343614049-1-11-2024-03-CC-ABLI-CZJPQB-20240116103049

Community Care Licensing

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT

Facility Number: 343614049
Report Date: 01/11/2024
Date Signed: 01/11/2024 01:13:24 PM

Unsubstantiated

STATE OF CALIFORNIA - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT

CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING DIVISION
SACRAMENTO CC RO, 9835 GOETHE ROAD, SUITE 100
SACRAMENTO, CA 95827

This is an official report of an unannounced visit/investigation of a complaint received in our office on
10/30/2023 and conducted by Evaluator Josiah Gathing

COMPLAINT CONTROL NUMBER: 03-CC-20231030131432

FACILITY NAME:	MERRYHILL SCHOOL-DANBROOK		FACILITY NUMBER:	343614049
ADMINISTRATOR:	ROBIN KEMMER		FACILITY TYPE:	850
ADDRESS:	1901 DANBROOK DR		TELEPHONE:	(916) 285-8656
CITY:	SACRAMENTO	STATE: CA	ZIP CODE:	95835
CAPACITY:	120	CENSUS: 88	DATE:	01/11/2024
		UNANNOUNCED	TIME BEGAN:	09:00 AM
MET WITH:	Robin Kemmer		TIME COMPLETED:	01:25 PM

ALLEGATION(S):

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Staff are operating out of ratio
Unqualified staff are supervising children
Staff do not maintain the facility in clean and sanitary condition
Staff do not keep the facility free of insects
Staff do not properly supervise day care children
Staff yell at day care children
Staff speak inappropriately to day care children
Staff handle day care children in a rough manner

INVESTIGATION FINDINGS:

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On Thursday, January 11, 2024, at approximately 9:00 AM Licensing Program Analyst (LPA) Josiah Gathing met with Director Robin Kemmer, for the purpose of a complaint investigation and to deliver findings. The following allegations were made:
Staff are operating out of ratio
Unqualified staff are supervising children
Staff do not maintain the facility in clean and sanitary condition
Staff do not keep the facility free of insects
Staff do not properly supervise day care children
Staff yell at day care children
Staff speak inappropriately to day care children
Staff handle day care children in a rough manner
Throughout the course of the investigation, LPA conducted interviews, reviewed documents, and made observations.
Cont. on LIC 9099-C...

Unsubstantiated

Estimated Days of Completion:

SUPERVISOR'S NAME: Seychelle De Luca	TELEPHONE: (916) 263-5719
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Josiah Gathing	TELEPHONE: (916) 799-9668
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:	DATE: 01/11/2024

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

FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 01/11/2024

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 03-CC-20231030131432

STATE OF CALIFORNIA - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT (Cont)

CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING DIVISION
SACRAMENTO CC RO, 9835 GOETHE ROAD, SUITE 100
SACRAMENTO, CA 95827

FACILITY NAME: MERRYHILL SCHOOL-DANBROOK	FACILITY NUMBER: 343614049
	VISIT DATE: 01/11/2024

NARRATIVE

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Throughout the investigation, LPA did not observe any classrooms out of ratio, did not observe unsanitary conditions, did not observe any insects or pests in the facility, did not observe any lack of supervision, and did not any staff violating the personal rights of children in care.

Staff stated in interview that ratios are maintained in their classrooms and children are supervised at all times. Director stated that the Tadpoles application is used to ensure that classroom ratios are maintained at all times. Parent interviews did not reveal evidence of lack of supervision.

Staff interview revealed that the Director promptly contacts pest control when needed, but that there have not been recent insect problems. According to staff interviews, staff regularly sanitizes classroom surfaces. Parent interviews did not reveal concerns that the facility is unsanitary.

File review revealed that all teachers are qualified, except one. Staff interview revealed that this teacher acted as a floater, providing assistance, but not supervising children alone.

Staff stated in interview that they have not observed other staff behaving or speaking harshly toward children. Parent interviews did not reveal any concerns of staff yelling, speaking inappropriately to children, or handling children in a rough manner.

Although the alleged violations may have happened or are valid, the preponderance of evidence standard has not been met to fully prove or disprove that they did or did not occur, therefore, the allegation is unsubstantiated. An exit interview was conducted and a notice of site visit and appeal rights were provided. Notice of site visit shall remain posted for 30 days.

SUPERVISOR'S NAME: Seychelle De Luca	TELEPHONE: (916) 263-5719
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Josiah Gathing	TELEPHONE: (916) 799-9668
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:	DATE: 01/11/2024

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

FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 01/11/2024

LIC9099 (FAS) - (06/04)

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