complaint·March 12, 2021

Unqualified staff are providing care and supervision for day-care children The licensee was interviewed on 2/23/21 at 11:18 am; 3/4/21 at 8:49 am 3/8/21 at 8:56 am. The licensee acknowledged that staff S2 opened with her before realizing she could not be left alone. The LPA interviewed 8 out 8 witnesses on 2/23;3/5 and 3/8. Throughout the course of the investigation the LPA conducted 8 interviews with witnesses. 3 out of 8 interviews conducted with witnesses on 2/23/21, 3/5/21 and 3/8/21 confirmed the allegation and were consistent in their statements, stating they had observed staff who don’t have the required ECE units working alone with awake children without supervision. The LPA reviewed staff records and observed that S1;S2;S3 did not meet the requirements to work alone or act in a opening role, though interviews support they worked alone, opened alone, or the opener left after opening, leaving them alone to supervise awake children. The classrooms are operating out of ratio. The licensee was interviewed on 2/23/21 at 11:18 am; 3/4/21 at 8:49 am 3/8/21 at 8:56 am. The licensee denied the allegations stating that as a business she is required to be operating within ratios and that she is constantly asking her staff for numbers. Throughout the course of the investigation the LPA conducted 8 interviews with witnesses. 3 out of 8 interviews conducted with witnesses on 2/23/21, 3/5/21 and 3/8/21, confirmed the allegation and were consistent in their statements, stating they had observed staff working outside ratio requirements, leaving staff (some unqualified) to care for more than 12 children and/or to solely supervise awake children. This exceeds the ratio requirement. Based on the evidence obtained, the preponderance of evidence standard has been met, therefore the above allegation is found to be substantiated. California Code of Regulations, (Title 22) is being cited on the attached LIC 9099D. The LIC 9224 was provided and discussed with the licensee. Appeal rights were provided and exit interview conducted. The Notice of Site Visit must be posted for 30 days. All licensing reports are public information and must be made available upon request for at least three years.