Building Blocks Child Center Inc - Hermitage PA Child Care Center

Noncompliance Area: A child-accessible plastic storage bin in the school-age caf was observed to have a cracked, jagged edge that could cause a laceration and/or puncture injury.

Correction Required: Toys, play equipment and other indoor and outdoor equipment used by the children shall be clean, in good repair and free from rough edges, sharp corners, pinch and crush points, splinters and exposed bolts.

Noncompliance Area: The file for Staff #1 contained documentation of the completion of the PA State Police clearance. Said document indicated no criminal record; however, the required document that is accepted by our Department was not included in Staff #1's file.

Correction Required: The operator shall comply with the CPSL and with Chapter 3490 (relating to protective services). A facility person's record shall include a copy of requests for the criminal history record and child abuse registry clearance information, a copy of the disclosure statement and a copy of the completed clearance information required under the CPSL. Facility Person #1 may not work in a child care position at the facility.

Noncompliance Area: An approximately 2"x2" metal L bracket was observed mounted on the wall in an area accessible to children in care in the Two-Year-Old room. Contact with said bracket could cause a laceration injury. In the entrance foyer of the facility, in an area accessible to children in care, the wood framing of a decorative stone wall was observed to have rough, splintering edges. In the K-Prep room, in an area accessible to children in care, what appeared to be, a vent in the wall was framed by approximately 8" pieces of aluminum that had sharp edges that could cause laceration injuries.

Correction Required: Floors, walls, ceilings and other surfaces, including the facility's outdoor play space surfaces shall be kept clean, in good repair and free from visible hazards.

Noncompliance Area: In the Navigator room, which is used for care of children age two to three, small, dime-sized clings were observed on the window adjacent to the entry/exit door. Said clings appeared to easily lose adherence to the glass. In the Explorer Room, age one to two, numerous staples were observed in the grate of the wall-mounted air conditioner. The spacing of the grate was large enough that children could access the staples. Of note, Staff #3 was asked if there were still children in the two to three-year-old room who are placing things in their mouths; she responded affirmatively.

Correction Required: Toys and objects with a diameter of less than 1 inch, objects with removable parts that have a diameter of less than 1 inch, plastic bags and styrofoam objects may not be accessible to children who are still placing objects in their mouths.

Noncompliance Area: The file for Staff #2 contained a current health assessment; however, said assessment did not include a physician's attestation that staff is suitable to provide child care.

Correction Required: An adult health assessment must include the physician's or CRNP's assessment of the person's suitability to provide child care.

Noncompliance Area: The file for Staff #1 contained a PA State Police clearance that listed the reason for obtaining document as Volunteer.

Correction Required: The operator shall comply with the CPSL and with Chapter 3490 (relating to protective services). A facility person's record shall include a copy of requests for the criminal history record and child abuse registry clearance information, a copy of the disclosure statement and a copy of the completed clearance information required under the CPSL.

Noncompliance Area: In the K-Prep room, aluminum wainscoting was present on the lower half, approximately 3' of the room walls. Where said wainscoting abutted the doorway on both sides the corner edges were sharp, which could cause puncture or laceration injury. A sink cabinet drawer in the Explorers (1-2) room was observed to have a broken drawer guard making it accessible to children in care. The drawer guard had a cracked edge that could cause a laceration injury. Numerous exposed, inward-facing bolts and flexible aluminum clips with sharp ends were observed on the chain link fencing enclosing the outside playgrounds in areas accessible to children, which could cause a laceration or puncture injury. A drawer, accessible to children in care, in the sink cabinet located in the Explorers room was observed to have a cracked plastic drawer guard with a jagged edge, which could cause a laceration injury. Additionally, the drawer could be pulled completely out of the cabinet, which presented the possibility that a child could pull the drawer onto him or herself.

Correction Required: Floors, walls, ceilings and other surfaces, including the facility's outdoor play space surfaces shall be kept clean, in good repair and free from visible hazards.

Noncompliance Area: Facility added a child care space in a newly constructed building adjacent to the existing facilities. A certificate of occupancy for new building was available; however, it did not meet the requirements as outlined in Pa. Code Statute 403.23.

Correction Required: A certificate of compliance will not be granted by the Department until the legal entity provides a certificate of occupancy as proof of compliance with the applicable requirements of the Department of Labor and Industry in 34 Pa. Code 403.23 (relating to child day care facilities).

Noncompliance Area: Staff #1 authorized the supervision of Child #1 by a TSS employee who is not employed by the child care facility. The facility did not have the signed authorization of the child's parent to allow the child to be supervised by only a TSS staff person while in care at the facility. While being supervised by only a TSS staff person, Child #1 sustained an injury to his elbow.

Correction Required: Children on the facility premises and on facility excursions off the premises shall be supervised by a staff person at all times. Outdoor play space used by the facility is considered part of the facility premises.

Noncompliance Area: Staff #1 authorized the supervision of Child #1 by a TSS employee who is not employed by the child care facility. The facility did not have the signed authorization of the child's parent to allow the child to be supervised by only a TSS staff person while in care at the facility. While being supervised by only a TSS staff person, Child #1 sustained an injury to his elbow. No Child Care staff members were present supervising Child #1 at the time of injury.

Correction Required: When children are grouped in similar age levels, the following maximum child group sizes and ratios of staff persons apply: Infants 1:4 with a maximum group size of 8; Young toddlers 1:5 with a maximum group size of 10; Older toddlers 1:6 with a maximum group size of 12; Preschool children 1:10 with a maximum group size of 20; Young school-age children 1:12 with a maximum group size of 24; Older school-age children 1:15 with a maximum group size of 30.

Noncompliance Area: During the inspection, Staff #1 explained that the sink in the infant room was being used for the preparation of bottles as well as to wash hands after diapering. Staff #1 explained that the sink was disinfected following being used to wash hands after diapering.

Correction Required: The diapering area may not be used for food preparation or food service.

Noncompliance Area: Although Staff #1 and Staff #2 had current health assessments, the completing physician did not indicate if said staff members were free from communicable diseases.

Correction Required: An adult health assessment must include an examination for communicable diseases and the results of that examination.

Noncompliance Area: The agreement form on file for children #3 and #6 were observed not to have documented the child's arrival and departure times.

Correction Required: An agreement shall specify the child`s arrival and departure times.

Noncompliance Area: The emergency contact form on file for children #2 and #7 were observed not to have complete contact information for the person's whom they are authorized to be released to.

Correction Required: Emergency contact information must include the name, address and telephone number of the individual designated by the parent to whom the child may be released.

Noncompliance Area: The file for child #6 a younger aged toddler was observed not to contain a health report completed within the last 6 months. This is evidenced by the most recent health report on file for child #6 being dated 5/31/2016.

Correction Required: The operator shall require the parent to provide an updated health report at least every 6 months for an infant or young toddler