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 S3 had less ECE units than originally thought and apologized because she had been left alone to open the infant side. The LPA reviewed the staff\342\200\231s transcripts and observed that three staff (S1/S2/S3) did not meet the requirements to be working alone with infants in care. The LPA also reviewed the staff schedule and infant attendance for the week of 2/1-2/5/21. The LPA observed that the fully qualified teacher did not arrive to work until 9:30 am but infants in care were being dropped off as early as 7:22 am. 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 one staff to care for more than four infants and/or to solely supervise awake infants. 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 and this report 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.