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

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Full inspection 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 up to two children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection, two children were living at the home. Both children were spoken with during the inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager is registered with Ofsted and is suitably qualified.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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requires improvement to be good

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

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requires improvement to be good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers requires improvement to be good

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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.

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requires improvement to be good

Date of last inspection: 10 September 2025

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requires improvement to be good

Overall judgement at last inspection: inadequate

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requires improvement to be good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2591911 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

10/09/2025 Full Inadequate 24/06/2024 Full Good 17/05/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good 04/01/2023 Full Inadequate Inspection report for children’s home: 2591911 3

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improvement to be good

Children’s overall experiences are negatively affected by shortfalls in care practices and in the leadership and management of the home. While there are examples of positive relationships between some staff members and the children, these are not consistent across the team and can influence children’s level of engagement day to day. Children have experienced some positive activities, such as one child participating in a cancer research charity walk with the manager.

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improvement to be good

Children are supported with their health needs. Staff have ensured that a child’s ongoing health issue, which requires specialist input, has been followed up and progressed. During the inspection, when a child was unwell, staff responded with care and nurture, while ensuring medical attention was sought.

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improvement to be good

Education remains an area of challenge. Staff are beginning to address the underlying reasons why children struggle to access education, including supporting a child with anxiety. However, when children are not in education, there is a lack of routine and structure, which impacts on their engagement and progress.

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improvement to be good

Children continue to raise concerns about the availability and quality of food in the home, noting that staff sometimes shop to suit their own preferences rather than for them. This issue was acknowledged during the inspection, and immediate action was taken by a senior manager to address it.

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improvement to be good

Children’s wishes and feelings are being explored more effectively. The introduction of ‘Feedback Friday’ meetings provide a regular forum for children to share their views. Children reported that staff are acting on their feedback more consistently, which is a positive development.

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improvement to be good

One child remains at high risk of exploitation and continues to engage in behaviours that place them at risk of harm. While staff have developed a better understanding of these risks and some improvements have been made in safeguarding responses, progress has been limited. Communication between staff, external professionals and family has improved. This is helping to ensure that the child remains at the centre of care planning.

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improvement to be good

Both children have been reported missing from the home. These incidents were responded to promptly, with staff following procedures to support their safe return. However, reports that are shared with external professionals relating to children going missing from care require updating to ensure accuracy and clarity. Inspection report for children’s home: 2591911 4 There has been one incident requiring physical intervention. Staff acted appropriately to ensure the child’s safety and recorded the intervention correctly. However, the manager did not document her oversight of the incident, and the child did not receive a debrief, which is a missed opportunity for reflection and learning.

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improvement to be good

While staff continue to support children in maintaining relationships with their families, minimal improvement has been seen in how plans and supervisory arrangements are understood and implemented. Staff do not consistently adhere to agreed supervision levels during family time, which compromises children’s safety and well-being. As a result, children continue to receive inconsistent messages and support, which undermines the stability and effectiveness of their care plans.

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improvement to be good

The use of surveillance and bedroom door alarms has not been fully considered in relation to the children’s current needs and associated risks. There is no formal process for monitoring the appropriateness and effectiveness of these measures, and they are not referenced in the home’s statement of purpose or individual risk plans.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Senior leaders and the manager have implemented an action plan to address concerns identified at the previous inspection. Some progress has been made in making improvements within the home. A six-month mentoring programme has been introduced for the manager and deputy to support their professional development and to try to raise the standards of care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Collaborative working between the manager and deputy has been limited, which has affected the overall running of the home. Oversight of incidents and workforce management are not consistently robust. The manager has shown a lack of confidence in decision-making, particularly when determining whether incidents are significant.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

