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

Inspection report for children’s home: 2762776 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

This home is privately owned and provides care for one child with social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in November 2023.

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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

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2762776 2

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

At the time of this inspection, one child was living at the home. The child has made progress from their initial starting point. Over a short period of time, the child’s health and education outcomes have improved, and risk-taking behaviours have decreased.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Although progress is steady, and in line with competing emotional difficulties, the child is engaging with their education plan. Managers are working collaboratively with the headteacher of the virtual school to monitor progress and look towards finding an appropriate school place.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff use positive reinforcement strategies. These are generally effective and encourage engagement in activities that are beneficial to the child’s health and well- being. For example, as an incentive, the staff are planning to take the child to see their favourite singer at a concert.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

There are varied opportunities to enable the child to share their views, wishes and feelings. Staff act following communication with the child. Regular opportunities to share views include weekly meetings with staff, monthly key-worker sessions and an independent advocate.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff encourage the child to become part of the community. This is after a period of restriction of the child’s liberty. Staff are aware of the impact of social anxiety for children when they are given more freedom. Consequently, small incremental steps are taken. With this careful and caring method of social integration, staff maintain optimism that the child will expand their community participation, for instance joining the local gym.

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

Risks for the child have reduced. Incidents of self-harmful behaviours have stopped. There have been no incidents of the child going missing from the home. However, they have used a vape. Although the staff discourage this, this has impacted on the overall plans for a healthier lifestyle for the child.

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

Staff have access to detailed care and placement plans. These are clear in identifying children’s immediate and long-term goals. Detailed risk assessments guide staff to understand the current vulnerabilities, and measures to monitor and reduce risks.

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

Managers work together with the children’s social workers to ensure that there is a coordinated plan for family time. This has meant that for this child, time with family has become more positive, and successful. Inspection report for children’s home: 2762776 3 Staff use key-worker conversations to good effect. These take place at regular intervals. Important conversations include keeping safe online, knowing what to do if there is a fire alarm and how to stop using a vape.

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

Managers have ensured that staff have safer recruitment checks. This process is effective. This means that only adults who are safe to care for vulnerable children can work at this home.

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

Staff have received training in safeguarding children. They are confident of their safeguarding responsibilities, and how to report concerns to a manager.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Managers are enthusiastic and have an ambitious vision for the home. They lead a motivated team of staff, many of whom are well established. Managers acknowledge and recognise areas for ongoing improvement.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff are sometimes used from another of the provider’s homes, and also from an agency. However, managers try to ensure that any irregular staff are known to the children and impact is minimal. The child has their views on this, and managers make every effort to minimise any impact.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff said that they are well supported by managers. Formal supervision sessions take place monthly and provide an opportunity for managers to check staff performance, and to offer support to staff. Managers know the importance of good- quality support to ensure that they retain their staff.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff can access a wide range of training courses. Learning and development begin at staff induction. After induction, staff continue with their learning with a blended approach of online and face-to-face training courses.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers have developed an effective process to maintain oversight of all aspects of the children’s care. They have ensured that a system is in place for staff to record children’s progress and development. This means that there are records to evidence conversations with children, meetings with staff and general oversight of the home. Inspection report for children’s home: 2762776 4

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that each child’s day-to-day health and well- being needs are met. Staff should work to make the children’s home an environment that supports children’s physical, mental and emotional health, in line with the approach set out in the statement of purpose. (‘Guide to Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 33, paragraph 7.3)

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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 for children’s home: 2762776 5

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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

Simon Hunter, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2762776 6 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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