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

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2762776 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

The home is privately owned and provides care for one child who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection, one child was living at the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in September 2025.

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Inspection date: 30 September 2025

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Inspection date: 30 September 2025

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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Information about this inspection

At this inspection, the inspector evaluated:

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Information about this inspection

 the care of children  the safety of children  the effectiveness of leaders and managers. The inspector has looked closely at the experiences and progress of children, using the social care common inspection framework. This assurance 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’. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2762776 2

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Findings from the inspection

We did not identify any serious or widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance inspection.

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Findings from the inspection

As part of the inspection, the inspector spoke with the child living at the home.

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Findings from the inspection

At the last inspection, seven statutory requirements were set. At this assurance inspection, four requirements had not yet been met and are restated. One requirement was not reviewed on inspection. This has been restated and will be reviewed at the next inspection.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff demonstrate a good understanding of the child’s needs and are aware of specific risks for the child and how best to support them. Staff provided sensitive and practical support to help the child prepare for and manage a significant event that caused them anxiety and distress. This highlights the trusting relationships the child has developed with key members of staff.

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Findings from the inspection

The child does not yet have an identified education provision. The manager is seeking support from professionals to help the child with their education. The manager and staff are finding creative ways to approach learning. However, care plans for the child are not up to date regarding education.

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Findings from the inspection

The child’s health needs are now clearly detailed in plans, which supports staff in understanding the child’s specific needs. There has been progress, as the child’s engagement with health appointments has improved. Staff follow risk assessments that are in place for self-injurious behaviour. There has been an improvement in how staff support and implement care plans for the child; however, this practice still needs to be fully embedded to ensure the child’s continued safety.

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Findings from the inspection

There have been incidents involving physical intervention, but follow-up debriefs have not always been consistently carried out. On some occasions, staff involved in the intervention have led debriefs. Leadership oversight and decision-making around the review of these incidents have not always been clearly documented.

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Findings from the inspection

The manager has improved her oversight of medication procedures. However, there continue to be errors in relation to medication administration, including staff recording. Training for staff is being planned; however, it has not yet been undertaken.

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Findings from the inspection

Group supervision sessions are regularly facilitated by managers from other homes, with staff from across the provider group attending. This shared approach helps provide consistent expectations to the team, especially as staff work in different homes. The manager continues to prioritise staff training and development, although some areas still need to be completed. There have been several changes in the staff team, which has led to instability for the child. To promote stability and consistency, Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2762776 3 the manager is recruiting permanent staff and pairing experienced team members with newer colleagues on the rota.

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Findings from the inspection

Professionals spoken to believe that the manager and staff are caring well for the child and communicate effectively. They are confident in the ability of staff to continue meeting the child’s needs and support the child continuing to live at the home. The social worker was unaware of the child’s use of e-cigarettes in the home. The manager identifies this as a shortfall and has started to make plans to address this issue. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2762776 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

02/07/2025 Full Requires improvement to be good 05/02/2025 Full Good 23/01/2024 Full Good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2762776 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, The 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.

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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—

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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 have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of 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)(c)(f)(h))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the manager ensuring that staff understand the child’s specific needs and how to meet these consistently, including the appropriate training to meet the child’s needs.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was raised at the last inspection and is restated. 1 December 2025

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that— 1 December 2025 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2762776 6 within 24 hours of the use of a measure of control, discipline or restraint in relation to a child in the home, a record is made which includes—

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Requirement Due date

details of the child’s behaviour leading to the use of the measure;

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Requirement Due date

a description of the measure and its duration;

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Requirement Due date

details of any methods used or steps taken to avoid the need to use the measure;

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Requirement Due date

the effectiveness and any consequences of the use of the measure; and

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Requirement Due date

a description of any injury to the child or any other person, and any medical treatment administered, as a result of the measure;

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Requirement Due date

within 48 hours of the use of the measure, the registered person, or a person who is authorised by the registered person to do so (“the authorised person”)—

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Requirement Due date

has spoken to the user about the measure; and

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Requirement Due date

has signed the record to confirm it is accurate; and

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Requirement Due date

within 5 days of the use of the measure, the registered person or the authorised person adds to the record confirmation that they have spoken to the child about the measure. (Regulation 35 (3)(ii)(iv)(v)(vii)(viii)(b)(i)(ii)(c)(iv))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to ensuring that the specific physical intervention technique is described, that the report is reviewed within five days, and that a debrief is carried out with staff and the child involved within the specified timescales.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was raised at the last inspection and is restated.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must make arrangements for the handling, recording, safekeeping, safe administration and disposal of medicines received into the children’s home.

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Requirement Due date

medicine which is prescribed for a child is administered as prescribed to the child for whom it is prescribed and to no other child; and 1 December 2025 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2762776 7 a record is kept of the administration of medicine to each child. (Regulation 23 (1) (2)(b)(c))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to ensuring that secure records are kept of medication administered to the child in line with the prescription provided from the prescriber and that staff training reinforces this practice.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was raised at the last inspection and is restated.

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Requirement Due date

The health and well-being standard is that—

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Requirement Due date

the health and well-being needs of children are met;

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Requirement Due date

children receive advice, services and support in relation to their health and well-being; and

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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

achieve the health and well-being outcomes that are recorded in the child’s relevant plans;

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Requirement Due date

understand the child’s health and well-being needs and the options that are available in relation to the child’s health and well-being, in a way that is appropriate to the child’s age and understanding;

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Requirement Due date

that each child has access to such dental, medical, nursing, psychiatric and psychological advice, treatment and other services as the child may require. (Regulation 10 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(c))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to ensuring that clear support and advice are in place for staff and the child around the use of e-cigarettes.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was raised at the last inspection and is restated. 1 December 2025

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Requirement Due date

If the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005(a) applies to the home—

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Requirement Due date

paragraph (1) does not apply; and 1 December 2025 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2762776 8 the registered person must ensure that the requirements of the Order and any regulations made under it, except for article 23 (duties of employees), are complied with in respect of the home. (Regulation 25 (2)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to ensuring that clear records of fire drills and practices are maintained in accordance with the home’s policy. There should be appropriately trained staff to support fire prevention, in line with the home’s fire risk assessment.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was raised at the last inspection and is restated. This was not reviewed at this inspection and will be reviewed at the next inspection.

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Recommendations

 The registered person should work in partnership with relevant individuals as appropriate to ensure that each child is provided with support in all aspects of their care planning, including ensuring that all plans are kept fully up to date. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 22, paragraph 4.6)  The registered person should actively seek independent scrutiny of the home and make the best use of information from independent and internal monitoring (including under regulation 44) to ensure continuous improvement. (‘Guide to Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 55, paragraph 10.24) Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2762776 9

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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: Unit 8, Trinity Place, Midland Drive, Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands B72 1TX

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Inspector

Lorna Walker, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2762776 10 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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