VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES

StepStone Family & Youth Services
2201 Graves Mill Road
Suite D
Forest, VA 24551
(434) 832-1326

Current Inspector: Dawn Espelage (540) 759-8852

Inspection Date: June 5, 2020

Complaint Related: No

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. A renewal inspection was initiated on June 5, 2020 and concluded on June 15, 2020. The program manager was contacted by telephone to initiate the inspection. The agency reports 22 foster children in placement and 24 approved provider homes. There were two new staff hires since the last inspection. The inspector emailed the program manager a list of items required to complete the inspection. The inspector reviewed three foster child records, three provider home records and background checks for four additional homes, and three personnel records submitted by the agency to ensure documentation was complete. Two additional personnel records were reviewed at other office locations. Five Board Officer records were reviewed: two by licensing inspector at the Christiansburg Office and three by another licensing inspection at a different office location. An exit interview to discuss findings was held with the program manager by phone at the conclusion of the inspection. The Licensing Inspector has reviewed with the provider COVID-19 Essential Guidance for Child Care Programs. Information gathered during the inspection determined non-compliance(s) with applicable standards or law, and violations were documented on the violation notice. 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 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 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-J
Description:	Violation: Based on a review of the home study for a provider home (PH2), interview with personnel (S1), and email from personnel (S1), the licensee failed to provide documentation that the home study included a required component prior to approval of the PH. Evidence: 1) According to the licensee?s home study narrative dated 4/10/2020, PH2 was approved as a provider home on 4/10/2020. 2) The confidentiality statement for providers (P1 and P2) from PH2 was dated 5/13/2020, which was after provider home approval. 3 During the exit interview, the violation was discussed with S1. S1 checked the record for PH2 and confirmed via email on 6/18/2020 that another confidentiality statement signed by P1 and P2 did not exist.
Plan of Correction:	PM will review all pre-certification documentation prior to foster parent home approval. Audit by consultant will also occur prior to approval and certification of the new foster home.
Standard #:	22VAC40-131-250-M
Description:	Violation: Based on review of the record for a foster child (FC1) and interview with personnel (S1), the licensee failed to arrange a pre-placement visit in the prospective foster home to prepare the child for placement for FC1. Evidence: 1) Based on the face sheet dated 1/23/2020, FC1 was placed with the licensee on 12/16/2019. 2) The individualized service plan dated 1/23/2020 describes FC1?s transition as a planned discharge from a residential treatment center, stating, ?after completing the program in four months, (FC1) was able to step down into therapeutic foster care?. 3) The record for FC1 contained a "pre-placement visit" form which documented a visit between the foster parent and FC1 at the residential treatment center on 12/12/2019; a visit in the home of the provider was not documented. 4) Based on the documentation in the record, the placement does not meet the definition of an emergency placement as FC1 was not removed from the prior placement due to abuse, neglect, or an emergency. 5) During the exit interview, S1 affirmed that FC1 did not meet the definition of an emergency placement.
Plan of Correction:	PM provided re-training to all staff on 6/22/2020 regarding Standard addressing the reasons for pre-placement visits for consumer in prospective placement home prior to placement. PM/TL will sign off on all new placements and monitor that pre-placement visits have occurred, unless an emergency placement is needed.
Standard #:	22VAC40-131-260-B
Description:	Violation: Based on a review of the record for foster child 1 (FC1) and an interview with personnel (S2) the agency did not include required elements in the social history. Evidence: 1) The social history of FC1 dated 1/10/2020 did not address: 260.B.8 Education and occupation of the child's paternal grandfather, maternal grandparents, and maternal and paternal aunts and uncles. 2) During the exit interview with personnel (S2), additional information was not provided regarding information not captured in the social history for FC1.
Plan of Correction:	PM provided re-training to all staff on 6/22/2020 regarding Standard addressing the reasons for obtaining complete information for the Social History of each consumer. PM will re-train staff on the importance of making the Social History an evolving document that adds new information as obtained. Additional information was added to this file.
Standard #:	22VAC40-191-50-A-1-a
Description:	Violation: Based on a review of the record for approved provider homes, (PH5, PH7), and interview with personnel, (S1), the agency accepted sworn statements that were not satisfactory. Evidence: 1) The record for PH5 contained Sworn Statements for providers (P3 and P4) dated 1/25/2020. The Sworn Statements were not fully complete as required by 22VAC40 -191-50-A-1-a. Question #5 which reads "In what states (other than Virginia) have you lived within the last five (5) years" was not addressed. 2) The record for PH7 contained a Sworn Statement for a provider (P5) dated 1/26/2020. The Sworn Statement was not fully complete as required by 22VAC50-A-1-a. Question #5 which reads "In what states (other than Virginia) have you lived within the last five (5) years" was not addressed. 3) During the exit interview, S1 stated that she had no additional information to offer regarding this violation.
Plan of Correction:	PM will review all pre-certification documentation prior to foster parent home approval. Audit by consultant will also occur prior to approval and certification of the new foster home. New Sworn disclosures - completing them as required.
Standard #:	22VAC40-191-50-A-1-a
Description:	Violation: Based on a review of the record for approved provider homes, (PH5, PH7), and interview with personnel, (S1), the agency accepted sworn statements that were not satisfactory. Evidence: 1) The record for PH5 contained Sworn Statements for providers (P3 and P4) dated 1/25/2020. The Sworn Statements were not fully complete as required by 22VAC40 -191-50-A-1-a. Question #5 which reads "In what states (other than Virginia) have you lived within the last five (5) years" was not addressed. 2) The record for PH7 contained a Sworn Statement for a provider (P5) dated 1/26/2020. The Sworn Statement was not fully complete as required by 22VAC50-A-1-a. Question #5 which reads "In what states (other than Virginia) have you lived within the last five (5) years" was not addressed. 3) During the exit interview, S1 stated that she had no additional information to offer regarding this violation.
Plan of Correction:	PM will review all pre-certification documentation prior to foster parent home approval. Audit by consultant will also occur prior to approval and certification of the new foster home. New Sworn disclosures - completing them as required.