Children's Home run by Sunshine Children’s Homes Ltd in Harrow

Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2780876 1 Assurance inspection: Sunshine Children's Homes Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children's home

This privately run home provides care for up to 3 children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children's home

At the time of the inspection, 2 children were living at the home.

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Information about this children's home

The home was registered with Ofsted in January 2025. A manager has been in post since January 2026 and is not yet registered with Ofsted

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Information about this children's home

Date of last inspection: 1 December 2025

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Information about this children's home

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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Information about this inspection

At these inspections, the inspectors 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: 2780876 2

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Findings from the inspection

This inspection was carried out to address specific concerns received by Ofsted.

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Findings from the inspection

We identified the following serious and widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance inspection:

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Findings from the inspection

 Shortfalls in staff practice have led to a child's welfare not being effectively safeguarded and promoted.  There were shortfalls in the leadership and management of the home, in particular the oversight and monitoring, including the assessment and review of risk for children.

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Findings from the inspection

Risk assessments and safety plans do not provide staff with clear strategies to reduce risks to children. They do not include guidance on the frequency of checks for children who self-harm, actions to take when children misuse substances, or clear de-escalation and safe holding strategies.

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Findings from the inspection

Risk assessments are not always current. One child's risk assessment had been carried over from a previous placement. The manager had not updated or adapted this to reflect the child's current risks or the home environment. Information relating to the child's health and medication were also out of date.

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Findings from the inspection

Leaders and managers have not provided sufficient guidance for staff on the administration of medication. There was insufficient management oversight and monitoring of children’s medication records.

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Findings from the inspection

Safeguarding checks are inconsistent. The manager states that staff should complete 30-minute checks during the child's first week of placement. However, records do not evidence this practice. In one serious incident, the ambulance service alerted the manager to concerns about a child. Staff had not been aware of the incident. Records indicate that the child had not been seen for a period of approximately two hours. The child required emergency hospital admission following this incident.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff do not respond promptly to known risks. A child with a history of self-harm had access to a razor in their bedroom for approximately 12 hours before staff removed it.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff do not consistently address risks relating to substance misuse. Inspectors observed drug paraphernalia in a child's bedroom despite a room search having taken place the previous day. No plan was in place to support the child to reduce or manage their substance misuse.

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Findings from the inspection

One child was subject to a deprivation of liberty order. Not all staff working with the child were aware of the order. Staff understanding of the need for the restrictions or Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2780876 3 what would need to happen for them to be reduced or lifted was limited. There is no reviewing process in place to scrutinise the effectiveness of the restrictions, delaying the progress that the child could make.

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Findings from the inspection

Recording practices are poor. Staff do not consistently or accurately record serious incidents. This includes disclosures made by children, police attendance at the home and hospital admissions. These gaps in recording compromise safeguarding, hinder effective review and limit appropriate action.

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Findings from the inspection

Leaders and managers do not ensure that safeguarding incidents are reported promptly to relevant professionals. There was a delay in notifying professionals of a child's hospital admission. There was a delay in notifying the local authority designated officer of an allegation involving staff. Ofsted has not been notified of 2 allegations made by children against staff.

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Findings from the inspection

Not all staff receive the required training before working with children. This includes training regarding the deprivation of liberty, substance misuse, risks of criminal and sexual exploitation and trauma-informed care. The absence of an up-to-date workforce development plan and statement of purpose makes it difficult to ascertain the staff team's qualifications, experience and any gaps in skills.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff did not complete training in de-escalation or safe holds before children were placed. Restraint practice is unsafe. Staff do not demonstrate the use of de- escalation techniques to avoid restraint. Communication during incidents is poor. Records lack detail. Staff do not provide reassurance to children or maintain consistent monitoring.

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Findings from the inspection

Leadership oversight of admissions and ensuring that staff have the skills to care for children is insufficient. There is no evidence of practice reviews or learning from incidents or placement endings.

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Findings from the inspection

Supervision is inconsistent. Records lack clarity. Some staff do not understand the purpose of supervision.

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Findings from the inspection

The home is generally well furnished and provides a homely environment. However, one child's bedroom contained a broken television and a bed without sheets. Similar concerns were identified at the last full inspection. Video recording has been used at times such as during a restraint and during a room search. The purposes for this are not clear, and there is no evidence of consent by the placing authority or the child.

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Findings from the inspection

Inspectors observed some positive interactions between children and certain staff members. These staff demonstrated warm and appropriate relationships with children. One child spoke very highly of the staff at the home. Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2780876 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

01/12/2025 Full Good Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2780876 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 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

that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed, furnished and maintained so as to protect each child from avoidable hazards to the child's health; (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii) (v)(vi)(d)) 7 June 2026

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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 promotes their welfare. 7 June 2026 Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2780876 6 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; (Regulation 13 (1)(2)(a)(c)(f))

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Requirement Due date

The quality and purpose of care standard—

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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

ensure that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed and furnished so as to—

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Requirement Due date

meet the needs of each child; (Regulation 6 (1)(2)(c)(i))

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. 25 May 2026

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Requirement Due date

The care planning standard is that children—

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Requirement Due date

receive effectively planned care in or through the children's home; and

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Requirement Due date

have a positive experience of arriving at or moving on from the home.

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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

that children are admitted to the home only if their needs are within the range of needs of children for whom it is intended that the home is to provide care and accommodation, as set out in the home's statement of purpose; (Regulation 14 (1)(a)(b)(2)(a))

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. 25 May 2026 Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2780876 7 Restraint in relation to a child is only permitted for the purpose of preventing— injury to any person (including the child); serious damage to the property of any person (including the child);

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Requirement Due date

Restraint in relation to a child must be necessary and proportionate. (Regulation 20 (1)(a)(b) (2)) 25 May 2026

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if— an incident requiring police involvement occurs in relation to a child which the registered person considers to be serious;

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Requirement Due date

there is an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there;

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Requirement Due date

a child protection enquiry involving a child — is instigated; or concludes (in which case, the notification must include the outcome of the child protection enquiry); (Regulation 40 (4)(b)(c)(d)(i)(ii)) 25 May 2026

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Requirement Due date

The registered person may only use devices for the monitoring or surveillance of children if— 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 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)) 25 May 2026

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must compile in relation to the children's home a statement ("the statement of purpose") which covers the matters listed in Schedule 1. (Regulation 16 (1)) 25 May 2026

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Requirement Due date

*These requirements are subject to a compliance notice. Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2780876 8

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Inspectors

Matilda Clode, Social Care Inspector Jo Tarbie, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2780876 9 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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