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Department of
SOCIAL SERVICES

Community Care Licensing


COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT

Facility Number: 565850150
Report Date: 12/09/2025
Date Signed: 12/15/2025 08:38:53 AM

Substantiated


STATE OF CALIFORNIA - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT		CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING DIVISION
WOODLAND HILLS N.ASC, 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
12/03/2025 and conducted by Evaluator Angela Barutyan
COMPLAINT CONTROL NUMBER: 29-AS-20251203083210
FACILITY NAME:VARENITA OF WESTLAKEFACILITY NUMBER:
565850150
ADMINISTRATOR:HOWELL,ZACHARYFACILITY TYPE:
740
ADDRESS:95 DUSENBERG DRIVETELEPHONE:
(805) 413-3300
CITY:WESTLAKESTATE: CAZIP CODE:
91362
CAPACITY:115CENSUS: 73DATE:
12/09/2025
UNANNOUNCEDTIME BEGAN:
12:35 PM
MET WITH:Zachary "Zak" HowellTIME COMPLETED:
03:05 PM
ALLEGATION(S):
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Staff stole resident's personal belongings
INVESTIGATION FINDINGS:
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**This report has been amended to include additional information regarding facility’s response and prevention measures**
Licensing Program Analyst (LPA) Angela Barutyan arrived at the facility unannounced to conduct an initial complaint investigation for the allegation listed above at 12:35PM. Upon arrival, LPA met with staff and Executive Director (ED) Zachary "Zak" Howell. Entrance interview conducted.

During today's visit, LPA interviewed two (2) staff and one (1) resident between 12:35PM-02:00PM, reviewed and obtained copies of pertinent documents relevant to the investigation between 01:15PM-01:45PM, conducted a brief physical plant tour between 01:48PM-02:20PM, and discussed allegation with ED at 02:45PM.

Report Continued on LIC9099-C.
Substantiated
Estimated Days of Completion:
SUPERVISORS NAME: Kristin Heffernan
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Angela Barutyan
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:

DATE: 12/09/2025
I acknowledge receipt of this form and understand my licensing appeal rights as explained and received.
FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 12/09/2025
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 29-AS-20251203083210
STATE OF CALIFORNIA - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT (Cont)		CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING DIVISION
WOODLAND HILLS N.ASC, 21731 VENTURA BLVD. #250
WOODLAND HILLS, CA 91364

FACILITY NAME: VARENITA OF WESTLAKE
FACILITY NUMBER: 565850150
DEFICIENCY INFORMATION FOR THIS PAGE:
VISIT DATE: 12/09/2025
Deficiency Type
POC Due Date /
Section Number
DEFICIENCIES
PLAN OF CORRECTIONS(POCs)
Type A
12/10/2025
Section Cited
CCR
87468.2(a)(8)
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Additional Personal Rights of Residents in Privately Operated Facilities(a) In addition to the rights listed in Section 87468.1...residents...shall have all of the following personal rights: (8) To be free from...financial exploitation...
This requirement is not met as evidenced by:
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S1 was terminated on 12/02/2025. R1's responsible party was offered reimbursement. ED stated that the facility will conduct an in-service with all staff to review the theft and loss policy and resident rights. ED will submit proof to CCLD by the due date.
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Based on interview and record review, the licensee did not comply with the section cited above as S1 financially exploited R1 which posed an immediate health, safety, or personal rights risk to R1.
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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: Kristin Heffernan
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Angela Barutyan
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:

DATE: 12/09/2025
I acknowledge receipt of this form and understand my appeal rights as explained and received.
FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 12/09/2025
LIC9099 (FAS) - (06/04)
Page: 3 of 3
Control Number 29-AS-20251203083210
STATE OF CALIFORNIA - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT (Cont)		CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING DIVISION
WOODLAND HILLS N.ASC, 21731 VENTURA BLVD. #250
WOODLAND HILLS, CA 91364
FACILITY NAME: VARENITA OF WESTLAKE
FACILITY NUMBER: 565850150
VISIT DATE: 12/09/2025
NARRATIVE
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It was alleged that an unknown staff member made several unauthorized purchases on Resident #1 (R1)’s personal Amazon account. The purchases consisted of three (3) $200 gift cards, totaling $600, an outfit, a pair of boots which was able to be canceled, and multiple streaming/video subscription charges such as Apple TV and Prime Video. The gift cards were delivered to the facility but were never received by R1. ED Howell was notified by R1’s responsible party on 12/01/2025 who noticed the unauthorized charges and that a gift card was delivered that day but not received by R1. ED conducted an internal investigation and was able to match the address of the outfit delivery to Staff #1 (S1)’s personal address; all other orders were made to the facility’s address. S1 claimed the outfit was a gift and denied the other purchases. S1 was terminated on 12/02/2025. The facility notified the Woodland Hills North Regional Office (WHN RO), Ventura County Sheriff Office (VCSO), and the Long-Term Care Ombudsman (LTCO) on 12/01/2025. VCSO conducted a visit on 12/01/2025. ED stated that the facility will conduct an in-service with all staff to review the theft and loss policy and resident rights. ED also discussed holding a cybersecurity and internet safety activity with residents. LPA reviewed the facility’s theft and loss policy and record which were in compliance. LPA interviewed R1 and R1’s responsible party who had no concerns and stated that the facility followed all proper procedures regarding the incident. The facility took appropriate measures in response to the incident by terminating S1, notifying all agencies within the reporting requirements timeline, conducting an internal investigation, offering reimbursement to R1/R1’s responsible party, and discussing plans to implement proactive measures to prevent such incidents from reoccurring. However, based on interview and record review, the allegation “Staff stole resident's personal belongings” is deemed SUBSTANTIATED at this time.

The following deficiency was observed (See LIC 9099-D) and cited from the California Code of Regulations, Title 22 and/or California Health and Safety Code. Administrator was informed that failure to correct the deficiency may result in civil penalties.

Exit interview conducted. Appeal rights and a copy of the report were provided
SUPERVISORS NAME: Kristin Heffernan
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Angela Barutyan
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:

DATE: 12/09/2025
I acknowledge receipt of this form and understand my licensing appeal rights as explained and received.
FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 12/09/2025
LIC9099 (FAS) - (06/04)
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