complaint·November 14, 2024

Allegation: Unqualified staff provide care and supervision to daycare children. On 11/13/2024, the LPA observed Staff #3 (S3) providing care and supervision in the back room near where the restroom is located. S3 was sitting around a table with children. The director stated that S3 was left alone because she walked to the front to open the door. During the visit, the director instructed Child #7 (C7) to stay with S3 in the back room while the rest of the children returned to the daycare area. The LPA asked whether S3 was fully qualified. The director stated S3 was only an assistant, meaning S3 was not qualified as a teacher. The director stated that S3 was like family. The LPA explained that per title 22 regulation, childcare center staff who provide care and supervision alone to children must meet minimum qualifications. On 11/13/24, the LPA reviewed staff files. The LPA observed a file did not exist for S3. The director did not have all the required licensing forms for S2, S3, S4, or S5. Among the missing documents was a health screening report LIC503 for all staff. On 11/13/2024, the LPA interviewed three facility staff. Staff #5 (S5) stated “I didn’t like is that [Silenna] would leave and left me alone with the children.” S5 added that she/he did not have any qualifications to provide care and supervision alone. S5 also stated that the director required S5 to transport children in S5’s personal vehicle as part of S5’s responsibilities. S5 admitted to transporting children to a museum field trip accompanied by S4. The director corroborated S5’s statements that S5 and S4 transported daycare children in the staff’s personal vehicle to a museum field trip on 10/24/24. On 11/14/24, the director admitted again that S5 was allowed to transport daycare children. S3 and S2 did not provide any information about this allegation. S5 also stated S2 has supervised daycare children in the morning without the director present. On 11/14/24, the LPA requested transcripts for Staff S2, S3, S4, and S5 The director stated that S2, S3, and S5 had no units and that she could not find S4’s transcripts. The director did not provide proof of teacher qualifications for S2, S3, S4 or S5. The LPA requested staff immunization records. No immunizations were provided for S2, S3, S4 or S5 during the visit. For S2, the director said, nothing was found. For S3 and S4, the director stated she could not find the immunizations. S2 and S3 were instructed to contact their physicians to request immunization records. S5 did not have an immunization record in file. TB tests were not provided or in file for S2, S3 or S4. A negative tb test was in file for S5. THIS IS AN AMENDED VERSION OF A REPORT CREATED AND SIGNED ON 11/14/24 On 11/14/24, the LPA observed parents P1 and P2 drop off children in the childcare center while there were no qualified staff present. S2 was present at the facility. Daycare children C1 and C4 were in the childcare center with S2 for approximately 10 minutes; The director was not present and S2 did not have teacher qualifications--according to the director, S2 mostly helps with maintenance and does not interact with daycare children. The licensee stated that the children are not supposed to be dropped off until 8:30AM and S2 was not supposed to open the door. C6 and C7 were in the facility before P1 and P2 dropped off children. During the visit, the LPA asked for various documents. S3 was left with the children while the director retrieved the documents. An advertisement in the front of the building states the facility operates 24 hours per day. The director stated the change was requested about a week and a half ago. Current hours of operation are 6:00AM to 10PM, Monday through Saturday, per the director. Allegation: Staff did not ensure a broken mirror was repaired. On 11/13/2024, the LPA observed two large wall mirrors. The mirror farthest from the entrance was broken. The mid-lower section of the mirror had a crack of around 31 inches in length, according to the iPhone app measure. On 11/13/24, the LPA interviewed the director about the broken mirror. The director stated that an officer of the day instructed her to place tape over the broken mirror and obtain a repair order. A repair order was not provided to the LPA during the visit. The broken mirror was not covered with tape during the visit. The director stated that she does not have a repair order. Based on the LPA’s observations, records review, and interviews conducted, the preponderance of evidence standard has been met, therefore the above allegations are found to be SUBSTANTIATED. A substantiated finding means that the complaint is substantiated and the allegations are valid. THIS IS AN AMENDED VERSION OF A REPORT CREATED AND SIGNED ON 11/14/24 THIS IS AN AMENDED VERSION OF THE ORIGINAL REPORT CREATED AND SIGNED ON 11/14/24 An exit interview was conducted with director Silenna Brown. The Notice of Site Visit was posted during the visit. The director was informed that the Notice of Site Visit must be posted for 30 consecutive days. Failure to post will result in civil penalties of $100. The director was provided a copy of their appeal rights (LIC 9058 01/16) and their signature on this form acknowledges receipt of these rights and this report. First-level appeals should be sent to the regional manager to the address listed above. THE DIRECTOR REFUSED TO SING THE REPORT AND OPTED TO INSTEAD WRITE "RECEIVED" IN THE SIGNATURE SPACE.