, AR1 reported that during the incident, ?(FC1) tries to stab FP1 and FP1 grabs (FC1?s) wrist?. During an interview with FC1 on 07/20/2020 and interview with FP1 on 07/24/2020, it was reported that FP1 restrained (FC1) to prevent FC1 from hurting him (FP1). FP1 also reported that during the same 07/04/2020 incident, FP1 and FP2 held FC1 down on FC1?s bed, after FC1 attempted to stab FP1 with a kitchen knife.
Plan of Correction:	Embrace TFC has updated its policy and procedures as a result of this violation.