Gulf Coast Trades Center

A staff member brought a handgun on campus.

A child in care was able to access an unsecured weapon without staff's knowledge.

The allegations are related to a DFPS abuse/neglect investigation.

One employee was observed to be delinquent in completing two annual trainings.

Caregiver was not awake during sleeping hours.

Investigators reported being recorded while interviewing children and staff at the facility.

The allegations are related to a DFPS abuse/neglect investigation.

A staff member reported that a previous staff member forced children to drink water out of the bathroom faucet and shower.

One of the four employee files reviewed was observed to not have drug test results. This employee was on shift as recent at 02/22/24 supervising children in care.

Children in care reported not being allowed to call complaints into the ombudsman office without first contacting administrative staff.

Family visits at the operation were suspended due to suspected illegal substances being brought in during the visits.

Several residents were found in possession of vapes at the facility. Search was not conducted thoroughly allowing vapes to be passed and used among residents on campus.

A staff member flipped the residents' bed and took their personal belongings out of anger.

A resident was seen on camera footage breaking into multiple vehicles without staff presence or knowledge.

A staff member forced a child to do sit-up and plank for breaking into his mother's vehicle.

A serious incident report did not contain all required information.

A child did not receive medical attention until days later following an incident which resulted in an injury.

Staff did not intervene immediately while the children in care were horseplaying inappropriately, causing one child to become uncomfortable.

Condition #1-Not Met-Most recent employers were not contacted for two newly hired employees. Condition #2 Condition #3 Condition #4 Condition #5 Condition #6

Condition #1 Condition #2 Condition #3 Condition #4-Not Met. Not Met-There is no documentation indicating whether staff are meeting Minimum Standards in subchapters discussed and fulfilling job duties on the observation form created by the LCCA. There are also no signatures to show who conducted the observations or the minimum standards trainings. Condition #5 Condition #6-Not Met. There is no documentation showing that staff acknowledged in writing that they received information following the monthly probation meeting between LCCA and Program Director.

Condition #1 Condition #2 Condition #3 Condition #4-Not Met. As of 10/09/24 there are 20 out of 85 staff members who have not taken the training. Condition #5-Not Met. There is no documented plan to complete health and safety checks related to emergency drills, fire safety, and first aid kits showing how often inspections, evacuations/relocation plans must occur, or what each first aid kit must contain. There's also no documentation for specific dates of emergency drills, fire extinguisher inspections or first aid kits for the next twelve months Condition #6

There are only two fire drills documented for the year; July 5, 2024 and August 29, 2024. The log indicates that drills were also conducted in January, February, March, and July, but they are not documented.

On 10/04/24, a child in care expressed suicidal ideations to staff and three minutes later was observed by staff with a belt tied around his neck. This incident was not reported to Licensing until 10/08/2024.

A child who attempted suicide was not closely supervised before a suicide assessment was completed.

Records reviewed show a suicide screening was not completed timely for a youth in care.

A suicide screening completed on a youth in care after a suicide attempt required supervision check-ins every 10 minutes, however per documentation received, checked ins were not done as required.

An incident involving a child stabbing another child in care was not reported to Licensing.

The airbag maintenance light was on for one van.

5 staff files did not have complete pre-employment assessments.

A practice severe weather drill was due by 4/13/24.

Each operating dorm (5) and two vans were missing items in their first aid kits, including: antiseptic solution or wipes; or (2) Adhesive tape; or (5) Scissors; or (7) Thermometer; or (8) Tweezers.

A child's right to be free of neglectful supervision was not upheld when children in care were able to access and obtain vape pens from staff's personal belongings, kept in the dorm's office. This standard was found deficient as part of a DFPS Investigation.

Children in care were left unsupervised, leading to them obtaining and using a vape pen found in staff's personal belongings.

An incident report was not written when the Medical Director notified staff of a child cheeking his medication.

One service plan did not include the child's signature.

A drug test was not given to a staff who was suspended from duties for having a vape pen in the dorm area.

Children were able to use vape pens taken from staff's personal belongings inside the dorm area.

Caregivers stated they have not had any random drug tests.

One service plan did not have a signature from the PLSP.

Staff did not follow the operation's policy when they brought vape pens into the dorm area, where children were present.

Staff were informed of possible abuse and/or neglect 3 days prior to making a report to the Child Abuse Hotline.

Several children confirmed a staff provided their personal phone for residents to use for communication.

Several children confirmed staff provided them with a vape pin.

