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Department of
SOCIAL SERVICES

Community Care Licensing


COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT

Facility Number: 197417644
Report Date: 08/05/2025
Date Signed: 08/05/2025 03:44:56 PM

Substantiated


STATE OF CALIFORNIA - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT		CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING DIVISION
EL SEGUNDO CC NORTH, 300 CONTINENTAL BLVD. STE 290A
EL SEGUNDO, CA 90245
This is an official report of an unannounced visit/investigation of a complaint received in our office on
08/04/2025 and conducted by Evaluator Tatiana Bickham
PUBLIC
COMPLAINT CONTROL NUMBER: 58-CC-20250804144228
FACILITY NAME:BEGINNING MONTESSORI CHILDREN'S HOUSE, THEFACILITY NUMBER:
197417644
ADMINISTRATOR:IPALAWATTEFACILITY TYPE:
850
ADDRESS:7475 FALLBROOK AVENUETELEPHONE:
(818) 992-5341
CITY:WEST HILLSSTATE: CAZIP CODE:
91307
CAPACITY:108CENSUS: 29DATE:
08/05/2025
UNANNOUNCEDTIME BEGAN:
01:45 PM
MET WITH:SUNETHRA IPALAWATTETIME COMPLETED:
04:00 PM
ALLEGATION(S):
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Staff did not ensure that facility has running water for children in care.
INVESTIGATION FINDINGS:
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Licensing Program Analyst (LPA) Tatiana Bickham conducted an unannounced complaint inspection on 08/05/2025 at 1:45 PM. LPA met with Director Sunethra Ipalawatte to discuss the above allegation. At the time of arrival LPA observed 29 children in care with 3 staff.

During today's inspection LPA Bickham toured the facility, interviewed the director, collected the children's and staff rosters.

Per Reporting Party, staff did not ensure that facility has running water for children in care.

During interview with Director, Director disclosed the facility currently does not have running water. Per Director a pipe broke in the yard on Sunday evening and the water was turned off due to excessive leakage

Page 1.
Substantiated
Estimated Days of Completion:
SUPERVISORS NAME: Raul Navarro
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Tatiana Bickham
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:

DATE: 08/05/2025
I acknowledge receipt of this form and understand my licensing appeal rights as explained and received.
FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 08/05/2025
This report must be available at Child Care and Group Home facilities for public review for 3 years.
LIC9099 (FAS) - (06/04)
Page: 1 of 4
Control Number 58-CC-20250804144228
STATE OF CALIFORNIA - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT (Cont)		CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING DIVISION
EL SEGUNDO CC NORTH, 300 CONTINENTAL BLVD. STE 290A
EL SEGUNDO, CA 90245
FACILITY NAME: BEGINNING MONTESSORI CHILDREN'S HOUSE, THE
FACILITY NUMBER: 197417644
VISIT DATE: 08/05/2025
NARRATIVE
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from the broken pipe. Per Director, one pipe in the kitchen is working and the pipe is connected to the water filter used to provide drinking water for the facility. Per Director they are filling up water jugs for the children to wash their hands and for the the staff to flush the toilets. Per Director, the plumber is currently working on the fixing the broke pipe and excepts to have running water by tomorrow.

LPA did not observe running water at the facility. LPA did not observe the sinks in the kitchen or the sinks in the bathrooms to work, LPA did not observe any working toilets. LPA observed a person working on the pipes in the yard and LPA observed a working water filter in the kitchen.

Based on the LPA observations and interview with Director, the preponderance of evidence standard has been met, therefore the above allegation is found to be Substantiated. California Code of Regulations, Title 22 (code) is being cited on the attached LIC 9099D.

Exit interview was conducted with Licensee, Director Sunethra Ipalawatte. Appeals Rights and the Notice of Site visit were provided.

The Notice of Site Visit must remain posted for 30 days during the hours of operation. Failure to maintain posting as required will result in a civil penalty of $100.00.

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SUPERVISORS NAME: Raul Navarro
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Tatiana Bickham
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:

DATE: 08/05/2025
I acknowledge receipt of this form and understand my licensing appeal rights as explained and received.
FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 08/05/2025
LIC9099 (FAS) - (06/04)
Page: 2 of 4
Control Number 58-CC-20250804144228
STATE OF CALIFORNIA - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT (Cont)		CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING DIVISION
EL SEGUNDO CC NORTH, 300 CONTINENTAL BLVD. STE 290A
EL SEGUNDO, CA 90245

FACILITY NAME: BEGINNING MONTESSORI CHILDREN'S HOUSE, THE
FACILITY NUMBER: 197417644
DEFICIENCY INFORMATION FOR THIS PAGE:
VISIT DATE: 08/05/2025
Deficiency Type
POC Due Date /
Section Number
DEFICIENCIES
PLAN OF CORRECTIONS(POCs)
Type B
08/05/2025
Section Cited
CCR
101223(a)(2)
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(a) The licensee shall ensure that each child is accorded the following personal rights: (2) To be accorded safe, healthful and comfortable accommodations, furnishings and equipment to meet his/her needs.
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Director has a plumber working at the facility. Per plumber, water should be working tomorrow.
Director will notify parents that the facility does not currently have working water.
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Based on Director's disclosure that the facility does not currently have working water. This poses an potential health and safety risk to children in care.
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Failure to correct the cited deficiency(ies), on or before the Plan of Correction (POC) due date, may result in a civil penalty assessment.
SUPERVISORS NAME: Raul Navarro
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Tatiana Bickham
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:

DATE: 08/05/2025
I acknowledge receipt of this form and understand my appeal rights as explained and received.
FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 08/05/2025
LIC9099 (FAS) - (06/04)
Page: 3 of 4