425801744-3-7-2023-29-AS-KBUY-CQCLN4-20230328085343

Community Care Licensing

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT

Facility Number: 425801744
Report Date: 03/07/2023
Date Signed: 03/07/2023 02:38:40 PM

Substantiated

STATE OF CALIFORNIA - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT

CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING DIVISION
CCLD Regional Office, 21731 VENTURA BLVD. #250
WOODLAND HILLS, CA 91364

This is an official report of an unannounced visit/investigation of a complaint received in our office on
08/11/2022 and conducted by Evaluator Jeannette Olson

COMPLAINT CONTROL NUMBER: 29-AS-20220811133032

FACILITY NAME:	DEVEREUX CALIFORNIA - CASA FELIZ		FACILITY NUMBER:	425801744
ADMINISTRATOR:	JOEL GOFORTH		FACILITY TYPE:	735
ADDRESS:	6990 FALBERG WAY		TELEPHONE:	(805) 968-2525
CITY:	GOLETA	STATE: CA	ZIP CODE:	93117
CAPACITY:	7	CENSUS: 7	DATE:	03/07/2023
		UNANNOUNCED	TIME BEGAN:	01:45 PM
MET WITH:	Toni Milito, Program Administrator and Jen Farley, Program Director		TIME COMPLETED:	02:50 PM

ALLEGATION(S):

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Facility staff interacted inappropriately with client

INVESTIGATION FINDINGS:

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Licensing Program Analysts (LPAs) Olson and Phillips conducted an unannounced visit to deliver final findings. LPA Olson interviewed staff and clients on 8/12/22 and witness on 8/15/22. LPAs met with Administrator, and Jen Farley, Program Director and explained the purpose of the visit.

On the allegation, “Facility staff interacted inappropriately with client,” the complainant’s concern was that Staff 1 (S1) inappropriately interacted with Client 1 (C1). The complainant stated C1 told others they can’t “kiss her and hold her anymore because she got in trouble.” C1 then started having suicidal ideations because they could not be with S1.

Some staff stated they were aware that something happened between S1 and C1 in the facility. Multiple staff noted S1 “crossed the line” with C1. Multiple staff stated S1 and C1 would hang out in C1’s room with the door closed for hours, held hands, and S1 allowed C1 to touch them "inappropriately". Staff interviewed stated C1 stated they hug, kiss, comb hair, and play “hide and seek.” Continued on 9099-C

Substantiated

Estimated Days of Completion:

SUPERVISORS NAME: Kelly Burley
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Jeannette Olson
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:	DATE: 03/07/2023

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

FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 03/07/2023

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 29-AS-20220811133032

STATE OF CALIFORNIA - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT (Cont)

CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING DIVISION
CCLD Regional Office, 21731 VENTURA BLVD. #250
WOODLAND HILLS, CA 91364

FACILITY NAME: DEVEREUX CALIFORNIA - CASA FELIZ	FACILITY NUMBER: 425801744
	VISIT DATE: 03/07/2023

NARRATIVE

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Staff also noted that although S1 was supposed to spend time with all the clients at the facility, they spent a larger amount of time with C1, and only held private sessions with C1. S1 and C1 had a “goodbye ritual” when S1 was leaving the facility where C1 would walk S1 to their car, hold hands, and “air kiss” on both cheeks.

Staff interviewed stated that C1 would scream, hurt themself, and have suicidal ideations because they could not hug or kiss S1 anymore. Staff stated C1’s behaviors noticeably increased after they were not allowed to interact privately with S1. Additionally, staff interviewed stated C1 would get mad or upset when S1 worked with other clients in the facility. Staff interviewed stated they told the Director about the concerns about C1’s behavior.

LPA interviewed C1, who stated they can’t meet S1 privately in their room anymore, can’t touch anymore, and won’t hang out with them anymore. Other clients interviewed indicated S1 and C1 have a “weird relationship,” and blow each other kisses and seem really close. Clients also stated C1 went into S1’s private office, sometimes with the door open and sometimes with it closed, and it makes clients wonder what they’re doing. Clients interviewed stated they witnessed C1 kiss S1 on the cheek in August 2022. Clients interviewed stated S1 lets C1 touch S1’s dress and touch S1’s inner thigh, rubs S1’s arm and back. Clients stated this behavior makes them uncomfortable and “it’s weird.” Clients interviewed stated S1 meets much more often with C1 than with the other clients, and only meets with the other clients when they ask.

