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

Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2780876 1 Sunshine Children’s Homes Ltd

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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, there were no children living in the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The home was registered with Ofsted in January 2025. There is no manager in post.

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Information about this children’s home

The inspector was aware during this inspection that 2 allegations and one serious incident were under investigation by the appropriate authorities. While Ofsted does not have the power to investigate allegations or incidents of this kind, actions taken by the setting in response were considered (where appropriate) alongside other evidence available at the time of the inspection to inform the inspector’s judgements.

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This monitoring visit

On 8 April 2026, Ofsted carried out an assurance inspection of this home. Serious and widespread concerns were identified in relation to the care and protection of children. Due to the shortfalls in leadership, management and safeguarding practice, Ofsted restricted the accommodation of children at the home and issued 2 compliance notices. Since the assurance inspection, no children have lived in the home.

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This monitoring visit

This monitoring visit reviewed the restriction of accommodation, the compliance notices and the actions of leaders to address these shortfalls. An action plan has been implemented in relation to the shortfalls at the assurance inspection and some progress has been made. However, actions set have not been fully completed to provide confidence that all identified shortfalls have been addressed. Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2780876 2 Since the last visit, the registered manager has left the organisation. The responsible individual has started recruitment for a replacement. However, no appointment had been made at the time of this visit. There is no deputy manager or senior residential worker in post. Recruitment for these roles has not begun. Consequently, leaders cannot demonstrate that the home has the management capacity described in its statement of purpose. As a result of this visit, compliance notices were again issued

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This monitoring visit

under regulations 12 and 13. Leaders have complied with the restriction notice.

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This monitoring visit

The statement of purpose sets out that children with emotional and behavioural difficulties, learning disabilities, autism and complex needs will be cared for by an experienced management team and a suitably skilled workforce. However, the staff team is inexperienced in residential childcare and all staff are new to the sector. Staff have completed training in de-escalation of incidents, medication, ligature awareness, deprivation of liberty and safer holds. As a result, staff say they feel more confident in their roles. However, key specialist training, including in autism, mental health and substance misuse, has not been completed.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders have not established effective systems to assess, monitor and develop staff competence. Staff have not received regular supervision or completed their full induction. There is no record of staff skills, qualifications, experience or development needs. As a result, leaders cannot demonstrate that staff have the skills, knowledge and experience required to meet children’s needs safely and effectively.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders have introduced new safeguarding, incident and auditing forms. However, the accompanying guidance lacks sufficient detail to support staff with their decision-making. It does not clearly set out notification thresholds, timescales, responsibilities or the escalation processes. Staff demonstrated a limited understanding of safeguarding escalation, beyond reporting concerns to the manager.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders have not completed a comprehensive review of incidents and allegations since the last visit. They have introduced a safeguarding audit tool that includes oversight of children’s risk assessments and notifications to relevant agencies. However, the responsible individual’s explanation of how this would be used and how risk assessments would be completed, reviewed and monitored lacks clarity. As a result, leaders cannot demonstrate effective oversight of safeguarding practice.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders are not consistently following safer recruitment processes. Some staff started work shortly after interview, and the required references for 2 staff members were not on file. Not all staff were registered with the Disclosure and Barring Service update service when they started work. Furthermore, there are no permanent staff working in the home. The lack of a permanent and stable staff team does not provide assurance that children would receive continuity of care.

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This monitoring visit

Requirements made at the previous assurance inspection that were not subject to compliance notices were not reviewed during this monitoring visit. They will be considered at the next full inspection. Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2780876 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

01/12/2025 Full Good Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2780876 4

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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—

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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,

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Requirement Due date

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 are familiar with and act in accordance with the, the home’s child protection policies;

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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)(b)(i)(ii)(iii)(v)(vi)(vii)(e))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, leaders and managers must:

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Requirement Due date

ensure safer recruitment practice is followed for all employed staff and newly recruited staff and meets Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and schedule 2; 23 August 2026 Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2780876 5 implement clear processes and protocols to guide staff in identifying and escalating safeguarding concerns;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that there is a system in place to review and monitor incidents that includes actions taken and how this will inform practice to reduce the likelihood of reoccurrence.

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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. (Regulation 13 (1) (2)(a)(c)(f))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, leaders and managers must ensure:

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Requirement Due date

a suitably skilled manager is recruited to manage the day-to- day running of the home, in line with the statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

staff receive regular supervision and complete the home’s induction, in line with the home’s policy. 23 August 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. 23 August 2026 Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2780876 6 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

Restraint in relation to a child is only permitted for the purpose of preventing—

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Requirement Due date

injury to any person (including the child);

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Requirement Due date

serious damage to the property of any person (including the child);

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Requirement Due date

or a child who is accommodated in a secure children’s home from absconding from the home.

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Requirement Due date

Restraint in relation to a child must be necessary and proportionate. (Regulation 20 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)) 23 August 2026

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if—

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Requirement Due date

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 —

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Requirement Due date

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)) 23 August 2026

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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; 23 August 2026 Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2780876 7 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;

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Requirement Due date

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))

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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)) 23 August 2026

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Requirement Due date

*These requirements are subject to a compliance notice.

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Information about this inspection

The purpose of this visit was to monitor the action taken and the progress made by the children’s home since its last Ofsted inspection.

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Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000. Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2780876 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Sunshine Children’s Homes Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 17 Kingsley Road, Hounslow TW3 1PA

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Inspector

Matilda Clode, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 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 looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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