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

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

p.1

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 inspection, there was one child in placement. The child moved into the home on the 09 May 2023.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The manager is suitably qualified and is registered with Ofsted.

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

requires improvement to be good

How well children and young people are helped and protected requires improvement to be good

p.1

requires improvement to be good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers requires improvement to be good

p.1

requires improvement to be good

The children’s home is not yet delivering good help and care for children and young people. However, there are no serious or widespread failures that result in their welfare not being safeguarded or promoted.

p.1

requires improvement to be good

Overall judgement at last inspection: inadequate

p.1

Enforcement action since last inspection:

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

p.1

Enforcement action since last inspection:

A further monitoring visit was undertaken on 6 March 2023. This was prompted by a serious incident in which a child was placed at risk of harm. A restriction notice was Inspection report for children’s home: 2591911 2 issued because shortfalls were identified in relation to children’s safety. This meant that no children could be admitted to the home.

p.1

Enforcement action since last inspection:

A third monitoring visit was undertaken on 20 April 2023 to assess the restriction notice and review the progress made by leaders and managers in addressing the concerns raised at the full inspection. The restriction notice was lifted at that monitoring visit. Inspection report for children’s home: 2591911 3

p.2

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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

p.3

improvement to be good

Staff support the child to share their views, wishes and feelings, but staff do not organise key-work sessions with the child proactively. Managers do not always reflect on the child’s wishes or put actions in place to address an identified need or request. This is a missed opportunity to engage the child in matters affecting their daily life.

p.4

improvement to be good

The child is not accessing a full-time education placement and interim education arrangements within the home are not yet provided. Staff have not made a connection between the child’s interests and how they could be incorporated into their daily learning. This does not support children with their educational progress.

p.4

improvement to be good

Extra-curricular activities are planned for the child by staff, considering the child’s interests. The child enjoys activities within the home. Weekly planners are completed, which helps children have a routine in place.

p.4

improvement to be good

The home is comfortable, warm and welcoming. The child has been involved in personalising their own bedroom. The child and staff are developing positive relationships.

p.4

improvement to be good

Risk assessment plans lack detail and guidance for staff to follow. Known risks are not considered or reflected in the plans and details about known triggers are limited. The child has shared information about how staff can best support them, but this has not been reflected in their plan. This means that the child is at increased risk of harm.

p.4

improvement to be good

The child’s missing-from-care protocol is detailed. This ensures that staff are clear about what action needs to be taken to protect the child. Individual risk assessments for free time are disproportionate and do not set out how progress can be made. This led to an incident occurring for the child, who had become frustrated about limits on free time in the community.

p.4

improvement to be good

Records are kept of medication stored in the home. However, the manager’s audits of medication failed to identify incorrect records of medication disposed of. Individual emotional and physical health needs of the child are not reflected within their healthcare plan. This impacts progress for the child’s health and well-being.

p.4

improvement to be good

Links between the home and external professionals, such as the police, are being developed. This encourages children to develop positive relationships with professionals outside of the home. Inspection report for children’s home: 2591911 5 When children are physically held by staff, records are good. This helps the child and staff understand what happened. Attempts to calm children when they are struggling with their emotions are made. This reduces the likelihood of physical intervention being required.

p.4

good

Managers do not consistently monitor and review the quality of care provided to children. Opportunities to learn from practice have been missed. Staff do not read updated risk assessments, and this is not challenged by managers. Staff have not accessed training that relates to the model of care used in the home. Staff do not have all the necessary skills to support children’s individual and complex needs.

p.5

good

Staff receive regular supervision meetings with their manager, but these are not reflective or structured. Again, opportunities for staff to learn from their practice are limited, which affects the quality of care provided to children. Managers have developed a more robust supervision agenda, but this is not yet embedded.

p.5

good

Managers have not notified Ofsted of a revised statement of purpose, despite a number of changes to this. This does not allow Ofsted to properly regulate the home.

