Okanagan Boys and Girls Clubs - Oyama

Observation. C3.21 - Reg. 37 - Upon Licensing review of attendance records there have been multiple occasions where a staff has been absent and not replaced leaving 1 staff with more than 12 children and including children in grade 1 present. An absent staff is to be replaced to meet minimum ratio requirements. If a replacement is not available then alternate facility actions may be necessary to meet ratios and staffing requirements. The Child Care Licensing Regulation sets forth minimum standards and operating below these standards is considered putting children at risk. The requirements of the legislation must be met at all times.

Observation. C10.2C - Reg. 34 - Upon Licensing review of attendance records there have been multiple occasions where a staff has been absent and not replaced leaving 1 staff present with more than 12 children which include children in grade 1. The facility currently has a maximum daily enrollment of 14 children which requires two qualified staff at all times if there are more than 12 children present and of those 12 there is kindergarten or grade 1 children present. If the minimum staffing ratios cannot be maintained at all times alternate facility actions are necessary.

Observation. C2.1B - Reg. 22 - The evacuation plan posted at the facility is incomplete of full procedures of preparing, mitigating, responding and recovering from any emergencies. Plans and considerations need to be given for various potential emergencies, possible relocation sites, emergency supplies and recovery actions. All staff are required to be trained in the implementation of the emergency plan.

Observation. C3.1C - Reg. 19 - The organization is transitioning to an on-line electronic staff file system that does not provide access to all staff files upon Licensing inspection. Upon review of the paper staff files on site a staff that had worked within the last 5 months had an expired criminal record check and outdated first aid certification. A staff present today did not have their updated first aid certification in their file however it was confirmed valid through an alternate organization contact. Staff file requirements as per section 19 of the Regulation must be accessible on site and up to date at all times.

Observation. C7.1L - Reg. 117 - A full bag of de-icer and a spreader full of loose de-icer was accessible to the children in the hall area where the children utilize the washroom. This is a school product however it cannot be accessible to children and the warning on the packaging advised to "keep out of reach from children".

Observation. The fire drill system is not posted in a prominent place in the facility (Gymnasium). Records of fire drills completed are only noted up to June 2022.

Observation. It appears that outdoor yard checks are not completed and recorded consistently. No dates are recorded for the inspections that are completed. Staff arrived 5 minutes prior to the program beginning which did not allow time for this to occur.

Observation. Records do not indicate fire drill practices being completed from November to March 2020. One staff indicated these practices did not occur monthly in the past but are now being completed regularly.

Observation. The training staff have does not appear adequate and was not observed to be put into practice by staff during this inspection. Advise licensing how you will assure adequate training is provided to and implemented by all staff specifically in regard to behaviour guidance and programming.

Observation. When children came in from outside some children went directly to their backpacks and sat down on the floor and ate their snack. Snack tables were brought out from storage and set up however were not sanitized prior to use. Advise licensing how table tops and any toys & equipment are sanitized.

Observation. Today there was no indoor materials and equipment provided for the children. It is unclear if there are any available. Some children played with toys that were brought from home while other children played inappropriate games and some played on the gym mats. Provide licensing with evidence that children will be provided adequate indoor materials and equipment to meet the developmental levels of all children.

Observation. Although the facility meets the minimum required staff to child ratios, there did not appear to be adequate staff to meet the current supervision needs of the children based on the licensing officers observations during the inspection. If children require additional staffing to meet their needs this needs to be assessed and addressed.

