Initial Inspection

[justgettingstarted]

Hi Jennifer,

Our area is a little different because the county does the inspections, not the state (we're one of only two counties in the state that handle it themselves) so our regs are slightly different. At the orientation they said the finger locks are okay for products that just say keep out of reach of children, the more dangerous things that can actually kill (poisonous cleansers, etc.) have to be behind a lock and key. I really want to get my license the day of my inspection (next Friday!) so I'm being really careful. I've actually taken just about everyting out of the bathroom the kids will use (except for toilet paper and wipes, first aid kit, and towels) and put it in my bathroom which is behind a locked door. I'll ask what I can keep where during the inspection and then move things back in accordingly afterward. I'm probably going overboard but oh well. FYI, the letter from the inspector says that we have to have a first aid kit which is not what they said at the orientation. I was planning to have one anyway but at the orientation they only said it was recommended.

I'll post after my inspection and let you know how it went. I was actually hoping you had already done your inspection so that I could ask you!

Regarding the timeline - if you just submitted your application it will take about 2 weeks to get the live scan (finger printing forms), once you submit those it takes about a month to get your inspection appointment which will be a couple weeks out. At least, that's how it went for me.

Hope this helps! BTW, I never got an email from you. If you'd still like to chat you can private message me on here (I just figured out how) or send me an email (kristin.brightbeginnings@gmail.com).

[Jenniferdawn]

That's weird. I emailed Monday at 11:07 my computer says. I'll try again.

[Jenniferdawn]

I just had another daycare worker in my area say she just uses hair rubber bands on the knobs on her cabinets to keep the kids out and they passed her!!! (Not the poisons, but the other things like soaps, etc.)

[mom2many]

I've had roughly 12 inspections, since I opened and each one is so different! Ca. is terrible with inconsistencies in regulations, so you just have to do the best you can and expect them to find something wrong!

I passed my first inspection 100% and everything was perfect. Then the next analyst came out 3 yrs later and wanted me to move my knives from my counter top to my drawer. Later another one wanted them on the counter. I could go on and on! :: What one sees as an issue, others do not. I have never had any injuries or problems with safety in my home and sometimes they seriously lack common sense!

Where are you located? In Santa Clara Co. I was recently written up for having the finger locks on my bathroom vanity. They'd ALWAYS been okay for 22 years and I had an unannounced visit in August 2009 and passed with everything 100% and then another analyst came out in January 2010 (just 5 mths later) and I was told ONLY "Tot Loks" were allowed to secure cabinets. I would have been totally okay with this changing, but the Analyst proceeded to write me up for everything I had stored in the previously approved "locked" cabinet. I also asked to see where this change was made and was told it was merely discussed in the new orientations. I filed an appeal, but it was denied. Kind of frustrating especially when the Analyst's Mgr admitted that within the state of CA each county cannot agree on how cabinets should be secured! Evidently some counties still allow the finger locks and since you called licensing yours must be one of them!

Good luck! Don't stress...the first inspection is more about making sure things are up to their standards.

[mom2many]

I just had another daycare worker in my area say she just uses hair rubber bands on the knobs on her cabinets to keep the kids out and they passed her!!! (Not the poisons, but the other things like soaps, etc.)

WOW!!!!!!!! That is crazy! That is all I had under my bathroom sink and I was written up for having "hazardous" items and they were secured with the finger locks.

[mom2many]

I think California is too lax on their inspections.......or maybe its just the inspectors themselves.

I had a gentleman do my initial inspection to get my license. He literally checked nothing. The only thing he checked was that I had a fire extinguisher, smoke alarms, and the deed to my house.

I kept having to ask him if certain things were ok. For example I keep my alchoholic beverages over the oven its way out of reach even for me, he said that was fine.
My husband keeps his vitamins and protein and pre workout mixes in a cabinet in the kitchen it has a magnetic lock, he said that was fine.
If the gate in the hallway was sufficient to keep the kids out of the back rooms.
In my kids bathroom I had shampoo, soap, conditioner in a rack hanging from the shower head and handsoap by the sink and he didnt make any comments on that at all.

The only thing he wanted me to change was in my backyard, he said he would like to see a cover over my BBQ!!! That was it!!

Now Im freaked out because if I get a different inspector, are they going to write me up for things that he didnt think was an issue but someone else will.

I did ask what most people did get violations for and he said - being over capacity, water hazards, and access to hazardous materials are what most daycares are written up for.

This is exactly how it is! I have always been very conscientious and detail oriented to make sure I followed all of the CA regulations, but what is okay and considered "inaccessible" to some is not with others! It is very hard to pass every inspection.

[Jenniferdawn]

I'm in Sacramento county. I guess it does make a difference which county your in as well as what inspector you get.

[daycare]

Even though you where told this I would not use them for something that has to be inaccessible to the children. They are on the list/picture of the orientation for California, for locking devices that are not to be used. Therefor, even if you pass with them you could get written up later.

Also, I did not pass my first inspection because my kitchen was "cluttered." (her word) I had baked the morning and the dishwasher was running and there was a 1/2 full , sink of dishes, and the plastic bottles we reuse where "thrown" (her words) on a self. So when she came back no dishes in sight and I had put the bottles in a box on the self in the same place looks the same to me but I passed.

My inspector told me that "they" except that when you know they are coming that the house be very clean because "they" assume that when "they" are not coming the house is messier. Nothing like thinking day care providers are honest people.

Ditto this... I was told finger locks where ok and then when they came out to inspect, I was told differently. You have to LOCK meaning a child cannot open in anyway things that are harmful....LIke I stated before anything that says "keep out of reach of children" labeled on it.... lock it up....

each inspector is different. The one that came out from the start said that I could have shampoo and stuff in my shower, as long as a child could not reach it, while other inspectors may so no you can't have it at all..

Bottom line is just plan as though you are going to have the "battle axe" of all inspectors and prepare for them. THen you will more than likely be ok..

[Unregistered]

First initial inspection Sacramento California

I have a question, I need to know if the inspectors check all rooms of the house, (Our bedrooms?) We have key locking doors on all bedrooms. Will they still check the rooms?
Also, Finger locks... Are they ok to use or not ok? I have everything with finger locks...
Any helpfull tips? Im soo nervous!.

Thanks

[Jenniferdawn]

Unregistered, what state are you in? I know each one has different regs, and even with in the state, it differs. Yes, they will check every room on the initial inspection to make sure you aren't hiding anything, but on future inspections (at least here) if the doors are locked when they come, they do not check them again. I have all my lower cabinets with finger locks, BUT I have no cleaners or poisons in them. My inspector was fine with the cleaners being in my top cabinet. Really hazardous ones are out in the garage behind a lock. I have my meds in a locked cabinet, but my inspector said as long as they are out of reach, they are fine. But I know other inspectors here that made the daycare lock up VANILLA because it has alcohol in it. The nice thing to know (again, in my case) the first inspection was easy. I had a few things I needed to fix (I had poisonous plants I didn't know about) but other than that, it was fine. I think the whole point of the initial inspection is to help you spot things you miss. As long as they see you've tried, you should be fine. I stressed WAy more than I needed to. I'm sure you are too.

[Meeko]

My state web site has the exact same checklist the licensor uses. I print it off and go over it myself. That way it's easy to be 100% compliant.

We are told at our training classes that the inspector can only use the checklist. He or she cannot decide whether or not they personally like or dislike something.

So even though I stress...I KNOW before the inspector gets here that I will pass. See if your state has a web site and the inspection checklists.

I know I sound like a broken record..sorry ladies but I hate to see providers get themselves so worried about inspections. You do a wonderful job!