LPA interviewed a witness, who indicated they were aware of inappropriate boundaries between S1 and C1, but did not believe S1 and C1 were having an inappropriate relationship.

LPA interviewed S1 about the incidents between S1 and C1. S1 stated they do a one-on-one “intensive session” with C1 three times a week. S1 stated their presence in the house increased after the COVID pandemic, and the clients were also in the house more instead of attending day program. S1 stated their office was next to C1’s room, and C1 would play loud music, talk to themselves, and would repeat everything they heard in S1’s office. S1 stated they then created a “goodbye ritual” to have a more healthy way to interact. S1 stated one of the steps was to “arrest and kick me out, (C1) would put a ‘gun’ to my back and ask me to put my hands behind my back.” Continued on 9099-C

SUPERVISORS NAME: Kelly Burley
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Jeannette Olson
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:	DATE: 03/07/2023

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

FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 03/07/2023

LIC9099 (FAS) - (06/04)

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Control Number 29-AS-20220811133032

STATE OF CALIFORNIA - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT (Cont)

CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING DIVISION
CCLD Regional Office, 21731 VENTURA BLVD. #250
WOODLAND HILLS, CA 91364

FACILITY NAME: DEVEREUX CALIFORNIA - CASA FELIZ	FACILITY NUMBER: 425801744
	VISIT DATE: 03/07/2023

NARRATIVE

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S1 stated they would walk to the door, would not literally kick but would arrest S1 and “there was some control to that.” S1 stated C1 would ask for a hug and S1 would give C1 a side hug. S1 stated they would do “air kisses like in France” where they would blow kisses cheek to cheek. S1 stated the air kisses were an improvement over C1 previously grabbing S1’s face and kissing their face, and confirmed that was not appropriate. S1 stated they would then “call an Uber” and C1 would walk S1 to the door of the car. S1 stated they would give C1’s nose a tap or provide a tip on how to be nice to other people. S1 stated they had a meeting with facility management on 7/6/2022 and was told they could not do kisses anymore or meet alone. As a result, C1 was mad about the change and had more behaviors. S1 stated at first they were told they could not meet privately with C1, then were told they had to be 1-foot apart at all times and then 2-feet apart at all times. S1 stated that they believe “air kisses” are perfectly acceptable and were not a form of sexual contact. S1 stated C1 has a lot of affection and wants to hug and hold people, and the “air kisses” were a health way of showing affection. S1 stated they did not have a physical attraction to C1, and “that thought totally grosses me out.” Staff 1 (S1) is no longer working at the facility.

Based on the information obtained, the allegation “Facility staff interacted inappropriately with client” is deemed Substantiated at this time.

Exit interview conducted, deficiencies cited, and the report and appeal rights were printed an emailed.

SUPERVISORS NAME: Kelly Burley
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Jeannette Olson
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:	DATE: 03/07/2023

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

FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 03/07/2023

LIC9099 (FAS) - (06/04)

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Control Number 29-AS-20220811133032

STATE OF CALIFORNIA - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT (Cont)

CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING DIVISION
CCLD Regional Office, 21731 VENTURA BLVD. #250
WOODLAND HILLS, CA 91364

FACILITY NAME: DEVEREUX CALIFORNIA - CASA FELIZ	FACILITY NUMBER: 425801744
DEFICIENCY INFORMATION FOR THIS PAGE:	VISIT DATE: 03/07/2023

Deficiency Type POC Due Date / Section Number	DEFICIENCIES		PLAN OF CORRECTIONS(POCs)
Type B 03/14/2023 Section Cited CCR 80072(a)(2)	1 2 3 4 5 6 7	80072(a)(2) (a) Except for children’s residential facilities, each client shall have personal rights which include, but are not limited to, the following: (2)To be accorded safe, healthful and comfortable accommodations, furnishings and equipment to meet his/her needs.	1 2 3 4 5 6 7	Administrator agreed to hold a personal rights training about appropriate boundaries with clients and submit training records to LPA Olson with name, date, and signature by 3/14/23.
	8 9 10 11 12 13 14	This requirement was not met as evidenced by: Based on interviews, the licensee did not comply with the above cited section when S1 did not have appropriate boundaries with C1, which posed a potential safety and personal rights risk to residents in care.	8 9 10 11 12 13 14
	1 2 3 4 5 6 7		1 2 3 4 5 6 7
	1 2 3 4 5 6 7		1 2 3 4 5 6 7

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: Kelly Burley
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Jeannette Olson
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:	DATE: 03/07/2023

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

FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 03/07/2023

LIC9099 (FAS) - (06/04)

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