191870909-7-12-2023-58-CC-BBEL-CTS7PJ-20230715215022

Community Care Licensing

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT

Facility Number: 191870909
Report Date: 07/12/2023
Date Signed: 07/12/2023 10:35:52 AM

Unsubstantiated

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
04/17/2023 and conducted by Evaluator Suzette Ornelas

PUBLIC

COMPLAINT CONTROL NUMBER: 58-CC-20230417145953

FACILITY NAME:	WESTMINSTER AVENUE EARLY EDUCATION CENTER		FACILITY NUMBER:	191870909
ADMINISTRATOR:	SCRUGGS, LIZA		FACILITY TYPE:	850
ADDRESS:	1010 MAIN ST.		TELEPHONE:	(310) 392-4581
CITY:	VENICE	STATE: CA	ZIP CODE:	90291
CAPACITY:	117	CENSUS: 55	DATE:	07/12/2023
		UNANNOUNCED	TIME BEGAN:	08:21 AM
MET WITH:	Felicia Torrence- Principal		TIME COMPLETED:	10:35 AM

ALLEGATION(S):

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9

Day care child put a foreign object in their mouth due to a lack of supervision

INVESTIGATION FINDINGS:

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13

On 07/12/2023, Licensing Program Analyst (LPA) Suzette Ornelas conducted an unannounced inspection for the purpose of delivering the findings of a Complaint investigation. LPA Ornelas met with Principal,Felicia Torrence. LPA was guided on a tour of the facility and observed 55 children in care being supervised by 12 staff. Staff-child ratio was met.

LPA Ornelas conducted an investigation into an allegation that “Day care child put a foreign object in their mouth due to a lack of supervision.” The allegation pertains to an incident which occurred on April 14, 2023 at around 11:20 am. By all accounts, at some point, Child 1 (C1) placed a green ball, the size of a gumball (approx. 1 inch), into their mouth and Staff 1 (S1) did not notice; Staff 2 (S2) did and immediately made a motion to grab the ball out of the mouth of C1.

Unsubstantiated

Estimated Days of Completion:

SUPERVISOR'S NAME: Betty Bell	TELEPHONE: (424) 301-3063
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Suzette Ornelas	TELEPHONE: 424-301-3008
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:	DATE: 07/12/2023

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

FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 07/12/2023

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 2

Control Number 58-CC-20230417145953

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: WESTMINSTER AVENUE EARLY EDUCATION CENTER	FACILITY NUMBER: 191870909
	VISIT DATE: 07/12/2023

NARRATIVE

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32

Throughout the course of the investigation, LPA Ornelas conducted interviews with the Reporting Party, three staff, one parent, one child; and obtained documents in the form of four written staff statements and a page out of a catalog.

The parent of C1 stated that they were not aware of the incident, but reported that they have no concerns regarding the care and supervision that their child is receiving. Parent also reported that their child appears happy at the Center. C1 corroborated that it was S2 that removed the ball from their mouth. The four staff who were in the classroom that day did not recount corroborating stories as to what occurred the day of the incident, but all corroborated that C1 had a ball in their mouth and that it was S2 who removed the ball from the mouth of C1.

The page out of the catalog, which is a purchase catalog, shows a ball which is “not appropriate for children under 3 years”. (Child 1 falls within this age range.)

Though the child had a ball in their mouth, there was not a lack of supervision since S2 reports that they saw C1 place the ball in their mouth and immediately removed the ball. However, as the incident did occur and C1 did place the ball in their mouth with four staff present, the incident did occur.

Based on the evidence as presented above, the allegation that “Day care child put a foreign object in their mouth due to a lack of supervision” has been determined to be Unsubstantiated. A finding that the complaint is unsubstantiated means that although the allegation may have happened or is valid, there is not a preponderance of the evidence to prove that the allegation occurred.

A notice of site visit was given and must remain posted for 30 days.

Exit interview conducted and report was reviewed with Principal, Felicia Torrence.

SUPERVISOR'S NAME: Betty Bell	TELEPHONE: (424) 301-3063
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Suzette Ornelas	TELEPHONE: 424-301-3008
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:	DATE: 07/12/2023

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

FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 07/12/2023

LIC9099 (FAS) - (06/04)

Page: 2 of 2