A child's right to be free of physical abuse was not upheld when a caregiver provided vape pens to children in care. This standard was found deficient as part of a DFPS Investigation.

A caregiver failed to adhere to the child's rights to be free of abuse, neglect, and exploitation as defined in Texas Family Code 261.401.A staff member was found having inappropriate sexual contact and relationship with a 17-year-old child in care.

In 1 out of 5 files there was no documentation for a caregiver having a HS diploma or GED from a program recognized by TEA, TPSAC, other state or equivalency from home schooling.

5 out of 5 files reviewed did not contain an evaluation tool to determine if the person obtained the necessary information to meet the objectives of the training.

It was found in 5 out of 5 staff files reviewed that staff was not also trained with a health care professional or pharmacist .

In 5 out of 5 files reviewed there is no specific stated learning objectives available for review.

In 5 out of 5 files reviewed the orientation is being combined with pre-service training.

In 5 out of 5 files reviewed there is no demonstration in writing or documentation of physical technique demonstration the participant is allowed to use 748.869(d)(3)(B) to ensure the individual has mastered the material.

In 5 out of 5 files reviewed the orientation completion is not documented in the file and also does not include any information regarding components covered during orientation.

It was found in 5 out of 5 personnel files reviewed no uniformity and mising training certificates.

During the inspection, it was observed in the cafeteria (kitchen area) that the fire extinguisher was out of compliance with the monthly inspection. The last inspection was April 2023.

It was found that the last time the operation had a compliant gas inspection was in 2020.

A child in care was not properly supervised by staff as a resulted cutting his wrist causing the child to need 9 staples.

A caregiver failed to adhere to the child's rights to be free of abuse, neglect, and exploitation as defined in Texas Family Code 261.401.A staff member was found having inappropriate communication and sexual contact with a 17-year-old child in care.

A Serious Incident Report was observed with the resident's names blacked out, with no knowledge of which residents or staff were involved in the incident.

The operation has not documented that a severe weather drill has been conducted since 11/28/21.

Two Couch Counselors have been on shift four times in the past 2 weeks, while background checks are still pending.

Bagged spinach and shredded carrots used to make salad was observed expired.

The Administrator is not documenting if, how or when follow ups are being addressed after assessing documented incidents. A child with four documented incident reports for January 2022, where he exhibited high-risk behaviors was not placed on close observation or a safety plan to ensure the safety of the other children in care. The assessed incident reports are also not being signed after review of the Administrator.

On 2/17/22 it was discovered that a child in care was injured by another child on 2/10/22 and required medical attention. This incident was not reported to Licensing.

A child sustained an injury and was not taken to see a medical professional for 6 days.

A child was treated at the Emergency Room on 1/24/22 but not reported to Licensing until 1/26/22.

A staff member failed to comply with operation's policies related to maintaining appropriate boundaries with children in care.

A staff member failed to utilize prudent judgement and maintain self-control when she wrote a sexually explicit letter to a child in care.

A staff wrote and sent a letter to a child in care, encouraging future sexual contact with him.

The vehicle used to transport children has an active alert to check the tire pressure.

A new employee did not have a completed drug test within the past year.

The LCCA does not have a Background Check on file for the operation.

The LCCA has not completed an Orientation at the operation.

LCCA is listed under two operations; one operation is on Probation, the other operation is in Application status.

A Group Worker has not completed the annual TIC class.

A Group Worker has an affidavit on file but it was not signed/notarized.

A serious incident was reported to Licensing but not documented at the operation.

There was a hole in the floor in a bedroom in Dorm 5B.

Recreational calendar does not list the activities, indoors or outdoors, that the residents have the opportunity to participate in.

Condition 1: Compliant; Condition 2: Compliant; Condition 3: Completed; Condition 4: Compliant; Condition 5: Compliant; Condition 6: Not Compliant, the weekly Dorm inspection logs were not documented for the week of 9/5/21 and 9/12/21; Condition 7: Completed

The evacuation diagram does not include (1) an actual floor plan of the dorm or (4) the designated area inside the dorm to take shelter for severe weather threats.

Condition 1: Compliant- TA given based on task being completed by staff designated by the operation, not the LCCA/Designee. Condition 2: Compliant Condition 3: Compliant Condition 4: Not Compliant The task was being conducted on a monthly basis, not weekly. Condition 5: Not Due Condition 6: Compliant Condition 7: Compliant

There are several rights missing from the Child's Rights provided to children at Orientation.

Severe weather drills were not documented as per standard.

Fire drill evacuation times were not being timed properly.

Background check have not been validated since January 2021.