304270089-5-12-2021-06-CC-JHAN-C34SRF-20210517140614

Community Care Licensing

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT

Facility Number: 304270089
Report Date: 05/12/2021
Date Signed: 05/12/2021 11:42:28 AM

Substantiated

STATE OF CALIFORNIA - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT

CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING DIVISION
CCLD Regional Office, 750 THE CITY DRIVE, SUITE 250
ORANGE, CA 92868

This is an official report of an unannounced visit/investigation of a complaint received in our office on
02/24/2021 and conducted by Evaluator Carmen Odom

PUBLIC

COMPLAINT CONTROL NUMBER: 06-CC-20210224114339

FACILITY NAME:	LA PETITE ACADEMY		FACILITY NUMBER:	304270089
ADMINISTRATOR:	BARBARA BROWN		FACILITY TYPE:	850
ADDRESS:	19860 BEACH BOULEVARD		TELEPHONE:	(714) 962-0339
CITY:	HUNTINGTON BEACH	STATE: CA	ZIP CODE:	92647
CAPACITY:	108	CENSUS: 63	DATE:	05/12/2021
		UNANNOUNCED	TIME BEGAN:	10:10 AM
MET WITH:	Barbara Brown - Director		TIME COMPLETED:	12:10 PM

ALLEGATION(S):

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Facility is operating out of ratio.

INVESTIGATION FINDINGS:

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Licensing Program Analysts (LPA) Odom conducted an unannounced complaint investigation. This is a continuation of the investigation initiated on 3/1/2021. Upon arrival LPA met with Director, Barbara Brown, to deliver complaint findings. Director guided LPA on a tour of the facility. LPA observed a total of 63 children; 19 preschool children in the Pre-K (4-5 year old) with 2 Staff, 17 preschool children in the Preschool classroom (3-4 Year old) with 2 Staff, 11 preschool children in the Early Preschool classroom (2-3 year old) with 1 Staff, and 16 preschool children in the 2 year old classroom with 2 Staff. During today's inspection the facility was operating within its licensed capacity and within compliance of staffing ratios.

A review of staff records on this date indicated that all facility staff or other individuals who required caregiver background checks have received criminal record and child abuse index clearances or exemptions.

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Substantiated

Estimated Days of Completion:

SUPERVISORS NAME: Judy Hanson
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Carmen Odom
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:	DATE: 05/12/2021

I acknowledge receipt of this form and understand my licensing appeal rights as explained and received.

FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 05/12/2021

This report must be available at Child Care and Group Home facilities for public review for 3 years.

LIC9099 (FAS) - (06/04)

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Control Number 06-CC-20210224114339

STATE OF CALIFORNIA - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT (Cont)

CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING DIVISION
CCLD Regional Office, 750 THE CITY DRIVE, SUITE 250
ORANGE, CA 92868

FACILITY NAME: LA PETITE ACADEMY	FACILITY NUMBER: 304270089
	VISIT DATE: 05/12/2021

NARRATIVE

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The Department received a complaint on 2/24/2021 alleging facility is operating out of ratio. The complainant party stated, recently on three different days in the morning during drop off there have been 20 or more children with 1 staff in the first classroom as you walk into the childcare.

During the investigation LPA Odom interviewed complaining party, director, 6 staff members, and 4 parents. LPA reviewed the children’s roster, personnel records, and February 2021 sign in sheets. Children were not interview due to enough information gathered.

During an interview on 3/1/2021, Director (S1) stated, in the last few months I’ve had trouble with staff retention. Two staff recently left; it did not work out after a few months on the job. S1 stated, I have been looking for new staff to hire, but it’s been difficult to find qualified teachers. S1 stated, the facility has not been out of ratio even though work schedule is from 9:00am to 6:00pm, I’ve been coming in at 7:00am to assist with the childcare. S1 and Staff #4 (S4) cover lunch breaks for staff.

LPA interviewed 6 staff members on 3/1/2021, 3/2/2021, 4/2/2021, and 4/14/2021. Four out of the six staff members stated, facility has been out of ratio on different occasion and different days. Staff #7 (S7) stated, on multiple days in the morning before 7:45am Staff #6 (S6) had to assist the front office to take temperatures of the children arriving, leaving Staff #5 (S5) alone in the Tows classroom with more than 12 children in care. On more than one occasion the Tows classroom has been out of ratio for about 10 minutes. Staff #3 (S3) stated, in the afternoon as teachers begin to leave home, they will drop off 1 or 2 extra children in S3’s classroom making it 13 or 14 children in care with S3 alone. This has happened about 10 times. S4 stated, facility is usually out of ratio from 7:00am to 9:00am until most of the teachers arrive, having to mix and shuffle children around. S1 continues to enroll children in the childcare even though there isn’t enough staff. Staff #2 (S2) stated, there is usually too many children in the Twos classroom. S1 enrolls too many children and not enough staff.

