The Acorn Academy - Albrightsville PA Child Care Center

Noncompliance Area: During the virtual portion of the inspection on 12/9/20, the written plan for emergency transportation for medical care was not posted in the sunroom.

Correction Required: A written plan identifying the means of transporting a child to emergency care and staffing provisions in the event of an emergency shall be displayed conspicuously in every child care space and shall accompany a staff person who leaves on an excursion with children.

Noncompliance Area: Rep observed plastic bags in the cabinet under the changing table in the infant/young toddler room. The cabinet is not locked and accessible to children.

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: Rep observed an uncovered accessible electrical outlet in the sunroom next to the outside door.

Correction Required: Protective receptacle covers shall be placed in electrical outlets accessible to children 5 years of age or younger.

Noncompliance Area: Rep observed an open window without a screen in the sunroom.

Correction Required: Windows or doors used for ventilation shall be screened when open.

Noncompliance Area: Rep observed 2 small areas of peeling paint on the wall in the outside play space.

Correction Required: Peeled or damaged paint or damaged plaster is not permitted on indoor or outdoor surfaces in the child care facility. If any peeling paint is found it will be covered with duct tape immediately, then sanded off smooth when playground is not in use

Noncompliance Area: Data from the last renewal inspection in April 2019 indicated that the director's clearances were dated as follows: PSP 5/11/15, Child Abuse 5/15/15 and FBI 4/17/15. On 6/16/20, Rep requested the director's updated clearances be sent electronically as part of the blended monthly unannounced monitoring. On 6/19/20, Rep received a PSP clearance dated 6/16/20, a PDE FBI clearances dated 4/17/15 and an NSOR certification dated 11/12/19 for the director, Facility person #1. A child abuse clearance dated 6/23/20 and a DHS FBI clearance dated 6/19/20 were received by the Rep on 6/26/20. Facility has open since early May and director spoke with Rep on the phone while at the center on 5/14/20. Facility person #1 reported on 6/19/20 that she would be removed from care until complete clearances were received.

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. The legal entity must submit to the NE Regional Office, for approval, a written policy for maintaining compliance with the CPSL for approval. The policy must include information on CPSL compliance in regards to new hires as well as existing staff and must outline specific procedures in place.

Noncompliance Area: During the physical site inspection on 7/2/20, Rep observed the outdoor carpet covering the outdoor play space has many holes and tears in it.

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: During a renewal inspection on 4/15/19, the operator was cited for a CPSL violation. This violation was not corrected and the operator was cited for CPSL violations on subsequent unannounced monitoring visits on 9/16/19 and 10/24/19, which have also not been corrected. During an unannounced monitoring on 1/21/2020, Facility person #1 was observed providing child care in the infant room with another staff. Staff and director report that it is her first day of work. Facility person #1 has a signed disclosure dated 1/21/2020, a PSP clearance dated 10/14/16, a child abuse clearance dated 10/14/16 and an FBI clearance dated 10/24/16. She has a request for NSOR dated 1/13/2020. The operator reports that she has not at this time applied for a provisional hiring waiver, which would permit the facility to hire a staff person provisionally. Rep assisted operator in submitting a waiver request before leaving the facility.

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: On 1/21/2020, a power strip with uncovered electrical outlets was observed on top of the portable sink in the sunroom where toddlers normally receive care.

Correction Required: Protective receptacle covers shall be placed in electrical outlets accessible to children 5 years of age or younger.

Noncompliance Area: On 1/21/2020, an area of peeling paint was observed in the lunch area on the wall near the pantry closet.

Correction Required: Peeled or damaged paint or damaged plaster is not permitted on indoor or outdoor surfaces in the child care facility.

Noncompliance Area: On 10/29/19, when Rep arrived at facility Rep observed facility person #1 outside smoking. Facility person #1 entered the building with the Rep. At that time 12 children were present with Facility person #2. Facility person #2 identified 10 preschool children as being in her supervision group. Facility person #1 identified 2 older toddlers as being in her supervision group. On 10/24/19 between 5 -6pm, between 1-5 children were in care during staff CPR/first aid training in a room apart from staff and were not being supervised by staff as all staff were present in training. .

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. 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: On 10/29/19, Rep observed facility person #3 in the infant room supervising 5 children. Facility person #3 identified one of the children as an infant. Facility person #1 came to the infant room following the Rep but facility person #1 had been outside and then in the preschool room when Rep initially arrived at the facility. While Rep was in the rear of the facility, another child arrived. When Rep entered the sunroom, Facility person #1 was now in there with a group of 6 children. Facility person #1 identified one of the children in the group as a young toddler who had previously been in the infant room. Facility person #2 was supervising a group of 10 preschool children at this time. Another child arrived at 9:16am and Rep directed staff to have parent wait with child until another staff arrived. Facility person #4 arrived at 9:30am.

Correction Required: When children are grouped in mixed age levels, the age of the youngest child in the group determines the staff:child ratio and maximum group size in accordance with the requirements in 3270.51 (relating to similar age level).

Noncompliance Area: On 10/24/19, Facility person #2, who began working in child care on 10/15/19, did not have 2 written, non-family references on file at the facility.

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: On 4/15/19, Facility person #1,who began working in child care on 4/4/19, has a PSP clearance and request dated 4/1/19 and an FBI request & clearance dated 4/2/19. There is a request for child abuse clearance on file dated 3/29/19 but there is no child abuse clearance certification on file. Rep observed facility person #1 working alone in the infant room. Other than when another staff entered the room to change other children Facility person #1 was unsupervised until Rep checked the staff files and alerted the director. Rep returned on 9/16/19 to verify corrections and facility person #1 did not have a child abuse clearance on file. Director was unable to locate a child abuse clearance for facility person #1, who then left facility and returned with a current child abuse clearance before the Rep left facility. When Rep arrived at facility on 10/24/19 for an unannounced monitoring per a previous plan of correction, facility person #2 who began working in child care on 10/15/19, had a signed disclosure statement dated 10/15/19, a PSP clearance dated 2/7/18, a child abuse clearance dated 4/1/19, and an FBI clearance dated 2/17/18. Facility person #2 did not have a request for the NSOR on file. Director reported that it had not been requested because she couldn't print the application because her printer wasn't working. Facility person #3 has a PSP clearance dated 5/18/14, which is more than 60 months old. Child abuse and FBI clearances for Facility person #3 are dated 7/14/15 and 6/26/19, respectively. The director said it must have been overlooked. The director requested and obtained a current PSP clearance through e-patch during monitoring visit.

Correction Required: The operator shall comply with the CPSL and with Chapter 3490 (relating to protective services). 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.

Noncompliance Area: On 9/16/19, Rep observed an infant sleeping in a crib with toys. The staff person present identified the child as an 11 month old infant. The toys were removed from the crib immediately.

Correction Required: Toys, bumper pads, or pillows may not be present in a crib while an infant is sleeping in the crib.