Little Explorers Daycare And Learning Center Llc - Wilkes Barre PA Child Care Center

Noncompliance Area: A renewal inspection occurred at the facility and a review of staff files was conducted. The amendments to the Child Protective Services Law (CPSL) was amended and eliminated the ability to hire staff on a provisional hire basis beginning 12/31/19. In order to continue hiring staff provisionally the legal entity was required to apply to the Department for a waiver. At the time of this inspection, the Legal Entity did not have an approved provisional hire waiver issued by the Department. Staff # 2 was hired as a provisional hire on 7/24/20. Staff # 2 was working at the facility during this inspection without having a completed FBI clearance or an NSOR clearance. The CPSL also requires that all newly hired staff completed within 90 days of their hire date, mandated reporter training. Staff # 1 had a hire date of 8/21/19 and did not complete mandated reporter training until 1/24/20. Staff # 1 was working during this inspection.

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 # 2 may not work in a child care position at the facility.

Noncompliance Area: On 1/10/20 an inspection occurred at the facility. It was observed that there was not an operable fire detection system. Staff # 7 stated the landlord replaced the ceiling tiles in the front and back of the building an never reinstalled the fire detection system. Wires were viewed hanging from the ceiling where the fire detection system should have been attached.

Correction Required: Conditions at the facility may not pose a threat to the health or safety of the children. Demonstration of Compliance with 34 Pa. Code 403.23 is required. The agent of the Department will file a compliant with appropriate municipal office to request an additional fire safety inspection by the appropriate agency to very compliance with 34 Pa. Code 403.23 and per Chapter 20.35(c). The provider will contact the local building code official to determine what system is needed for the building and demonstrate an operable fire detection system to an agent of the department.

Noncompliance Area: An inspection occurred at the facility on 1/10/20. During the inspection, Staff # 7 stated that the hallway that leads to the kitchen is used for children to sit and wait while a staff person is in the kitchen cooking. The staff person who would be cooking would not be able to appropriately supervise the children in this hallway as the kitchen is a separate room. The kitchen is a separate room from this hallway. The hallway is also not an approved child care space within the facility for children to be receiving care while a staff is in the kitchen cooking. Staff # 7 stated this has been the procedure for staff and children during times of cooking.

Correction Required: Measured indoor space excludes space occupied by halls, bathrooms, offices, kitchens and locker rooms.

Noncompliance Area: An inspection occurred at the facility on 1/10/20. During the inspection, Staff # 7 stated that the hallway that leads to the kitchen is used for children to sit and wait while a staff person is in the kitchen cooking. The staff person who would be cooking would not be able to appropriately supervise the children in this hallway as the kitchen is a separate room. The kitchen is a separate room from this hallway. The hallway is also not an approved child care space within the facility for children to be receiving care while a staff is in the kitchen cooking. Staff # 7 indicated that staff could be at the stove cooking while the children would be seated in the hall. The door to the kitchen would be left open leaving the stove accessible to children. Staff # 7 stated this has been the procedure for staff and children during times of cooking since opening February 2017.

Correction Required: Hot water pipes and other sources of heat exceeding 110 F that are accessible to children shall be equipped with protective guards or shall be insulated to prevent direct contact.

Noncompliance Area: A complaint inspection began at the facility on 12/13/19. During the investigation, Staff # 7 stated that the hallway that leads to the kitchen is used for children to sit and wait while a staff person is in the kitchen cooking. The stove was not equipped with protective guards. The staff person who would be cooking would not be able to appropriately supervise the children in this hallway as the kitchen is a separate room. The kitchen is a separate room from this hallway. Staff # 7 stated this has been the procedure for staff and children during times of cooking.

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. Children must be supervised at all times. Each staff person shall be assigned the responsibility for supervision of specific children. The staff person shall know the names and whereabouts of the children in his assigned group. The staff person shall be physically present with the children in his group on the facility premises and on facility excursions off the facility premises.

Noncompliance Area: A complaint inspection began at the facility on 12/13/19. During the investigation, Staff # 2, # 3, # 4 and # 5 admitted to viewing Staff # 4 use physical discipline; such as 'pop' on the butt, arm grabbing or pushing a child into the cubbies. Staff # 2 and # 4 admitted to pulling children's arms if they began displaying negative behavior. Staff # 3 and Staff # 5 stated they saw Staff # 4 'popping' children on the butt as a form of punishment. Staff # 3 and # 5 indicated they saw Staff # 4 push a child in to the cubbies and told the child to get a f*ck*ing tissue.

Correction Required: A facility person may not use any form of physical punishment, including spanking a child. A facility person may not restrain a child by using bonds, ties or straps to restrict a child's movement or by enclosing the child in a confined space, closet or locked room. The prohibition against restraining a child does not apply to the use of adaptive equipment prescribed for a child with special needs. The legal entity must arrange for all facility staff including management to receive a minimum of 2 hour, in person training regarding behavior management. The training must be PQAS certified and the legal entity must receive DHS approval of the training content prior to scheduling the training.