LPAs attempted to interview 8 parents, however only 4 parents were interviewed on 4/30/21 and 5/4/21. Three out of the four parents stated, due to the COVID-19 pandemic children are dropped off at the front office, and parents don’t go inside the classrooms. All the parents did not have any concerns with the childcare.

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SUPERVISORS NAME: Judy Hanson
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Carmen Odom
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:	DATE: 05/12/2021

I acknowledge receipt of this form and understand my licensing appeal rights as explained and received.

FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 05/12/2021

LIC9099 (FAS) - (06/04)

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Control Number 06-CC-20210224114339

STATE OF CALIFORNIA - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT (Cont)

CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING DIVISION
CCLD Regional Office, 750 THE CITY DRIVE, SUITE 250
ORANGE, CA 92868

FACILITY NAME: LA PETITE ACADEMY	FACILITY NUMBER: 304270089
	VISIT DATE: 05/12/2021

NARRATIVE

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In the course of the investigation it was discovered while interviewing staff members and parents, an infant child stays in the preschool classroom from the hours of 6:30am to 7:00am, until the infant staff arrive and take the child to the infant center. Based on interview conducted with staff and parents it has been determined that the facility failed to follow the terms of the license, “Preschool license ages 2-5 years old”.

Based on LPA facility inspection, observation, interviews conducted with complainant party, director, staff members, and records reviewed it has been determined that the facility did not maintain staffing/child ratio requirements during drop off and pick up hours. Therefore, the preponderance of evidence standard has been met, the allegation: facility operating out of ratio is found to be Substantiated. California Code of Regulations, Title 22, 101216.3(a) Teacher-Child Ratio and 101161(a) Limitations of Capacity is being cited on the attached LIC 9099D.

This report cites a Type A violation and shall be provided to parents/guardians of children currently in enrolled and to parents/guardians of children newly enrolled at the facility during the next 12 months. Parents/guardians must sign Form LIC9224 to be kept in each child's file. Exit interview was conducted with Director Barbara Brown. Notice of Site Visit was posted during the visit, failure to post will result in civil penalties of $100. Appeal rights were provided and explained.

SUPERVISORS NAME: Judy Hanson
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Carmen Odom
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:	DATE: 05/12/2021

I acknowledge receipt of this form and understand my licensing appeal rights as explained and received.

FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 05/12/2021

LIC9099 (FAS) - (06/04)

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Control Number 06-CC-20210224114339

STATE OF CALIFORNIA - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT (Cont)

CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING DIVISION
CCLD Regional Office, 750 THE CITY DRIVE, SUITE 250
ORANGE, CA 92868

FACILITY NAME: LA PETITE ACADEMY	FACILITY NUMBER: 304270089
DEFICIENCY INFORMATION FOR THIS PAGE:	VISIT DATE: 05/12/2021

Deficiency Type POC Due Date / Section Number	DEFICIENCIES		PLAN OF CORRECTIONS(POCs)
Type A 05/12/2021 Section Cited CCR 101216.3(a)	1 2 3 4 5 6 7	101216.3(a) Teacher-Child Ratio (a) There shall be a ratio of one teacher visually observing and supervising no more than 12 children in attendance, except as specified in (b) and (c) below. This requirement is not met as evidenced by:	1 2 3 4 5 6 7	Director stated, Lynn Rankin arrives at 7:00am to assist with the preschool or infant children during drop off making it 3 staff members in the morning. Director provided staff new schedule. LPA Odom discussed the referral process for our Technical Support Program (TSP).
	8 9 10 11 12 13 14	Based on interviews with parent and staff, the facility has been out of staff/child ratio on multiple occasions during drop off and pick up hours. This poses an immediate Health and Safety risk to the children in care.	8 9 10 11 12 13 14
Type A 05/12/2021 Section Cited CCR 101161(a)	1 2 3 4 5 6 7	101161(a) Limitations on Capacity (a) A licensee shall not operate a childcare center beyond the conditions and limitations specified on the license, including the capacity limitation. This requirement is not met as evidence by:	1 2 3 4 5 6 7	Director stated, Stephanie Riley infant teacher comes in at 6:30am on Monday and Tuesday to care for the infant child that arrives at 6:30am. It started about 1 month ago. Director provided staff new schedule.
	8 9 10 11 12 13 14	Based on interviews with parents and staff, an infant child stays in the preschool classroom in the morning for at least 30 minutes from 6:30 am to 7:00 am until infant childcare center staff arrives. This poses an immediate Health and Safety risk to the children in care.	8 9 10 11 12 13 14

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: Judy Hanson
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Carmen Odom
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:	DATE: 05/12/2021

I acknowledge receipt of this form and understand my appeal rights as explained and received.

FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 05/12/2021

LIC9099 (FAS) - (06/04)

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