NC GS 110-90 · Violation

Name of Operation: PINEY GROVE HEAD START CENTER Facility ID: 10000012 Consultant: APRIL LESTER Operation Type: Center Case Number: 0923-294L Visit Date: 9/26/2023 Number Present: 35 Completed Date: 9/26/2023 Age: From 3 To 4 Total Minutes: 75 Time In: 09:30 AM Time Out: 10:45 AM Time In: Time Out: List to Use: Center Type Of Visit: Complaint Visit Announced/Unannounced: Unannounced The purpose of today’s unannounced visit was to obtain information regarding alleged violations of child care requirements. The allegations are as follows: There are concerns that a child was not supervised. Jennifer Mintz, Director, assisted me with today’s visit. The program currently operates with a five-star license, issued December 7, 2022, earning 7 points in the education component, 6 points in the program standards component meeting enhanced space and enhanced ratios and 1 quality point for having a staff benefits package and an infrastructure of parent involvement. Staff/child ratio, group size, supervision, use of licensed space, space capacity, license restrictions, and the outdoor environment were monitored. The license and emergency care plan were posted. Fire drills, medication administration, and storage of hazardous products were also monitored. There have been no new staff hired since the last visit. Additionally, I observed the indoor and outdoor space used by the children. Children were observed arriving at the facility. Adequate hand washing was observed. After arrival children either engaged in free play with age-appropriate materials and activities or ate morning snack. Lunch scheduled for today is ham, macaroni and cheese, mixed vegetables, peaches, and milk. Allegation: There are concerns that a child was not adequately supervised. **On Friday, September 22, 2023, I received an email from Ms. Mintz stating that a child was left unsupervised in the building for approximately 15 minutes the day prior. I instructed Ms. Mintz to notify our intake unit and self-report, which she did. Based on information provided, on September 21, 2023, a child 4 years of age was left unattended in space 2 in the bathroom when the teachers took the group of children outdoors at 10:08 am. The child came out of the bathroom seconds after group went outdoors. When the child came out of the bathroom, she sat at a table for 15 minutes. At that time a therapist discovered the child and took the child outdoors to the lead teacher at 10:23 am. At 10:26 am the lead teacher took the child to the director to report the incident. I was able to interview the lead teacher and watch video surveillance to confirm the incident occurred. Based on the above information the allegation was substantiated. Since the incident occurred, the director held a staff meeting on Friday, September 22, 2023, where she reviewed supervision requirements with all staff. Ms. Mintz also reviewed policies and procedures for transitioning children to and from the playgrounds using the playground roster attendance sheet. All staff present signed a roster for this meeting. In addition, on September 22, 2023, Ms. Mintz had a conference with both the lead teacher and teacher assistant in space 2. During the conference they reviewed proper use of the playground roster and the importance of doing so. Lastly, on Friday, September 22, 2023, the Assistant Head Start Director, Denita Campbell, emailed Ms. Mintz information on “Safety Practices and Supervision of Children” which Ms. Mintz shared with all staff. Ms. Campbell included child care rule .1801 and head start standards 1302.47 in the email. The following violation was documented. Violation Number Comment Rule 303 Children were not adequately supervised at all times. On September 21, 2023, a child 4 years of age, was left unsupervised in space 2 for 15 minutes. .1801(a)(1-5) Child Care programs are expected to achieve and maintain compliance at all times and are required by NC GS 110-90(4) (d) to achieve and maintain an eighteen-month compliance history score of at least seventy-five percent. Any violation(s) documented may impact the compliance history score. The violation(s) documented must be corrected immediately. On or before October 10, 2023, I must receive a written, dated, and signed compliance letter that describes accurately and in detail, how and when the violations were corrected. Please be aware any information submitted by you is considered legal documentation. If it is determined the information provided in the letter is not true, this may be considered falsification of information. If sufficient information is not received by the due date, a follow-up visit will be conducted. Mail or email the information to: April Lester, Child Care Consultant PO Box 12948 Wilmington, NC 28405 April.Lester@dhhs.nc.gov If you email the compliance letter, it must be sent from the email address registered with the DCDEE (this serves as your signature) and the following information must be included: name, position, facility name, and facility ID number. An example is: Jane Doe, Administrator AAA Child Care ID # 12345678 Technical Assistance: As discussed, supervision is paramount to quality child care as it is basic to the safety of children and the prevention of injury while maintaining quality child care. Parents have a contract with the facility and its staff to supervise their children. The importance of supervision is not only to protect children from physical injury, but from harm that can occur from teasing/bullying/inappropriate topics discussed, or inappropriate behavior. It is the responsibility of staff to regularly count children (name to face recognition) on a routine basis, at every transition, and whenever leaving one area and arriving at another. Today we discussed Ms. Mintz assisting all classrooms with this task to ensure all children are accounted for. A violation was documented for failure to maintain compliance with supervision requirements. Violations of this nature directly impact the safety of the children while in your care. In addition, these types of violations have the greatest negative impact on your compliance history. During the visit, we discussed that repeated violations of this nature during consecutive visits may lead to an administrative action against your license. A follow-up visit will be conducted in the near future to monitor compliance with child care requirements. At the completion of the visit, this visit summary was reviewed, signed, and emailed to you. Contact me at April Lester, Child Care Consultant, 910-824-0954, april.lester@dhhs.nc.gov or Lynette Robbins, Licensing Supervisor, 910-824-0235, lynette.robbins@dhhs.nc.gov if you have questions. If the operator fails to correct any documented violations within the established time period, the Division of Child Development and Early Education may deny, suspend, terminate, or revoke any permit to operate (10A NCAC 09 .2000). All information in this report has been reviewed with me today.I understand that it is my responsibility to maintaincompliance with applicable NC Child Care Requirements at all times

Open Not marked corrected in the state record

Category: supervision. Open / not marked corrected.