304371233-9-15-2021-06-CC-PMAA-C7L66H-20211007203159

Community Care Licensing

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT

Facility Number: 304371233
Report Date: 09/15/2021
Date Signed: 09/15/2021 03:42:31 PM

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
08/03/2021 and conducted by Evaluator Mahnaz Malek

PUBLIC

COMPLAINT CONTROL NUMBER: 06-CC-20210803095801

FACILITY NAME:	GUIDEPOST MONTESSORI AT LAS FLORES		FACILITY NUMBER:	304371233
ADMINISTRATOR:	BARTOLOME, KRISTA		FACILITY TYPE:	850
ADDRESS:	28672 DEERPATH		TELEPHONE:	(949) 339-2010
CITY:	RANCHO STA MARGARITA	STATE: CA	ZIP CODE:	92688
CAPACITY:	60	CENSUS: 35	DATE:	09/15/2021
		UNANNOUNCED	TIME BEGAN:	10:45 AM
MET WITH:	Krista Bartolome		TIME COMPLETED:	04:15 PM

ALLEGATION(S):

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Staff do not provide adequate supervision to daycare children
Staff threaten a daycare child while in care
Staff behavior poses as a risk to a daycare child

INVESTIGATION FINDINGS:

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On 9/15/21 Licensing Program Analyst (LPA) Mahnaz (Nancy) Malek conducted follow up investigation regarding the above allegations. This complaint investigation was initiated on 8/11/21. LPA met with director, Krista Bartolome. The Covid-19 Emergency Response questionnaire was reviewed and answered by the director before entering the facility. LPA toured the facility and took census. There were a total of 35 preschool children with 4 staff in one classroom and on the playground. 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.
Our office has received an anonymous complaint regarding the above allegations. According to complaint report, 4 year old child (child # 1) disclosed to child's parent that the child was hit by 3 year old child (child # 2) at this school by a LEGO building blocks on the child's lower eyelid. Child disclosed that child # 2 bit Child # 1 twice on the arm. Child's representative stated that the staff threatened child # 1 to keep it a secret
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Unsubstantiated

Estimated Days of Completion:

SUPERVISOR'S NAME: Rina Lopez	TELEPHONE: (714) 703-2808
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Mahnaz Malek	TELEPHONE: (714) 292-9851
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:	DATE: 09/15/2021

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

FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 09/15/2021

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-20210803095801

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: GUIDEPOST MONTESSORI AT LAS FLORES	FACILITY NUMBER: 304371233
	VISIT DATE: 09/15/2021

NARRATIVE

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and not to tell child's parent. It was also reported that the teachers asked all the other children in the class to tell child # 1 that the injury on the arm (bites/scratches) were from running and falling down, not from being bitten.

LPA interviewed the director. She stated that the parent brought it up to her attention about one incident on 6/21/21 with LEGO and another incident (bite marks) on 7/26/21. Director stated she talked to the staff and staff did not witness any injury to the child while child was at care. She said she asked child # 1 who did the (bite marks/scratches) to the child # 1. Child # 1 stated I did it myself. There is an assumption for the parent that the staff brainwashed child # 1. She said her staff supervise the children closely. They never brainwash the children to tell lies to their parents. LPA interviewed 7 staff who were with child # 1 during child's stay. They were not aware of any injuries happen to child # 1 until the next day of the incident when the child's parent pointed it out. Staff stated child # 1 is a verbal child. Child would normally tell the staff if something happened /hurt the child at school. They did not disclose that child # 1 shows them an injury or bite mark during child's stay. They said child # 2 has started to communicate with other children. Child # 2 has a tendency to tap other children and run away or take away a toy from children. It does not mean that child # 2 hit children. They are kids and they play with each other and staff are working on children to communicate in a better way and use their words. Staff stated they supervise children inside the classroom and on the playground so closely. They would be aware if anything happened to any child. They give verbal or written report to parents if children get injured. Staff stated they observed a tiny scratch under the child's eyelid when parent brought it up to their attention the next day. They said Child # 1 did not cry or bleed when child was at school the day before. Child was happy playing until going home. One staff stated she trusted child # 1 that child would tell her if anything happened to child. Staff said she had experienced it with child # 1 that she would tell her if any child did anything to child # 1. Staff stated they did not notice any marks on the child's arm until the parent brought it up to their attention. LPA reviewed the incident reports for child # 1. There were no incident reports for the child because the staff had not witnessed any injuries to the child in spite of having close observation of children in care. However, there was an incident report for the Lego incident for child's eye lid that the staff wrote it per parent's request on 6/21/21. Staff do not believe child # 1 was injured at school. Staff stated child # 2 does not bite. There was no bite incident for the child # 2 on file. Staff denied advising child # 1 to change child's story and tell lies to child's parent.
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SUPERVISOR'S NAME: Rina Lopez	TELEPHONE: (714) 703-2808
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Mahnaz Malek	TELEPHONE: (714) 292-9851
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:	DATE: 09/15/2021

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

FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 09/15/2021

LIC9099 (FAS) - (06/04)

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Control Number 06-CC-20210803095801

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: GUIDEPOST MONTESSORI AT LAS FLORES	FACILITY NUMBER: 304371233
	VISIT DATE: 09/15/2021

NARRATIVE

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One staff stated that she asked the child who did the marks on the child's arm the next day after parent pointed it out. Child said: I forgot. One staff stated she barely witnessed child # 1 and child # 2 interact with each other.
LPA also interviewed some qualified children on the playground (Total of 9 preschool children). They said their teachers watch them when they were playing. Children did not disclose that any child bites in their group. Few children mentioned they did not see any injuries happen to child # 1 when they were playing with child # 1.

LPA also interviewed child # 1. Child # 1 stated child # 2 hit child # 1 every where on the child's body one time only. Child stated teachers told child # 2 to stop. Child # 1 did not disclose if any child bit child # 1. Child # 1 then continues that I forgot who did it. Child # 1 did not disclose that anybody asked the child to lie.

Based on the interviews conducted with the total of 8 staff, including the director, reviewing documents, interviewing 10 preschool children including child # 1, there is not enough evidence to support if the allegations happened at this facility.

This agency has investigated the complaint alleging "Staff do not provide adequate supervision to daycare children, staff threaten a daycare child while in care, and Staff behavior poses as a risk to a daycare child "; although the allegations may have happened or are valid, there is not a preponderance of evidence to prove, the alleged violations did or did not occur, therefore the allegations are unsubstantiated.

Notice of Site Visit was posted. The notice of site visit must be posted for 30 consecutive days. Failure to post will result in civil penalties of $100. The licensee was provided a copy of their appeal right (LIC 9058 1/16) and their signature on this form acknowledges receipt of these rights.
Exit interview was conducted. In the area which was investigated, no deficiency was cited today.

This report ends here.

SUPERVISOR'S NAME: Rina Lopez	TELEPHONE: (714) 703-2808
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Mahnaz Malek	TELEPHONE: (714) 292-9851
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:	DATE: 09/15/2021

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

FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 09/15/2021

LIC9099 (FAS) - (06/04)

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