Licensing visit when children are NOT present???

[Blackcat31]

I don't live in my daycare house so if I was closed, I simply wouldnt be here.

[NillaWafers]

May I ask where you read this? In over 30 years I have never heard anyone else state this or read it.

I've discussed my frequent outings with different analysts and not one has said anything about informing them. In fact, I asked my last analyst about this 3 years ago and at that time he told me that he would leave his card on the door and return on a later date.

There is nothing in the regulations about this, I've read them like 10x!!

[Heidi]

Same thing in WI - we're required to let our licensor know when we're closed. If I ended up having an unexpected day without children I'd probably email her just to be safe.

Yep!

And if they come and you say "I don't have kids", they have every right to check (during licensed hours). "I don't have kids" could very well mean that "I have am over my ratios and therefore all the children are hiding in closets".

It's been done!

[Blackcat31]

Yep!

And if they come and you say "I don't have kids", they have every right to check (during licensed hours). "I don't have kids" could very well mean that "I have am over my ratios and therefore all the children are hiding in closets".

It's been done!

We had a newish provider here that got a surprise visit and was found to have several more children in care than she was allowed. They (licensing) told her to have the parents all come pick up and they (licensing) would be back later in the day.

Amazingly when they came back, she was within ratios so it was all good.....until they decided to stop back a 3rd time. They counted almost 2 dozen kids there.... She was licensed for 10.

Her child care career was very short lived.

[Heidi]

We had a newish provider here that got a surprise visit and was found to have several more children in care than she was allowed. They (licensing) told her to have the parents all come pick up and they (licensing) would be back later in the day.

Amazingly when they came back, she was within ratios so it was all good.....until they decided to stop back a 3rd time. They counted almost 2 dozen kids there.... She was licensed for 10.

Her child care career was very short lived.

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[Meeko]

Utah licensing can only inspect our homes if daycare children are present.

[Controlled Chaos]

Utah licensing can only inspect our homes if daycare children are present.

[Lovisa]

Update!

I spoke with my analyst. She was appreciative that I told her when my upcoming vacation was, but said that I don't need to let her know when I have a day or two a week without kiddos here through the summer. It isn't even mandatory to let her know when I will be gone for a few days, but it is nice to let her know so she doesn't make a trip here for nothing. She said if she shows up and I have no kids here, she will still do the inspection, and will still note stuff down (toothpaste left out, etc.), but will note that no daycare kids were present. Basically, during business hours, even with no kids here (aside from my own), I still have to be daycare ready, but little things here and there aren't going to be a big deal like they would be if kiddos WERE here.

[Heidi]

Update!

I spoke with my analyst. She was appreciative that I told her when my upcoming vacation was, but said that I don't need to let her know when I have a day or two a week without kiddos here through the summer. It isn't even mandatory to let her know when I will be gone for a few days, but it is nice to let her know so she doesn't make a trip here for nothing. She said if she shows up and I have no kids here, she will still do the inspection, and will still note stuff down (toothpaste left out, etc.), but will note that no daycare kids were present. Basically, during business hours, even with no kids here (aside from my own), I still have to be daycare ready, but little things here and there aren't going to be a big deal like they would be if kiddos WERE here.

I would recommend that unless she emailed you this information (and therefore you have it in writing), you act with caution. Meaning, don't go by what she said. Go by what's written in the regs. During licensed hours, follow licensing rules, children present or not; unless you've notified her (in writing via email) that you are closed for a day. You absolutely need a "paper trail".

Protect you business, protect yourself.

[Lovisa]

I would recommend that unless she emailed you this information (and therefore you have it in writing), you act with caution. Meaning, don't go by what she said. Go by what's written in the regs. During licensed hours, follow licensing rules, children present or not; unless you've notified her (in writing via email) that you are closed for a day. You absolutely need a "paper trail".

Protect you business, protect yourself.

I couldn't find anything in the regs about visits while no children are present aside from:

(5) An unannounced site visit shall adhere to both of the following conditions:

(A) Visits shall take place only during normal business hours or at any time family child care services are being provided.

So obviously she can come even if kids aren't here, but I am not going to overly stress about the small stuff when I'm not even working. That just seems ridiculous to me . If I get "in trouble" for toothpaste being left on the counter when I'm not even caring for kids, I'm ok with that I guess. It wouldn't exactly be a "vacation" if I still stressed about every little thing! It is my home after all!

I will tell her about vacations when I won't be home simply because it is the polite thing to do.

[Unregistered]

I was told in a class that when you have verbal conversation with your licensor you should recap it in an email to them, ending with "if anything written here is incorrect please let me know by return email."
This leaves the ball in their court to correct any misunderstandings.
I think this was a Tom Copeland training.

[Lovisa]

I was told in a class that when you have verbal conversation with your licensor you should recap it in an email to them, ending with "if anything written here is incorrect please let me know by return email."
This leaves the ball in their court to correct any misunderstandings.
I think this was a Tom Copeland training.

Fantastic idea!

[Crystal]

In Calif we are required to advise licensing whenever we are not open, i.e. vacation, extra holiday, etc. So depending on the analyst they might make that an issue if they were to arrive and you where not working or where not even there.

This is not accurate. For the food program, yes you do. For CCLD, no you do not.

[AmyLeigh]

I've had licensing stop by for an inspection, oh at least 3 times when I either had no kids in care or was closed. I only have 2 dc kiddos right now, so if they aren't here, I'm closed! The analysts just said, "Okay I'll try back another time". They never even crossed the threshold of my front door. No problemo.

[grandmom]

It's good to know what your state requires. If I have no kids, and I let them in, they go forward as if I have kids. So if it's my day off and I let them in, but have toothpaste out, they can cite me for a violation. Know what your state's regs are.