Supervision

On 3/10/25, a staff member had her back to children and watching a video on her cell phone. She then went to sit on rug on other side of room not observing or knowing what the children were doing to each other in another area of room. This staff member was terminated from employment at facility on 3/11/25. 2.4 Supervision page 12 2.4.1 General Supervision Requirements A. Childcare personnel must position themselves in the outdoor play area so that all children can be observed and directly supervised. B. Childcare personnel must be assigned to provide direct supervision to a specific group of children and be with that group of children at all times. Children must never be left without child care personnel supervision inside or outside the facility, in a vehicle, or at a field trip location

04-01 · Corrected Mar 13, 2025

Background Checks

During complaint investigation it was discovered that a new staff member who started employment on 3/10/25 had not completed required background screening. Background screening completed and eligible on 3/19/25. Clearinghouse roster update by Director 3/20/25. 5 Background Screening page 51 5.1 Initial Screening A screening must be conducted as a condition of employment. The employer/owner/operator must review each employment application to assess the relevancy of any issue uncovered by the complete background screening, including any arrest, pending criminal charge, or conviction, and must use this information in employment decisions in accordance with state laws. A. Level 2 screening as outlined in s. 435.04, F.S., is required for all child care personnel and includes a criminal records check (both national and statewide), a sexual predator and sexual offender registry search, and child abuse and neglect history of any state in which an individual resided during the preceding 5 years. All fingerprints must be submitted and processed through the Background Screening Clearinghouse and therefore a LiveScan vendor that is Clearinghouse compatible must be used for submission of fingerprints. B. The fingerprint results from the Federal Bureau of Investigation will be returned to DCF via the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. DCF will review both the federal and state criminal history results, along with state criminal records, national sex offender registry, Florida sex offender registry, and the Florida child abuse and neglect registry. C. DCF will issue an eligible or non-eligible result through the Clearinghouse upon completion of searches and results from other states, if applicable

Background Checks

2 current staff did not complete required training within required time frame. One staff member started required training 7/29/22 and the other started training 1/9/23. Neither has completed requirement. Staff stated having issues with tests. Counselor gave Director information to contact Training Unit. 4.1 Beginning Training Child care personnel including volunteers who work 10 hours or more per month must begin training within 90 days of employment in the child care industry and successfully complete Departments training within 12 months from the date training begins. Training taken prior to employment in the child care industry does not constitute begin training. The begin training timeframes begin at the time of employment in the child care industry. Training completion may not exceed 15 months from the date of employment in the child care industry in any licensed Florida child care facility. This may be accomplished by classroom attendance in a Department-approved training course, acquiring an educational exemption from a Department-approved training course, beginning a Department-approved online child care training course, or by receiving results from a Department-approved competency examination. The child care program is responsible for obtaining training documentation from child care personnel. 4.2 Training Requirements 4.2.1 Mandated Introductory Training Childcare personnel must successfully complete 40 hours of child care training as evidenced by successful completion of competency examinations offered by the Department or its designated representative with a weighted score of 70 or better. Child care personnel who successfully completed the mandatory 40-hour Introductory Child Care Training prior to January 1, 2004 are not required to fulfill the competency examination requirement. A. Part I Courses (30 Hours) Child care personnel must complete all of the following: Child Care Facility Rules and Regulations Health, Safety and Nutrition Identifying and Reporting Child Abuse and Neglect Child Growth and Development Behavioral Observation and Screening B. Part II Courses (10 Hours) Child care personnel must also complete 10 hours of the following Part II courses: Special Needs Appropriate Practices (10 hours), or Understanding Developmentally Appropriate Practices (5 hours) and one of the following courses: 1. Infant and Toddler Appropriate Practices (5 hours) 2. Preschool Appropriate Practices (5 hours) 3. School- Age Appropriate Practices (5 hours) 4.2.2 Early Literacy Training Pursuant to Section 402.305(2)(e)5., F.S., all child care personnel must complete a single course of training in early literacy and language development of children ages birth through five years that is a minimum of five clock hours or .5 CEUs. Early literacy training must be completed within 12 months of date of employment in the child care industry. Proof of completion may be documented on a certificate of course completion, classroom transcript, or diploma. Child care personnel must complete one of the following: A. One of the Departments online literacy courses available on the Departments website. B. One of the Departments approved literacy courses. A list of these courses can be obtained from the Departments website. (No additional courses will be approved by the Department.) C. One college level early literacy course (for credit or non-credit) if taken within the last five years

