VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES

StepStone Family & Youth Services operated by Braley & Thompson
2701 Emerywood Parkway
Suite 102
Richmond, VA 23228
(804) 756-3561

Current Inspector: Dawn Espelage (540) 759-8852

Inspection Date: May 19, 2020

Complaint Related: No

Areas Reviewed:

22VAC40-131 ORGANIZATION AND ADMINISTRATION 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:

This inspection was conducted by licensing staff using an alternate remote protocol necessary due to a state of emergency health pandemic declared by the Governor of Virginia. An announced renewal inspection was initiated on 05/19/2020 and concluded on 05/26/2020. The program manager was contacted by telephone to initiate the inspection. The agency reported twenty one children are in care, and fourteen approved provider homes. The agency reported five new staff since the last inspection. The inspector emailed the program manager a list of items required to complete the inspection. The inspector reviewed three children?s records, three provider home records, and four staff records. The agency submitted COVID-19 policies and procedures. An exit interview was conducted by telephone on 5/26/2020 at approximately 11:30 am with the director of foster care. Information gathered during the inspection determined non-compliance with applicable standards or law, and violations were documented on the violation notice issued to the agency. There were four citations for violations of the Standards for Child-Placing Agencies. See the violation notice on the Department's public web site for violations of the Standards. Upon receipt of the Violation Notice, the licensee should develop a plan of correction to include the steps to correct non-compliance with the standard(s); measures to prevent re-occurrence of non-compliance; person(s) responsible for implementation and monitoring of preventative measure(s); and date by which noncompliance will be corrected. The licensee has five business days from receipt of the inspection documents to complete the section entitled "Plan of Correction", sign each page of the inspection documents and return to the Licensing Office. The licensee should retain a copy to be posted at the facility. Results of the inspection are subject to public disclosure and will be posted on the Virginia Department of Social Services public web site within five business days, regardless of whether or not the Plan of Correction is completed.

Violations:

Standard #:	22VAC40-131-200-G
Description:	Violation: Based on review of documentation for Foster Home (FH) FH2, the licensee failed to issue a certificate of approval with the number of children recommended for placement. Findings: FH2 was approved on 10/21/19. Five children are currently placed in FH2, the certificate of approval in the record failed to document 5 children recommended for placement.
Plan of Correction:	This foster parent took in a sibling set and the Certificate has been amended to approve the home for up to 5 consumers. This site's new Supervisor will be required to Approve all requested placements after checking documents in the data base system, prior to accepting consumer for placement. Supervisor (TL) and PM trained on this requirement. Supervisors (TL & PM) have been retrained on document Completion and both must approve each document in eR Supervisors (TL & PM) have been retrained on document completion and both must approve and date documents in eR.
Standard #:	22VAC40-131-250-O
Description:	Violation: Based on review of the documentation provided for Foster Child (FC) FC1 and FC2, the licensee failed to complete a written assessment documenting all of the elements required by 22VAC40-131-250 G. Findings: FC1 was placed with the licensee on 9/17/19. The intake assessment for FC1 failed to document the names of the individuals involved in staffing FC1's case as required by 22VAC40-131-250 G. FC2 was placed with the licensee on 10/22/19. During a telephone interview with the program manager on 5/22/2020, it was acknowledged that the intake assessment was not provided as requested. The agency failed to provide an intake assessment documenting all of the requirements of 22VAC40-131-250 G.
Plan of Correction:	Supervisors (TL & PM) have been retrained on document Completion and both must approve each document in eR.
Standard #:	22VAC40-131-330-G
Description:	Violation: Based on review of the contacts made with FC3, the licensee failed to contact the child at least twice a month in February 2020 as required for treatment foster care. Findings: FC3 was placed with the licensee on 10/22/19. According to the quarterly progress reported completed in January 2020, FC3 is placed in treatment foster care. At the time of review of the contact notes for FC3, there was one face to face contact documented with FC3 in February 2020.
Plan of Correction:	The 2nd Face To Face contact was documented as a Home Visit and mistakenly not included in the documents forwarded to Licensing Inspector. Documentation can be provided that shows the document was completed and placed in data base system on 2/19/2020...
Standard #:	22VAC40-131-340-I
Description:	Violation: Based on a review of the individualized service plan for Foster Child (FC) FC1, the licensee failed to ensure the service plan documented the date written. Findings: FC1 was placed with the licensee on 9/17/19. The individualized service plan, failed to document the date completed.
Plan of Correction:	Supervisors (TL & PM) have been retrained on document completion and both must approve and date documents in eR.