304371233-2-25-2022-06-CC-RLOZ-CC44CP-20220228175924

Community Care Licensing

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT

Facility Number: 304371233
Report Date: 02/25/2022
Date Signed: 02/25/2022 11:32:10 AM

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
12/10/2021 and conducted by Evaluator Mahnaz Malek

PUBLIC

COMPLAINT CONTROL NUMBER: 06-CC-20211210135736

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:	77	CENSUS: 20	DATE:	02/25/2022
		UNANNOUNCED	TIME BEGAN:	08:00 AM
MET WITH:	Assistant director and director		TIME COMPLETED:	12:00 PM

ALLEGATION(S):

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Staff are not providing adequate supervision.

INVESTIGATION FINDINGS:

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On 2/25/22 Licensing Program Analyst (LPA) Mahnaz (Nancy) Malek conducted a follow up investigation regarding the above allegation that LPA Ryan Chan had started on 12/15/21 followed by another visit of 2/8/22. LPA met with assistant director, Weili Lin. The director, Krista Bartolome arrived later. The Covid-19 Emergency Response questionnaire was reviewed and answered. LPA toured the preschool program and took census. LPA observed 20 preschool children with 6 staff in 3 different classrooms. 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 allegation. It was reported that 4 year old child (child # 1) being bullied by another 4 year old child. (child # 2) at the facility. It stated that it was witnessed that child # 2 grabbing child # 1’s neck and hitting child's head. This has been happening for awhile and the facility staff did not notify child's representative nor put a stop to it. It was also alleged that the child
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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: 02/25/2022

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

FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 02/25/2022

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-20211210135736

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: 02/25/2022

NARRATIVE

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fell from the play equipment and child's head was hit. Child was not injured in any of the incidents.
Based on LPA Ryan's interview with one witness, it was revealed that on 12/07/21 child # 1 was walking when Child # 2 grabbed Child # 1 from behind around Child # 1's neck and pulled Child # 1. Child # 1 stumbled but didn't fall. There were 2 staff present when this happened. Also on 12/06/21 the same thing happened but this time Child # 1 fell because Child # 2 tackled Child # 1 from behind, Child # 1 was crying.
LPA Ryan interviewed child # 1 on 2/8/22. Child # 1 did not disclose any information to support the allegation. LPA Ryan also interviewed 8 other preschool children. Child # 7 disclosed that child # 2 and another child hit everybody. Child # 4 disclosed child # 8 hits the child. The rest of the children stated they are nice to each other and their teachers watch them. During interviewing staff, staff # 1 stated on 12/06/21 and 12/07/21 child # 1 was hugged by child # 2 from behind with child # 2's arms wrapped around child # 1's neck. Staff # 1 stated that she witnessed staff # 2 and staff # 3 were able to pull Child # 2 away from Child # 1. Staff # 1 believes "it was a hug" that Child # 2 gave Child # 1 and that Child # 2 also does this with his own teacher. Staff # 1 states Child # 2 is taller than Child # 1 so Child # 2's arms go around Child # 1's neck. Staff # 1 stated an incident report was not issued because she believes it was jus a hug. Incident report was issued later due to child's representative's request. Staff # 1 stated she had a formal meeting with both children's representatives and some progress have been obtained.
Staff # 2 was interviewed by LPA Ryan. Staff # 2 stated staff witnessed 3 incidents of hugging between 12/6/21 and 12/7/21. One incident Child # 2 walked really fast towards Child # 1 while staff was 20 feet away. Staff # 3 was 5 feet away from both children. Child # 2 was able to come from behind Child # 1 and put his arms around Child # 1's neck. The 2 children were separated. It is hard to predict when Child # 2 will do this because there are no signs, child # 2 is not angry, child # 2 just suddenly hugs child # 1. Staff # 2 stated staff had talked to both children's parents about the incident. Another incident, when teachers called Child # 1's name in the circle time, Child # 2 put arms around child # 1's neck. Teacher's were able to separate the two children. On the same day, staff # 2 and staff # 3 stood like a barricade but child # 2 came out of nowhere and was able to wrap his arms around child # 1's neck when child was being picked up in front of the child's representative. The teachers separated the two kids. Staff # 2 states child # 2 is very caring, very gentle, would want a hug or hold hands with staff # 2. Staff # 2 believes child # 2 would want to be affectionate towards other kids but does not know how to do it. Facility has been working with child # 2's behavior. Child # 2 was always very touchy with child # 1, but just recently became more aggressive and started hugging from behind. Staff # 4 stated there are 3 teachers on the playground positioning themselves spread apart to
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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: 02/25/2022

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

FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 02/25/2022

LIC9099 (FAS) - (06/04)

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Control Number 06-CC-20211210135736

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: 02/25/2022

NARRATIVE

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provide supervision to all the children in the playground. Staff # 4 is aware about child # 1 and child # 2 and staff do their best to keep them separated. Staff # 4 stated she noticed recently child # 2 has started to do "full on bear hugs" and does not know where the behavior came from. Child # 2 is taller than child # 1. That's why when child # 2 hugs child # 1, his arms just naturally go around the neck. She states it is random when child # 2 does it and there are no signs child is about to do it. Both children have known each other since they were toddlers and have been friends. During LPA Ryan's interview with staff # 5, it was disclosed that staff # 5 was a witness to the incident. Staff # 5 states she led child # 1's representative to the child's classroom to pick up child # 1. Staff # 5 observed child # 1 was walking towards the classroom door, out of nowhere child # 2 ran and hugged child # 1. Staff # 5 does not remember if Child # 2's hands were around child # 1's neck. Since this incident both children have been separated to 2 different classrooms. Staff # 5 stated both staff # 2 and staff # 3 were attentive to children but everything happened so fast.
Today, LPA Malek obtained additional information from the director, and assistant director today. LPA interviewed staff # 6 who was the primary teacher of child # 1 and # 2. Staff # 6 did not confirm any other incidents or injury to the child not reported. She stated they send incident reports to parents upon occurring. LPA reviewed child # 1's file and learned there were incident reports given to parent for accidents. The director stated they have worked with children's representative after they saw the behavior. Two children are in two different classrooms now. Children's representatives have been offered resources. Staff were aware of these two children's behaviors and kept them separated on the playground and their classrooms were separated as well.
Based on the interviews LPA Ryan conducted with 4 staff, subject child, and 8 preschool children, reviewing and today's discussion with director, assistant director, and additional staff, reviewing incident reports, and attempt to interview child # 2 today, there is not enough proof or evidence to support the above allegation. The facility gave the child's representative incident report per child's representative's request for the hug incidents. This agency has investigated the complaint alleging "Staff are not providing adequate supervision; although the allegation may have happened or is valid, there is not a preponderance of evidence to prove, the alleged violation did or did not occur, therefore the allegation is 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.
Reports end here.

SUPERVISOR'S NAME: Rina Lopez	TELEPHONE: (714) 703-2808
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Mahnaz Malek	TELEPHONE: (714) 292-9851
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:	DATE: 02/25/2022

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

FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 02/25/2022

LIC9099 (FAS) - (06/04)

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