Sunbeam Fostering East Midlands

Inspection report for independent fostering agency: Sunbeam Fostering East Midlands 1 Sunbeam Fostering East Midlands Sunbeam Fostering Agency Limited Melrose House, 9 Waverley Street, Nottingham NG7 4HF Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this independent fostering agency

Sunbeam Fostering is a privately owned independent fostering agency, one of three fostering agencies operated by this organisation. The agency provides a range of foster placements, including emergency, short-term, bridging, respite, long- term and parent and child placements. The agency also offers placements for unaccompanied children from outside the UK.

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Information about this independent fostering agency

At the time of this inspection, there were 83 children placed in 55 fostering households.

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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 independent fostering agency 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 for independent fostering agency: Sunbeam Fostering East Midlands 2

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are at the centre of practice. They are receiving good care from experienced and skilled foster carers. The dedication and compassion shown by foster carers enable children to build trusted relationships. Foster carers embrace children as part of the family and relationships continue after children have left their care.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Foster carers enable children to be themselves and flourish. Staff and foster carers take pride in children’s achievements. For example, every child in the agency was presented with an award from the local mayor for their individual achievements. This helps children to feel valued and raises their confidence and self-esteem.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff and foster carers have high aspirations for children. Children can call on the expertise of the ‘young people’s champion’ who is a care-experienced young entrepreneur who mentors and advocates for children with the agency. This inspires children to have ambition and hope for the future and supports them in achieving their goals. Several children are being supported to attend university. This is commendable.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s health needs are well managed by foster carers. Staff and carers are strong advocates for children, ensuring health assessments are carried out and diagnoses made. This ensures children’s overall health improves. For example, foster carers have supported a child who has a health condition resulting in stomach pain. This is being successfully managed through their diet, leading to a reduction in symptoms and enabling them to enjoy a more comfortable and active life.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff and foster carers work hard to meet the diverse cultural needs and rights of children in their care. Foster carers help children to learn English. Children are supported to follow their chosen religion and important customs such as praying, fasting and eating their preferred foods. The children’s guide has been thoughtfully produced in nine different languages, ensuring children can access key information about their care and feel welcomed and reassured.

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

The manager has effective safeguarding systems in place, such as fortnightly managers meetings to discuss the risks to children. Safeguarding incidents and concerns are also discussed in team meetings and supervisions, giving staff an opportunity to reflect and develop. The agency’s annual safeguarding week provides staff and foster carers with relevant training in important topics such as online safety, children going missing and child sexual exploitation. Inspection report for independent fostering agency: Sunbeam Fostering East Midlands 3 The managers and staff know children well and have meaningful relationships with them. Children are routinely seen by supervising social workers and their views are regularly sought. When there has been an incident or an important issue to discuss, additional visits are made to children. This provides children with an opportunity to share their worries or concerns.

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

Children’s risks and vulnerabilities are well understood by foster carers and staff. Risk management plans and safer care plans give guidance to foster carers on how to respond. These are reviewed and updated regularly.

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

Staff and carers respond well when children go missing from home. All efforts are made to find children and stay in touch with them. Appropriate agencies are consulted, such as the police and social workers. Return interviews are requested and supervising social workers visit children to check on their safety and well-being. Foster carers and staff try to understand what is going on for the child, ensuring they receive the right support and preventing further incidents.

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

The agency has notified relevant agencies about serious incidents involving children. Some of these were allegations against carers. None from this inspection period were substantiated, and some are still being investigated. Allegations have been managed and investigated appropriately and taken to early review and panel where necessary.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager is highly dedicated and invested in children’s care and experiences. Leaders and managers have high expectations for what children can achieve.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff love working at the agency and have supportive relationships with each other. Staff feel supported by the manager and value her leadership. Supervising social workers feel well trained and equipped to do their role. They benefit from regular supervision which includes discussions about the care of children, safeguarding and their own development.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has systems in place to monitor the care of children. Monthly audits and checks are undertaken. The manager knows the strengths and weaknesses of the service. Where gaps are identified, the manager is proactive in addressing these, such as following the escalation process to receive relevant local authority documents. However, there has been a shortfall in the oversight and monitoring of physical interventions. New processes and systems, along with additional training are being implemented but this will take time to be embedded in practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Foster carers feel well supported in meeting children’s needs. The manager is proactive in requesting stability meetings when children and carers are struggling. The agency’s therapeutic family practitioner supports carers and staff with consultations and trauma-informed training. This pre-emptive and supportive approach helps to increase placement stability. Inspection report for independent fostering agency: Sunbeam Fostering East Midlands 4 There are effective recruitment strategies in place to ensure the quality of applicants. The panel functions well and applies proportionate scrutiny before reaching its recommendations. Assessments are of good quality and carers report feeling welcomed and supported. One carer said, ‘Overall, I would describe the assessment and induction process as both rigorous and nurturing, exactly the balance needed in preparing someone for the important responsibility of fostering.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Inspection report for independent fostering agency: Sunbeam Fostering East Midlands 5

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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, Fostering Services (England) Regulations 2011 and the national minimum standards. The registered person(s) must comply within the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must maintain a system for—

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Requirement Due date

monitoring the matters set out in Schedule 6 at appropriate intervals, and

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Requirement Due date

improving the quality of foster care provided by the fostering agency. (Regulation 35 (1)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the manager having an effective system in place to identify, monitor and review physical interventions. 30 August 2025

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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 Fostering Services (England) Regulations 2011 and the national minimum standards. Inspection report for independent fostering agency: Sunbeam Fostering East Midlands 6

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Independent fostering agency details

Registered provider: Sunbeam Fostering Agency Limited

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Independent fostering agency details

Registered provider address: Sunbeam House, 12 Waterside Drive, Langley, Slough SL3 6EZ

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Independent fostering agency details

Email address: info@sunbeamfostering.com

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Inspectors

Emma Dacres, Social Care Inspector Kayleigh Spinks, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for independent fostering agency: Sunbeam Fostering East Midlands 7 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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