There are inconsistencies within the staff team. This includes issues with conduct, incomplete tasks, and staff being asked to cover shifts in other homes. Children have raised these concerns, stating that they feel this has an effect on the quality of care they receive. The management team are taking action to ensure that there is better oversight of the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Staff supervision and team meetings are well structured, offering valuable opportunities for reflective practice and discussions focused on staff development. Records of supervision indicate that staff feel confident in raising concerns, including those related to staffing arrangements. The concerns documented highlight the effect current staffing practices have on the ability to establish and sustain positive relationships with children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Staff have access to a wide range of relevant training; however, there are gaps in training records, particularly in areas linked to the needs of children in the home. One staff member is overdue in completing their Level 3 Diploma in Residential Childcare. Although management has provided support and exceptional circumstances apply, progress has not yet been made. Inspection report for children’s home: 2591911 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 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

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

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Requirement Due date

feedback on the experiences of children, including complaints received; and

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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)(e)(f)(g)(ii)(h))

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Requirement Due date

This particularly relates to ensuring that consistent staff are in place to meet the needs of all children living in the home and to ensuring that safe and supportive care can be delivered. The manager should have monitoring systems in place to ensure 19 December 2025 Inspection report for children’s home: 2591911 6 that any shortfall in practice can be addressed, and that any learning opportunities can be identified in order to improve care for children.

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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— that staff—

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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 particularly relates to staff ensuring that care plans and risk management documentation for children are recorded in line with their current needs and behaviour, and to staff ensuring that they have knowledge of these needs and behaviours. 19 December 2025

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

an understanding about acceptable behaviour; and

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Requirement Due date

positive responses to other children and adults. 19 December 2025 Inspection report for children’s home: 2591911 7 In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure— that staff— meet each child’s behavioural and emotional needs, as set out in the child’s relevant plans;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to develop socially aware behaviour;

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Requirement Due date

encourage each child to take responsibility for the child’s behaviour, in accordance with the child’s age and understanding;

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Requirement Due date

strive to gain each child’s respect and trust;

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Requirement Due date

understand how children’s previous experiences and present emotions can be communicated through behaviour and have the competence and skills to interpret these and develop positive relationships with children;

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Requirement Due date

that each child is encouraged to build and maintain positive relationships with others. (Regulation 11 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(viii)(ix)(b))

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Requirement Due date

This particularly relates to staff developing positive relationships with children and supporting children to develop healthy daily routines, taking into consideration their behavioural and emotional needs.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person may only use devices for the monitoring or surveillance of children if—

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Requirement Due date

the monitoring or surveillance is for the purpose of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of the child concerned, or other children;

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Requirement Due date

the child’s placing authority consents in writing to the monitoring or surveillance;

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Requirement Due date

so far as reasonably practicable in the light of the child’s age and understanding, the child is informed in advance of the intention to do the monitoring or surveillance; and

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Requirement Due date

the monitoring or surveillance is no more intrusive than necessary, having regard to the child’s need for privacy. (Regulation 24 (1)(a)(b)(c)(d)) 19 December 2025 Inspection report for children’s home: 2591911 8 This particularly relates to ensuring that the rationale and decision-making for using surveillance and monitoring devices, including bedroom door sensors, are included in the statement of purpose and children’s documentation.

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that all staff in a care role, including external agency or bank staff, must have the qualification in regulation 32(4) within the relevant timescale listed in regulation 32(5). The registered person may extend the time period if the member of staff has not worked in the role for a prolonged period, such as sick leave or maternity leave, or if it is not reasonable to expect the member of staff to complete in this timescale due to the nature of the hours they work. The registered person must clearly outline and document the rationale for a staff member being granted an extension and identify a target date for completion. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 53, paragraph 10.12)  The registered person should ensure that records of restraint are kept and should enable the registered person and staff to review the use of control, discipline and

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Recommendations

restraint to identify effective practice and respond promptly where any issues or trends of concern emerge. The review should provide the opportunity for amending practice to ensure that it meets the needs of each child. Particularly, child and staff debriefs should occur and the manager should have clear oversight. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 49, paragraph 9.59)  The registered person should ensure that the home continuously has varied and nutritious food options available. This includes the registered person ensuring that children have a say in what food they would like to be purchased. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 14, paragraph 3.3)

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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: 2591911 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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Inspectors

Kayleigh Spinks, Social Care Inspector Lorna Walker, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2591911 10 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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