Observation. 1. Observations indicate that the staff did not demonstrate the skills necessary to carry out assigned duties. Staff were observed to have difficulty problem solving when the facility had no water available and did not know there was a water jug available on-site. Staff eventually called the head office to get directions on what to do. Staff had difficulty determining how children would be served snack without being able to hand-wash. There appeared to be no alternatives available such as hand wipes or hand sanitizer. Staff did not appear to recognize and manage inappropriate and unsafe behaviour of children and unsafe use of toys and equipment. Children were observed by the licensing officer to be shooting flying metal tops (bey blades) ten feet into the air onto outdoor play equipment and inside the gym above the heads of children, carrying large toys onto the high climber platform. Children were observed to play a child-initiated "fighting game" where an older child would fake punch younger children. Several times the older child was observed to connect punches into children's ribs and kick children in the butt. Direction from the staff was almost non-existent and ineffective and the behaviours continued for over 1.5 hours. 2. Staff are trained in the implementation of emergency plans however it does not appear that staff are familiar with these plans. The one evacuation location staff verbalized is found to be closed on Monday, Wednesday and Friday leaving no evacuation location on those days. 3. Staff did not appear to be knowledgeable of a child's medical condition as they did not know and had not read the child's care plan. The care plan was not on-site. 4. Staff were either not knowledgeable of correct use of outdoor climbing equipment or the toys (Bey Blades) children were using or were unaware that the incorrect use was occurring. Staff appeared unaware of safety issues that could result in injury due to this incorrect use that occurred. Please submit an updated copy of the Emergency plans and how staff will understand what they are and how to implement them. Please advise licensing what steps will be taken to assure all staff have (and can implement) adequate training to meet the care, supervision, and needs of all children.

Observation. A care plan is not on-site for a child requiring extra support though interactions appeared appropriate. Staff appeared uninformed of the content of the care plan (including two staff and one support worker). This care plan must be on site and staff must have the ability to put the plan into place and meet the needs of the child. At this time a support worker is in place. Please ensure this plan is obtained prior to opening on February 25 and ensure staff are familiar with it.

Observation. Children were not taught about play space safety as there was almost no intervention and follow through by staff did not occur when unsafe activities were taking place. Using the outdoor climber with a large toy in hand is not considered safe and could cause a serious fall. Safety of the "Bey Blade" game was not followed and it's unsafe use could have caused serious harm. The child-initiated "fighting game" was inappropriate on many levels and staff did nothing to redirect this play. Modelling of appropriate play did not occur. During outside play staff were sitting on a bench high above the play area talking to each other. Staff were not actively involved in the program. The supported child care worker was engaged and appropriate with the child they were supporting. At times during inside play the supported child care worker would point out needs of other children to Boys and Girls Club staff. When staff did intervene on one occasion they were observed to holler down expectations to the children rather than going down to their level to teach and model acceptable behaviour and expectations. No follow through with these expectations occurred. Advise licensing how safe play will occur and be taught and modelled to children.

Observation. The water at the facility was turned off by the school and the facility was not made aware in advance of it. The facility appeared unprepared for this type of emergency and seemed to have difficulty problem solving in a timely manner during this occurrence as children patiently waited over 30 minutes for snack. One of the staff asked the licensing officer what to do and how they could have snack without the ability to hand wash then this same staff eventually contacted the head office to see what should happen. They were informed that there was a water jug in the emergency kit that could be used. Licensing has concerns that staff are unaware of emergency supplies and procedures at the facility. Please submit an incident report regarding this service delivery problem. Also advise licensing how staff will assure drinking water is available at all times and how to respond in all emergency situations. Currently staff write the snack on a whiteboard for parents to see however there is no record at the facility of previous snacks provided. These are kept a head office. Please ensure these records are available at the facility and available to parents.

Observation. Program planning observed today was inadequate. Other than two staff led group games and snack, children were left to run free both inside and out with no direction, programming, or activities. Schedule G provides details of programming requirements. Other than large motor activities, almost none of theses requirements were met. Please submit to licensing a detailed description of the care program while assuring Schedule G is adequately addressed (this Schedule from the regulation will be provided). Advise how this will be implemented.

Observation. Appropriate opportunities for social, emotional and intellectual growth were not appropriately initiated or supervised. Behavioural guidance was not practiced numerous times when children clearly required direction and safety reminders. Children were subjected to physical hitting, punching and kicking by a child in the program (who appeared much larger and older than those who were the recipients). Though this appeared to be part of a game the children all freely engaged in, it was both inappropriate play, unsafe, and at times children said "ouch" to the aggressive interactions. This type of play did not promote respect of self or respect of others. Staff did not intervene and this behaviour continued for approximately 1 hour. Submit the facilities guidance and discipline policy and advise how it will be implemented by all staff.

Observation. The facility has current policies however it appears the following are not implemented adequately by employees: - Policies and procedures intended to guide employees in the care and supervision of children Staff did not implement adequate care and supervision of children. Children were observed to be permitted to engage in inappropriate and unsafe behaviours with equipment and towards other children. Please provide your care and supervision policy and indicate how you will assure staff implement it.