Unannounced inspection at Bristol daycare reveals violations

Details provided in a state report of an unannounced inspection say a worker at a Bristol, Virginia daycare used physical discipline on a child along with force feeding during lunch by pushing and holding a child’s face and neck and ordering a toddler to do physical exercises as punishment.

The statements made by the Dept. of Social Services inspector were based on observations at the Victory Children’s Center on Island Road last month.

The worker’s name was redacted but their actions were described as non-compliant with standards, including:
– Not washing their hands and serving food after wiping a child’s nose
– Scolding and roughly handling a student while striking their nose at a computer station
– A 3-year-old was directed to hold his hands in the air for 2 minutes then taken to a supervisor’s office where the child was told to do jumping jacks because of having too much energy in the classroom
– A child placed in time out for behavior issues sat in a chair for 12 minutes (standards only allow a 1 minute time out) while staff members worked on a computer
– The toddler was forced to eat soup that they had spit back into a bowl and the worker would hold their back and push the child’s head down so they could not push away from the spoon, holding their throat and gagging while being handled

The statements also described co-workers failing to intervene at some of the worker’s violations while other students watched.

The center was cited in February after another inspection for repeat violations of program leaders not fulfilling a high school degree or equivalent requirement. The document said those leaders were involved with the children for 16 months.

In 2024, video footage was reviewed by a state inspector showing a Victory worker kicking a child’s cot and pushing the child’s head down. The center said in the follow-up report that the worker was no longer employed there.

Under social services regulations, the Victory Center must produce a plan of correction for the violations to state administrators.

Virginia DSS Violation Report / Victory Children’s Center by SUPERTALK DIGITAL

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