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Department of
SOCIAL SERVICES

Community Care Licensing


COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT

Facility Number: 334841532
Report Date: 09/12/2024
Date Signed: 09/12/2024 12:34:46 PM

Substantiated


STATE OF CALIFORNIA - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT		CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING DIVISION
RIVERSIDE SE CC RO, 3737 MAIN STREET, STE 700
RIVERSIDE, CA 92501
This is an official report of an unannounced visit/investigation of a complaint received in our office on
07/29/2024 and conducted by Evaluator Kelli Waters
PUBLIC
COMPLAINT CONTROL NUMBER: 10-CC-20240729164907
FACILITY NAME:STEPPING STONES CHILD DEVELOPMENT CENTERFACILITY NUMBER:
334841532
ADMINISTRATOR:ROXANNE WALKERFACILITY TYPE:
850
ADDRESS:29910 HUNTER ROADTELEPHONE:
(951) 304-7777
CITY:MURRIETASTATE: CAZIP CODE:
92563
CAPACITY:80CENSUS: 31DATE:
09/12/2024
UNANNOUNCEDTIME BEGAN:
08:37 AM
MET WITH:TIME COMPLETED:
12:30 PM
ALLEGATION(S):
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-Staff does not provide proper supervision to children while on the play area
INVESTIGATION FINDINGS:
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On 09/12/24, Licensing Program Analyst (LPA), Kelli Waters, made a subsequent unannounced complaint investigation visit to deliver the findings for the above referenced allegation. Center Director, Roxanne Walker was not present. LPA met with facility representative, Rebecca Walker, Curriculum Director, conducted a facility tour and took census. During the visit, LPA informed of the decision rendered regarding a complaint received by Community Care Licensing (CCL).

On July 29, 2024, CCL received information that staff does not provide proper supervision to children while on the play area outside. It was alleged that staff are not visible on the playground or are on cellphones while children are playing outside.

-Continued on 9099C
Substantiated
Estimated Days of Completion:
SUPERVISORS NAME: Carlos Martinez
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Kelli Waters
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:

DATE: 09/12/2024
I acknowledge receipt of this form and understand my licensing appeal rights as explained and received.
FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 09/12/2024
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 3
Control Number 10-CC-20240729164907
STATE OF CALIFORNIA - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT (Cont)		CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING DIVISION
RIVERSIDE SE CC RO, 3737 MAIN STREET, STE 700
RIVERSIDE, CA 92501
FACILITY NAME: STEPPING STONES CHILD DEVELOPMENT CENTER
FACILITY NUMBER: 334841532
VISIT DATE: 09/12/2024
NARRATIVE
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 During the course of the investigation, LPA Waters conducted surveillance of outside play activity on two separate occasions, conducted a playground inspection, interviewed staff and reviewed records. LPA observed that the playground in use is located on the back left corner of the facility’s building in an L-shape, with one side facing a parking lot/entrance driveway and the back facing Shady Maple Drive. In order to have supervision of the entire playground area, staff have to be placed along the fence parallel to Shady Maple Dr, towards the corner area of the L-shape. The door to the playground entrance from the center is located on the side facing Shady Maple Dr, approximately 15 feet from the left-hand corner of the building, with two pillars approximately 2 foot by 2 foot in width in the same area. The door’s location does not allow for visual supervision of all sections of the playground area. To the right of the door is approximately a 9-foot section area with an activity table toy and gate leading to other classrooms and a playground not in use. To the immediate left of the door during the inspection on 08/27/24, there was a rolling cart with tissues, water, and miscellaneous supplies. LPA observed 5 minutes in where two staff were on the playground with children and at no time did the LPA observe child-staff ratio to be out of compliance. However, during surveillance of children during outside play time, LPA witnessed staff leave the area of full supervision on multiple occasions, lasting more than 10 seconds and up to over a minute, either to tend to children in other areas of the playground, grab supplies, clean up toys, or while supervising children using the bathroom while standing at the door. In addition, LPA Waters observed 3 out of 4 staff members on cellphones multiple times, lasting more than 10 seconds at a time, while supervising outdoor activity. Interviews did reveal staff use cellphones as a way to communicate with other staff within the center when assistance is needed or to play music. However, during the occasions that LPA Waters observed staff outside, no music was heard, and no assistance as far as staffing was detected or outside activity was affected as a result of cellphone use.

Based on observations and pertinent interviews, the preponderance of evidence has been met and the allegation that staff is not providing proper supervision while outside is SUBSTANTIATED. California Code of Regulations, Title 22, Responsibility for Providing Care and Supervision, Section 101229(a)(1), is being cited on the attached LIC 9099D.

See LIC 9099D for details.

An exit interview was conducted, and a copy of this report was provided along with copies of the Appeal Rights were provided.

A Notice of Site visit was given, and facility representative understands that it must remain posted for 30 days.
SUPERVISORS NAME: Carlos Martinez
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Kelli Waters
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:

DATE: 09/12/2024
I acknowledge receipt of this form and understand my licensing appeal rights as explained and received.
FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 09/12/2024
LIC9099 (FAS) - (06/04)
Page: 2 of 3
Control Number 10-CC-20240729164907
STATE OF CALIFORNIA - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT (Cont)		CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING DIVISION
RIVERSIDE SE CC RO, 3737 MAIN STREET, STE 700
RIVERSIDE, CA 92501

FACILITY NAME: STEPPING STONES CHILD DEVELOPMENT CENTER
FACILITY NUMBER: 334841532
DEFICIENCY INFORMATION FOR THIS PAGE:
VISIT DATE: 09/12/2024
Deficiency Type
POC Due Date /
Section Number
DEFICIENCIES
PLAN OF CORRECTIONS(POCs)
Type B
10/01/2024
Section Cited
CCR
101229(a)(1)
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101229 Responsibility for Providing Care and Supervision (a) The licensee shall provide care and supervision as necessary to meet the children's needs… (1) No child(ren) shall be left without the supervision...Supervision shall include visual observation.
This requirement has not been met as evidenced by:
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Director will conduct a training on providing active visual supervision with staff. In addition, director will come up with a procedure or plan to ensure proper visual supervision of children while outside, at all times. Director will provide LPA with the training materials and signed acknowledgment by all staff as well as a written plan of outside supervision and date of implentation, via email by date of correction.
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Based on observations and interviews, LPA witnessed children left without direct visual supervision on multiple occasions during outside play, therefore the licensee did not comply with the regulation cited and poses a health and safety risk to children in care.
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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: Carlos Martinez
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Kelli Waters
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:

DATE: 09/12/2024
I acknowledge receipt of this form and understand my appeal rights as explained and received.
FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 09/12/2024
LIC9099 (FAS) - (06/04)
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