VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES

StepStone Family & Youth Services
6330 North Center Drive
Building 13, Suite 100
Norfolk, VA 23502
(757) 466-1052

Current Inspector: Sherry Woodard (757) 987-0839

Inspection Date: May 28, 2020

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:

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 05/28/2020 and concluded on 06/04/2020. The program manager was contacted by telephone to initiate the inspection. The agency reported 1 child in care, and 5 approved provider homes. The agency reported 1 new staff since the last inspection. The inspector emailed the program manager a list of items required to complete the inspection. The inspector reviewed 1 child's records, 2 provider home records, and 1 staff record. The agency submitted COVID-19 policies and procedures. An exit interview was conducted by telephone on 06/04/2020 at approximately 12:30 pm with the director of foster care and the program manager. 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 2 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 #:	22VAC40-131-290-L
Description:	Violation: Based on a review of the record for Foster Home (FH) FH2 and interview with child-placing staff (CPA 1) the provider applicants failed to submit the results of a medical examination. Findings: 1. FH2 was approved on 8/21/19. 2. At the time of review, the record failed to document medical examinations for the providers. 3. CPA 1 was interviewed. CPA 1 was asked and acknowledged that the medical examinations were not available for review to verify compliance with the Standards.
Plan of Correction:	FH2 medical examinations were completed prior to approval. Copies of documentation have been re-requested from the physician for placement in the file and database, ER. PM will review all FH files to ensure that required documentation is present, prior to approval. Additionally, the file will be further audited by an external consultant prior to approval.
Standard #:	22VAC40-191-40-C-1-d
Description:	Violation: Based on review of the record for Foster Home (FH) FH1 and interview with child-placing staff, CPA 2, the licensee failed to ensure a search of the central registry was completed for the state in which the prospective foster parents resided in the last five years prior to approval. Findings: 1. FH1 was approved on 12/16/19. Provider 1 and Provider 2 are the foster parents who reside in FH1. 2. The sworn statements were completed by Provider 1 and Provider 2, prior to approval. The sworn statements document Provider 1 and Provider 2 resided in another state (S1) within the last 5 years. 3. CPA 2 was asked about the search for the other state by email on 06/03/2020. CPA 2 acknowledged by return email on 06/04/2020 that the information on the sworn statements was "not noticed and the check for S1 may not have been run".
Plan of Correction:	Background searches for FH1 are in process in their former state. PM and CM have been trained on the background process and the documents involved. PM will review all FH files to ensure that required documentation is present, prior to approval. Additionally, the file will be further audited by an external consultant prior to approval.