Prior to employment or residency, as applicable, and every 5 years thereafter, all child care staff, substitutes, other employees, and volunteers who may be alone with children or are included in staff to child ratios, and household members age 10 years or older, shall submit for a background record check using NH Connections.

The licensing coordinator observed one staff member in the program whose background record check was not submitted prior to employment. Corrective action: The person cited has other background checks with Vermont Headstart, Rescue Inc, and Hinsdale Fire Dept. They are only a sub but we have sent in the background check forms as of 10/6/2023 and are awaiting response. In the future I will make sure all staff members have background checks done through the department before employment and every 5 years.

He-C 4002.41(a) · Correction status not published

Child care staff shall supervise every child in care at all times.

The complainant stated that they observed a child outside alone on the back deck of the program. The child was crying and calling out for their mother. In addition to the complainant's statement, the complainant provided a video of one minute and 38 seconds in length to the department, recorded on September 22, 2023 at 8:48 a.m. that confirmed the information reported. In the video the child walked back and forth from one side of the deck to the other, screaming and crying. No adult was present with the child on the deck, and the French doors leading from the deck into the program were closed. The complainant also stated that they have seen other instances of children alone outside who appear to be upset, and can be heard crying and screaming, and the time varies from seconds to up to 10 minutes. Staff A stated when the children are having a hard time sometimes they choose to go out to the deck alone but the doors are always open, and if the doors appeared closed it may have been to prevent the toddler age children from accessing the deck. The licensing coordinator observed that when the doors are closed it restricts Staff A's ability to see a child at the end of the deck near the gate when Staff A is inside. Corrective action: I have allowed children to go out on my deck when they need to vent because they are upset. I can see all areas of the deck. It is only 9 ft by 11 ft. There are glass doors and a window that I can see them at all times. In the future no children will be using the deck unless I am sitting out there with them.

For outdoor play equipment that would allow a child to fall from a height of more than 29 inches, programs shall: (1) Equip and maintain the ground area under and extending at least 39 inches beyond the external limits of such equipment with an energy absorptive surface; and (2) Utilize an energy absorptive surface, required by (1) above, that: a. Does not present a choking hazard if used by children younger than 3 years; b. Is checked and ranked regularly to remove any foreign matter, correct compaction, and increase absorption; and c. Is a unitary surface documented by the manufacturer as being in compliance with the standards of ASTM International’s “ASTM F1292 Standard Specification for Impact Attenuation of Surfacing Materials Within the Use Zone of Playground Equipment” (2018 edition), available as noted in Appendix A, and installed per manufacturer’s instructions or conforms with Table 4.2.1.

The licensing coordinator observed areas directly under and around the large climbing structure that had insufficient energy-absorptive material, revealing only dirt in those areas. Corrective action: More mulch has already been added and I will set an alert on my phone to rake it weekly, check the depth of it when I rake it and to have an available supply to add when it is needed.

He-C 4002.24(h) · Correction status not published