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

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2591911 1 Registered provider: Sunlight Children’s Care Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This privately owned children’s home provides care for up to two children with social and emotional difficulties. At the time of this visit, there were no children in placement.

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This monitoring visit

This children’s home was judged as inadequate at the full inspection on the 4 and 5 January 2023. Compliance notices were set because of shortfalls identified at this full inspection. A monitoring visit was undertaken on 20 February 2023, and both compliance notices were judged to be met.

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This monitoring visit

A further monitoring visit was undertaken on 6 March 2023. This was prompted by a serious incident where a child was placed at risk of harm. A restriction notice was issued because shortfalls were identified in relation to children’s safety. This has meant that no children could be admitted to the home. The service is not currently operating and is complying with the restriction notice.

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This monitoring visit

This third monitoring visit is to assess the restriction notice. It is also to review the progress made by leaders and managers in addressing the concerns raised at the full inspection.

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This monitoring visit

Managers have developed an action plan. This outlines the steps taken to address the requirements made at the full inspection. Progress includes the team meeting agenda, which now includes a ‘lessons learned’ agenda item. This enables staff to reflect on their practice and improve the care they provide to children. Some extra training for staff has been delivered, including training on reporting and recording. However, this is work in progress, and staff need more training to make sure they can meet all children’s needs. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2591911 2 Leaders and managers have improved their monitoring of the home, which now includes oversight of significant incidents and critical reflection. However, this new practice is not yet fully embedded.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers are keen for staff to reflect on their practice and learn from incidents. This helps staff to develop skills and knowledge to keep children safe.

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This monitoring visit

Before the most recent child’s placement ended, the child was being cared for by staff at another address away from the home. The risk assessment process did not fully consider all aspects of the child’s safety. For example, staff did not fully consider how to minimise the risk of the child going missing from care.

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This monitoring visit

One recommendation that was raised at the last full inspection was outside the scope of this visit and was not reviewed. This recommendation has been restated and will be reviewed at the next inspection.

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This monitoring visit

Following the full inspection in January 2023, the organisation has taken Ofsted’s concerns seriously. Some progress has been made to rectify areas of concern, and this work is ongoing. The restriction of accommodation notice will be lifted following this monitoring visit. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2591911 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

04/01/2023 Full Inadequate 11/01/2022 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2591911 4

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person(s) must take to meet the Care Standards Act 2000, Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and the ‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’. The registered person(s) must comply with the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

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Requirement Due date

assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child’s relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand how to keep safe;

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Requirement Due date

have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm;

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Requirement Due date

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person;

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Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare; and

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Requirement Due date

are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies;

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Requirement Due date

that the home’s day-to-day care is arranged and delivered so as to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(v)(vi)(vii)(b))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to managers ensuring that staff understand the child’s risks and how to keep them safe. It also relates to managers having adequate oversight of incidents to ensure that lessons are learned. 1 June 2023 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2591911 5 The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that—

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Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

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Requirement Due date

lead and manage the home in a way that is consistent with the approach and ethos, and delivers the outcomes, set out in the home’s statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff work as a team where appropriate;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the home’s workforce provides continuity of care to each child;

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Requirement Due date

understand the impact that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each child and use this understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided in the home;

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Requirement Due date

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(b)(c)(e)(f)(h))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to managers using monitoring systems in the home to improve the quality of care provided, and staff receiving training in line with the needs of the children. 1 June 2023

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that the language used by staff members when talking about children is respectful and positive. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 38, paragraph 8.6) Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2591911 6

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Information about this inspection

The purpose of this visit was to monitor the action taken and the progress made by the children’s home since its last Ofsted inspection.

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Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 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, Edgbaston, Birmingham B16 8SP

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Inspector

Kathryn Hurley, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2591911 8 regulates and inspects 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 looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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