Joni Litzingers Childcare - Houtzdale PA Child Care Center

Noncompliance Area: The file of child #1 lacked department approved documentation of the child's growth and development. At the time of the inspection, director was given the opportunity to review the file.

Correction Required: The services to be provided to the family and the child, including the Department's approved form to provide information to the family about the child's growth and development in the context of the services being provided. The operator shall complete and update the form and provide a copy to the family in accordance with the updates regarding emergency contact information in 3270.124(f) (relating to emergency contact information).

Noncompliance Area: The file of staff #5 with a start date of 9-5-19 had a health assessment dated 9-10-19. Therefore the health assessment was not conducted within 12 months prior to providing initial service in a child care.

Correction Required: A facility person providing direct care who comes into contact with the children or who works with food preparation shall have a health assessment conducted within 12 months prior to providing initial service in a child care setting and every 24 months thereafter. A health assessment is valid for 24 months following the date of signature, if the person does not contract a communicable disease or develop a medical problem.A facility person's record shall include a written report of initial and subsequent health assessments, including the results of initial and subsequent tuberculin skin tests, x-rays or other medical documentation necessary to confirm freedom from communicable tuberculosis.

Noncompliance Area: At the time of the inspection the director was unable to locate a file for staff #9. Furthermore, the director could not provide a start date for staff #9.

Correction Required: An individual record is required for each facility person.

Noncompliance Area: The files of staff #1, #4, #5, #7, and #8 lacked documentation of training for emergency plan at the time of initial employment.

Correction Required: The operator shall assure that each facility person receives training regarding the emergency plan at the time of initial employment, on an annual basis and at the time of each plan update. The operator shall document the date of each training and the names of all facility persons who received the training and kept on file at the facility.

Noncompliance Area: The files of staff #1, #3, and #4 lacked proof of completing the annual minimum of 6 clock hours of child care training.

Correction Required: A staff person shall obtain an annual minimum of 6 clock hours of child care training.

Noncompliance Area: The file of staff #2 with a start date of 10-3-19 lacked a Child Abuse clearance, had a PA State Police clearance dated 10-4-19, and no documentation of Mandated Reporter training completed which was due on January 4, 2020. The file of staff #5 with a start date of 9-5-19 lacked Child Abuse and FBI clearances prior to start date. The Child Abuse clearance was dated 9-15-19 and the FBI clearance was dated 9-7-19. There was also documentation that staff #5 completed Mandated Reporter training on 2-5-2020, which was more than 90 days from date of hire. The file of staff #6 with a start date of 6-18-19 had documentation of completing Mandated Reporter training dated 9-25-19. The file of staff #7 with a start date of 10-2-19 lacked documentation of completing Mandated Reporter training within 90 days of start date. Mandated Reporter training was completed on 1-8-2020.

Correction Required: The operator shall comply with the CPSL and with Chapter 3490 (relating to protective services). LACKING REQUIRED HIRING DOCUMENTS: Facility Person # 2 may not work in a child care position at the facility. 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: The files of staff #4, #6, and #8 all identified as Group Supervisors, lacked documentation in each of their files to support the position.

Correction Required: A group supervisor shall have an associate's degree from an accredited college or university, including 30 credit hours in early childhood education, child development, special education, elementary education or the human services field and 3 years of experience with children. A facility person's record shall include verification of child care experience, education and training following the outset of service at the facility.

Noncompliance Area: Observed a sink in the toddler space in which water did not flow directly into a drain connected to a sewage system but rather flowed into a jug/receptacle. Based on conversation with staff the jug is dumped every 2 days rather than daily.

Correction Required: 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: The file of staff #1 with a start date of 9-5-19 had a health assessment dated 9-10-19. The file of staff #4 with a start date in care with children of 6-18-19 had a health assessment dated 2-6-18. Therefore, the health assessment was not within 12 months.

Correction Required: A facility person providing direct care who comes into contact with the children or who works with food preparation shall have a health assessment conducted within 12 months prior to providing initial service in a child care setting and every 24 months thereafter. A health assessment is valid for 24 months following the date of signature, if the person does not contract a communicable disease or develop a medical problem.

Noncompliance Area: The file of staff #2 lacked two written, nonfamily references from individuals attesting to the person's suitability to serve as a facility person

Correction Required: A facility person's record shall include two written, nonfamily references from individuals attesting to the person's suitability to serve as a facility person

Noncompliance Area: The file of staff #1 provisionally hired on 9-5-19 had an FBI clearance receipt dated 9-7-19. The file of staff #2 lacked a Child Abuse Clearance and a signed disclosure statement. Staff #4 with a hire date of 6-18-19 lacked documentation of completing Mandated Reporter Training.

Correction Required: The operator shall comply with the CPSL and with Chapter 3490 (relating to protective services). PROVISIONAL HIRE UNSUPERVISED: A provisional employee may not be permitted to work alone with children and must work within the vicinity of a permanent employee. 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: Observed staff person #1 hired on 9-5-19 but not as a staff person in care with children in ratio with 5 toddlers on the playground. Staff #1 and staff #5 were the only staff present with the 5 toddlers and 7 preschool children. Therefore, the staff were out of ratio.

Correction Required: A staff person or a substitute staff person shall meet one of the applicable staff qualifications for the position in which the person is performing.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. IF USING TIERED LIS: The required staff:child ratios must be maintained at all times. The legal entity must submit documentation in a format approved by DHS proving that the facility is maintaining the required staff:child ratios at all times. The legal entity will confirm continuing compliance by sending copies of the documentation to the -------- Region Office on a weekly basis for a period of three months after DHS approves the documentation format.

Noncompliance Area: Upon review of files and conversation with the legal entity it was determined that there was not documentation to support staff #3 is employed and present at the facility site for a minimum of 30 hours per week.

Correction Required: A director shall be employed by a facility and be present at the facility site a minimum of 30 hours per week.

Noncompliance Area: The file of facility person #1 lacked documentation of a high school diploma or a general educational development certificate.

Correction Required: An aide shall have a high school diploma or a general educational development certificate. A facility person's record shall include acceptable verification of experience, education or training is a transcript or a diploma or a letter signed by a representative of the experiential, educational or training entity.

Noncompliance Area: Observed in the pre school room, a wooden shelf located to the left of the entrance had a corner with splintering wood.

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.