Recordkeeping

1 staff member did not have proof of starting 40-hour introductory training within 90 days of employment. Industry and employment start date of 4/10/23.. 4 Training page 39 and 40 4.1 Beginning Training Child care personnel including volunteers who work 10 hours or more per month must begin training within 90 days of employment in the child care industry and successfully complete Departments training within 12 months from the date training begins. Training taken prior to employment in the child care industry does not constitute begin training. The begin training timeframes begin at the time of employment in the child care industry. Training completion may not exceed 15 months from the date of employment in the child care industry in any licensed Florida child care facility. This may be accomplished by classroom attendance in a Department-approved training course, acquiring an educational exemption from a Department-approved training course, beginning a Department-approved online child care training course, or by receiving results from a Department-approved competency examination. The child care program is responsible for obtaining training documentation from child care personnel

33-03 · Not corrected

Supervision

4.2 Training Requirements 4.2.7 Annual In-Service Training Upon successful completion of the 40-hour introductory training requirements, child care personnel must complete a minimum of 10 clock- hours or one CEU of in-service training annually during the states fiscal year beginning July 1 and ending June 30. A. The annual 10 clock-hours or one CEU of in-service training concentration on children ages birth through 12 must be completed in one or more of the following areas (college level courses will be accepted): 1. Health and safety, including universal precautions, prevention of infectious diseases, sudden infant death syndrome, emergencies due to food and allergic reactions, shaken baby syndrome, use of safe sleep practices, administration of medicine, emergency preparedness, and handling of hazardous materials; 2. Pediatric CPR; 3. First Aid (may be taken to meet the in-service requirement only once every two years); 4. Nutrition; 5. Child development - typical and atypical; 6. Child transportation and safety; 7. Behavior management; 8. Working with families; Child Care Facility Handbook Page | 43 9. Design and use of child-oriented space; 10. Community, health and social service resources; 11. Child abuse; 12. Child care for multilingual children; 13. Working with children with disabilities in child care; 14. Safety in outdoor play; 15. Literacy; 16. Guidance and discipline; 17. Computer technology; 18. Leadership development/program management and child care personnel supervision; 19. Age-appropriate lesson planning; 20. Homework assistance for school-age care; 21. Food safety training; 22. Developing special interest centers/spaces and environments; 23. Other course areas relating to child care or child care management; 24. Any of the online courses offered through the Departments child care website

Health And Medication

Counselor observed soap dispensers on wall were rusty and although provider had alternative soap dispensers, children could still use them. Counselor had provider remove the rusty dispensers at time of inspection. 3 Physical Environment Children are much more susceptible to the adverse effects of environmental factors, materials and toxicants. It is imperative that the child care environment is conducive to the healthy development of children

12-03 · Corrected Jan 12, 2023

Recordkeeping

Counselor observed that the physical environment document did not have inspection recordings for the months of November and December. Provider did the physical environment inspection in the presence of this counselor at time of inspection and properly documented. 3.12 Outdoor Equipment B. All playground equipment must be securely anchored, unless portable or stationary by design, in good repair, maintained in safe and sanitary condition, and placed to ensure safe use by the children. Maintenance must include inspections conducted every month of all supports above and below the ground and of all connectors and moving parts. Documentation of maintenance inspections must be maintained for 12 months

32-05 · Corrected Jan 12, 2023