Children's Home run by Sunlight Children’s Care Limited in Derby

Inspection report children's home: 2591911 1 Registered provider: Sunlight Children’s Care Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is privately owned. It provides care for up to two children with emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager was registered in October 2021.

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Information about this children’s home

Due to COVID-19, at the request of the Secretary of State, we suspended all routine inspections of social care providers carried out under the social care common inspection framework (SCCIF) on 17 March 2020. We returned to routine SCCIF inspections on 12 April 2021.

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Information about this children’s home

We last visited this setting on 21 October 2020 to carry out an assurance visit. The report is published on the Ofsted website.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

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good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

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good

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

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good

Date of last inspection: not previously inspected

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: not applicable Inspection report children's home: 2591911 2

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Recent inspection history

Not previously inspected Inspection report children's home: 2591911 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home was registered with Ofsted in June 2020. An assurance visit was carried out in October 2020 and identified serious concerns about the care of children. Following this visit, there was a period where there were no children living at the home. This allowed time for the provider to address the concerns identified from the assurance visit. This is the first full inspection since the assurance visit. Leaders and managers have re-established a safe and nurturing home for children.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

There are two children living at the home. They were welcomed with great care by the manager and staff. The manager and staff spend time getting to know each child, listening to them, and acting on their wishes and feelings where possible. This enables children to take part in their care planning and be actively involved in the day-to-day running of their home. As a result, children feel valued, settle into the home quickly and start making progress. Children soon develop positive relationships with the staff. Their caring and nurturing approach helps children to build trust. Children are praised for their achievements, and over time, children grow in confidence.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have established some aspects of their daily routine. However, they are not yet taking part in a range of activities to fully develop their social skills and self- esteem. Activities are suggested and planned, but staff have not yet identified effective strategies to engage children.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The manager and staff build good relationships with families. They ensure that children see their families at the home and in other suitable locations. Staff support family time well. This enables children to maintain important attachments and links with people who are important to them. One parent said: ‘The manager communicates well about arrangements and she is fantastic.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The manager works tirelessly to obtain the most appropriate education provision for children. When there are barriers, the manager is solution-focused. For example, there was a significant delay in accessing a suitable provision for one child who had not been in education for some time. The manager attended every required meeting and advocated on the child’s behalf until an education placement was identified. The child is now attending education and developing new skills. The manager’s work regarding this child has been commended by the other involved professionals.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are in good health. Staff support children to attend routine medical appointments. The manager ensures that children’s health needs are regularly reviewed to ensure that children have appropriate medication. Children are encouraged to eat a healthy, nutritious diet. However, this is not yet established for both children. The manager is considering new and creative ways of helping children to eat a wider range of healthy foods. Inspection report children's home: 2591911 4

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

The manager and staff have a good understanding of the risks posed to and by children. Thorough information is gathered about known or potential risks before children move in. This enables the manager to complete relevant, individualised risk assessments and behaviour management plans. When new risks emerge; assessments are updated in a timely way. This ensures that staff can maintain the safety of children.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Children are rarely missing from home. When this happens, the manager and staff work effectively with family and safeguarding agencies to return children safely. This prevents children from coming to harm through exploitation and criminal activity.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

The staff manage children’s behaviour well. They understand children’s plans and implement these consistently to achieve improved behaviour. Children use key-work sessions to identify and explore their feelings and behaviours. This helps them, and staff, to understand the best strategies to prevent situations from becoming overwhelming. As a result, there are very few incidents of concern at the home. It is settled and calm.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Staff and managers ensure that children are safe online. They undertake regular phone checks and monitor children’s internet use. Consequently, concerns are identified and addressed quickly. Staff undertake direct work with the children. This relates to various forms of exploitation, so that children are alerted to risks and know what they can do to keep themselves safe.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Staff recruitment is carried out in accordance with safer recruitment protocols. This means that all staff are subject to rigorous vetting processes. This prevents unsuitable adults from caring for the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has been in post since April 2021. In a short space of time, she has made significant improvements to the home. The manager has shown commendable levels of energy and commitment to establishing good standards of care for children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has recruited and retained a committed staff team. Some staff are new to caring for children. The manager ensures that staff receive the training and professional supervision required. She offers clear direction where necessary. Staff say they enjoy working at the home, and the manager instils confidence in them.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Inter-agency working is a real strength. The manager has led the way in establishing positive relationships with involved agencies. The manager challenges other services when their responses fall below expectation. Professionals say that they are impressed with the manager and that she is proactive in ensuring that children’s plans progress in a timely way. Inspection report children's home: 2591911 5 Leaders and managers have close oversight of the home. They know the strengths and weaknesses of the home. The manager has high standards and expects the same from her staff. She is alert to identifying shortfalls and takes swift action to put things right. The manager has good support from senior managers, which helps her to monitor the quality of care provided.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Children are central to the care and support they receive. Staff and managers regularly seek their views, wishes and feelings about all aspects of their care. Managers encourage children to read and contribute to their records. As a result, children have respect for and trust in the manager’s decisions. Inspection report children's home: 2591911 6

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that staff seek to identify and provide appropriate opportunities for children to develop themselves in accordance with their wishes and feelings and as part of the home’s plan for their care. Each child’s talents and interests should be understood and nurtured, with children selecting activities based on their personal preferences and abilities, so far as is reasonable. Staff should also support children to try activities that are ‘new’ for them, where appropriate. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 31, paragraph 6.4)  The registered person should ensure that, in line with their individual health plans and the ethos of the home, children are offered advice, support and guidance on health and well-being to enhance, and supplement that provided by their school through Personal, Social and Health Education (PSHE). Staff should have the

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Recommendations

relevant skills and knowledge to be able to help children understand, and where necessary work to change negative behaviours in key areas of health and well- being such as, but not limited to, nutrition and healthy diet, exercise, mental health, sexual relationships, sexual health, contraception and use of legal highs, drugs, alcohol and tobacco. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 35, paragraph 7.18)

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people, using the ‘Social care common inspection framework’. This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000 to assess the effectiveness of the service, how it meets the core functions of the service as set out in legislation, and to consider how well it complies with the Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and the ‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’. Inspection report children's home: 2591911 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Sunlight Children’s Care Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 73 Francis Road, Birmingham B16 8SP

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Inspector

Laura Walker, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children's home: 2591911 8 to achieve excellence in the care of children and young people, and in education and skills for learners of all ages. It regulates and inspects childcare and children’s social care, and inspects the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, further education and skills, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It assesses council children’s services, and inspects services for children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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