Noncompliance Area: A complaint inspection began at the facility on 12/13/19. During the investigation, Staff # 2, and # 3 admitted to cursing around the children. Staff # 4 admitted calling children a**h*les and Staff # 3 and Staff # 5 verified hearing Staff # 4 call children f*ck*ng a**h*les and babies. Staff # 2 admitted to belittling a child in front of other children after the child admitted to wetting his pants on purpose. Staff # 3 verified hearing this incident and stated Staff # 2 made all the kids stand in a circle and asked the children who did it. Staff # 3 said a child eventually admitted and Staff # 2 yelled at the child and said "you peed on my f*uck*ing carpet". Staff # 3 and Staff # 5 admitted to hearing Staff # 4 threaten to take her slipper off and hit a child with the slipper for the child acting out and these staff also heard Staff # 4 say to another child in the facility that they were not too young to get the slipper too if they did not begin to behave. Staff # 4 admitted to both of these incidents. Staff # 3 also stated they heard Staff # 4 come in to work and say that Staff # 4 did not want to be there and that they could "just kick the kids".

Correction Required: A facility person may not single out the child for ridicule, threaten harm to the child or the child's family and may not specifically aim to degrade the child or the child's family. A facility person may not use harsh, demeaning or abusive language in the presence of children. The legal entity must arrange for all facility staff, management and the legal entity to receive a minimum of 2 hours of in person training regarding the topic Looking Thru the Lens of Stress as an Educator. This training must be PQAS approved.

Noncompliance Area: On the date of this renewal inspection, a review of staff files was conducted. Staff file # 7 contained an Employee Discipline Form dated for 12/28/18. It indicated that on 12/27/18, Staff # 7 reviewed company policy which does not permit restraining or physically restricting a child in any way. Staff # 7 signed the policy indicating that they were aware of the policy and understood the policy. The Employee Discipline Form continued to say that after Staff # 7 signed the policy, they put a child in a restricting position (restricted in a pack n play) violating company policy and regulation. This form was written by Staff # 6 regarding and also signed by Staff # 7.

Correction Required: A facility person may not restrain a child by using bonds, ties or straps to restrict a child's movement or by enclosing the child in a confined space, closet or locked room. The prohibition against restraining a child does not apply to the use of adaptive equipment prescribed for a child with special needs.

Noncompliance Area: On the date of this renewal inspection, a review of the facility's diaper changing procedure was monitored. Staff # 2 and Staff # 3 were viewed diapering children in the toddler area of the large room and this area did not contain a sink or source of running water for hand washing. Staff and children were unable to appropriately wash their hands.

Correction Required: A staff person shall ensure that a child's hands are washed before meals and snacks, after toileting and after being diapered.A facility person shall wash his hands before meals and snacks, and after toileting and after diapering a child.

Noncompliance Area: On the date of this renewal inspection, a review of the facility's diaper changing procedure was monitored. Staff # 2 and Staff # 3 were viewed diapering children in the toddler area of the large room. The diaper changing surface was not cleaned after each use.

Correction Required: Diaper changing surfaces shall be cleaned after each use by wiping the surface with a sanitizing solution or by changing a pad or other surface covering.

Noncompliance Area: On the date of this renewal inspection, a review of the infant room was conducted. During this time, Staff # 4 was viewed propping a bottle on a blanket to feed Child # 1 who is 3 months old. This child was not held while being fed but was in a swing instead. This staff after giving the child the bottle, proceeded to walk the room and care for other children.

Correction Required: An infant 6 months of age or younger shall be held while being bottle fed.

Noncompliance Area: On the date of this inspection, renewal inspection occurred. A physical site review was conducted and in the outdoor play area, a Little Tikes Clever Climber Cut Loose was found. Per the instructions for mounting this piece of equipment, it indicates that this piece of equipment must be installed over an impact-absorbing surface. This play equipment was mounted over grass and not an impact-absorbing surface per mounting instructions. A review of staff files was also conducted. An Employee Discipline Form was found in Staff file # 5 file dated for 3/17/19 and written by Staff # 6. It stated that in the classroom Staff # 5 was working in, toys were found dirty and some with food ruminants on them. This same form also indicated that in this same area that Staff # 5 was working, 2 lighters were found accessible to children.

Correction Required: Conditions at the facility may not pose a threat to the health or safety of the children.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: On the date of this renewal inspection, a review of the facility's diaper changing procedure was monitored. Staff # 2 and Staff # 3 were viewed diapering children in the toddler area of the large room and this area did not contain a sink or source of running water for hand washing.

Correction Required: A sink shall be located in or near a toilet area. A source of running water for handwashing shall be present in infant and toddler diapering areas. If the running water does not flow directly into a drain that is connected to a sewage system, a receptacle shall be provided to contain the water used for washing. The receptacle shall be emptied into an approved sewage system at least once a day.

Noncompliance Area: On the date of this renewal inspection, a review of the facility's diaper changing procedure was monitored. Staff # 2 and Staff # 3 were viewed diapering children in the toddler area of the large room and this area did not contain a sink or source of running water for hand washing. Staff and children were unable to appropriately wash their hands.

Correction Required: A facility person and an able child shall wash his hands after toileting and before eating. A sign on which this requirement is written shall be posted at each toilet, training chair, diapering area and sink in the facility.

Noncompliance Area: On the date of this inspection, a physical site review was conducted. A cabinet was found in the hallway to the bathroom and kitchen that contained cleaning supplies. This cabinet's upper left side door's hardware had come undone and the door was not attached to the cabinet. The contents in this cabinet were in a area accessible to children.

Correction Required: Cleaning materials and other toxic materials shall be kept in an area or container that is locked or made inaccessible to children. Furniture must be durable, safe, easily cleaned and appropriate for the child's size, age and special needs.