p.5

good

Team meetings have a clear agenda and managers discuss children’s individual needs and support for staff. Since the last monitoring visit, team days have been developed, which include learning from previous experiences. This helps staff understand how what they learn can be applied to practice. Staff have found this informative.

p.5

good

Staff feel supported by managers. One staff member said: ‘Support from [staff name] is great and they show me everything I need.’ Staff speak positively about managers involving the team within care planning; one staff member commented: ‘This has been a massive improvement.’ Inspection report for children’s home: 2591911 6

p.5

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 within the given timescales.

p.6

Requirement Due date

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

p.6

Requirement Due date

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

p.6

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;

p.6

Requirement Due date

help each child to understand how to keep safe;

p.6

Requirement Due date

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

p.6

Requirement Due date

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

p.6

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)(b))

p.6

Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to managers ensuring that staff understand potential risks posed to children and how to keep them safe through detailed risk assessments. It also relates to managers having adequate oversight of incidents to ensure that lessons are learned. 14 July 2023

p.6

Requirement Due date

The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that—

p.6

Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and 14 July 2023 Inspection report for children’s home: 2591911 7 promotes their welfare.

p.6

Requirement Due date

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

p.7

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;

p.7

Requirement Due date

ensure that staff work as a team where appropriate;

p.7

Requirement Due date

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

p.7

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;

p.7

Requirement Due date

demonstrate that practice in the home is informed and improved by taking into account and acting on—

p.7

Requirement Due date

research and developments in relation to the ways in which the needs of children are best met; and

p.7

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)(f)(g)(i)(h))

p.7

Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to managers using monitoring systems in the home to improve the quality of care provided, including establishing children’s views about their care. This also relates to staff receiving training in line with children’s needs.

p.7

Requirement Due date

The education standard is that children make measurable progress towards achieving their educational potential and are helped to do so.

p.7

Requirement Due date

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

p.7

Requirement Due date

support each child’s learning and development, including helping the child to develop independent study skills and, 14 July 2023 Inspection report for children’s home: 2591911 8 where appropriate, helping the child to complete independent study;

p.7

Requirement Due date

understand the barriers to learning that each child may face and take appropriate action to help the child to overcome any such barriers;

p.8

Requirement Due date

help each child to understand the importance and value of education, learning, training and employment;

p.8

Requirement Due date

promote opportunities for each child to learn informally;

p.8

Requirement Due date

help a child who is excluded from school, or who is of compulsory school age but not attending school, to access educational and training support throughout the period of exclusion or non-attendance and to return to school as soon as possible;

p.8

Requirement Due date

that each child has access to appropriate equipment, facilities and resources to support the child’s learning. (Regulation 8 (1) (2)(a)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(viii)(b))

p.8

Requirement Due date

This specifically refers to staff supporting children with their education within and outside of the home, taking into account children’s interests and educational needs.

p.8

Requirement Due date

The positive relationships standard is that children are helped to develop, and to benefit from, relationships based on—

p.8

Requirement Due date

positive responses to other children and adults.

p.8

Requirement Due date

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

p.8

Requirement Due date

are provided with supervision and support to enable them to understand and manage their own feelings and responses to the behaviour and emotions of children, and to help children to do the same. (Regulation 11 (1)(a)(c) (2)(a)(x))

p.8

Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to staff being supported with effective supervision that enables them to reflect on their practice in order to develop it and therefore, improve the care provided to children. 14 July 2023 Inspection report for children’s home: 2591911 9 The registered person must—

p.8

Requirement Due date

notify HMCI of any revisions and send HMCI a copy of the revised statement within 28 days of the revision. (Regulation 16 (3)(b)) 14 July 2023

p.9

Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that records are kept of the administration and disposal of all medication. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 35, paragraph 7.15)

p.9

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 for children’s home: 2591911 10

p.9

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Sunlight Children’s Care Limited

p.10

Children’s home details

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

p.10

Inspector

Kathryn Hurley, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2591911 11 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.

p.10

Inspector

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.11

Inspector

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.11

Inspector

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.11