VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES

United Methodist Family Services
1300 Augustine Avenue
Fredericksburg, VA 22401
(540) 898-1773

Current Inspector: Dawn Espelage (540) 759-8852

Inspection Date: Aug. 20, 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 monitoring inspection was initiated on 08/20/2020 and concluded on 08/25/2020. The regional director was contacted by telephone to initiate the inspection. The agency reported 29 children in care and 34 approved provider homes. The inspector emailed the regional director a list of items required to complete the inspection. The inspector reviewed 3 children's records, 2 personnel records and 4 provider home records. Background checks for 5 additional provider homes were reviewed. The agency submitted Covid-19 policies and procedures. An exit interview was conducted with the licensing inspector by telephone on 08/25/2020 at approximately 1:35 pm and 4 agency employees participated. 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 was 1 citation for violation of the Standards for Child-Placing Agencies. 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 #:	22VAC40-191-40-C-1-f
Description:	Based on review of the record for Foster Home (FH) FH3 and interviews with the regional director and program manager, the licensee failed to ensure the adult living in FH3 completed a sworn statement prior to approval of FH3. Findings: The face sheet and home study in the record for FH3 documents Adult (A) A1 resides in FH3. The record for FH3 failed to document a sworn statement for A1. During the exit interview, the regional director acknowledged the sworn statement was not in the record. The program manager acknowledged during the exit interview that completion of the sworn disclosure statement for A1 was overlooked.
Plan of Correction:	The sworn statement for the household member was collected on 8/27/2020. UMFS has a process for checking to ensure all required documents are collected prior to approval. This process will be adjusted slightly to ensure that there is a re-check of background checks and sworn statements just prior to approval.