Incident investigation·January 18, 2022

On January 18, 2022 at 11:45 AM, Licensing Program Analysts (LPAs) Dean Thompson and Francisco Pedroza conducted an unannounced Case Management inspection. LPAs met with facility Director Danika King and advised her the purpose of the inspection. Director provided LPAs a tour of the facility. There were 48 children in care at the time of the inspection. On January 10, 2022, Director contacted Community Care Licensing (CCL) to report an incident that occurred on January 7, 2022. Director advised that a child was left unattended inside the classroom. LPA's conducted interviews with staff that were involved with the incident. The following information was gathered during staff interviews. At the time of the incident there were 17 children present inside the classroom with two staff. One staff escorted 12 children outside to the play yard leaving five (5) children in the classroom with another teacher. The teacher in the classroom was relieved by another staff for coverage. Shortly after relieving the staff, the children were escorted out to the play yard. Another staff was directed to relieve the the staff with 12 children for their break. When the staff went to relieve the other staff outside they observed only 16 children. Prior to going on their break they had observed the classroom had 17 children in care. After reviewing the face to name log, the staff noticed one specific child was missing. The staff asked the other staff if that child had left because they were supposed to have 17 children. The staff advised there was only four (4) children in the classroom at that time. Staff went to the classroom door to visually check if there was another child in the classroom. The staff did not observe a child. Staff then went with four children to the front desk to ask if the missing child left for the day. The staff at the front desk advised the child was not signed out. The front desk staff began to review the facility cameras. Staff observed the child was playing in the classroom alone. They immediately went to the classroom to check on the child and escorted the child to their group outside. Facility cameras determined the child was left alone for about nine (9) minutes Continued on 809-C During the the interview with Director, LPAs were advised the staff was placed on Administrative Leave pending an internal investigation for leaving the child in the classroom. After the investigation was completed, the staff's employment was terminated. Director contacted the child's parents and informed them about incident. Since then the child has returned back to the facility. Director advised that they will be conducting a training on face to name, accountability, and Supervision in a Child Care Center. The facility acknowledged they are being transparent and ensuring the safety of the children in their care. The following CCR, Title 22, Division 12 regulation was cited: 101229(a)(1) Responsibility for Providing Care and Supervision Director was provided a copy of the regulation and advised of their right to appeal. A copy of their appeal rights was provided. One type B deficiency was cited during today's inspection. THE NOTICE OF SITE VISIT WAS POSTED AS REQUIRED BY H&S CODE SEC. 1596.817. THE NOTICE OF SITE VISIT MUST REMAIN POSTED FOR 30 DAYS OR A CIVIL PENALTY OF $100.00 WILL APPLY.