Children's home run by Sportfit Support Services Limited

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2682524 1 Registered provider: Sportfit Support Services Ltd

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

Lotus House provides care for children who are considered to present with social and emotional difficulties aged between 11 and 18 years.

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Information about this children’s home

The home is registered for up to four children.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in July 2022.

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Information about this children’s home

Date of last inspection: 1 November 2022

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Information about this children’s home

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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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 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. Inspectors have 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: 2682524 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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The care of children

Children are making progress. Since the last inspection, one child has started to attend education and the other has found employment.

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The care of children

Staff listen to children’s views and involve them in decision-making. Children have chosen the decor for their bedrooms and are planning for a holiday later in the year. This helps children feel valued and listened to.

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The care of children

The manager has acted in response to complaint from a child. However, the manager has not written to the child to inform them of the outcome, therefore the home’s complaints procedure has not been followed.

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The safety of children

The use of agency staff working in the home has reduced. There is now a sufficient permanent staff team with support from agency staff when needed. The manager ensures that agency staff have the training and experience required to work in the home. Staff have had training specific to the needs of the children.

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The safety of children

Risk management plans are detailed and up to date. This helps staff identify risks and keep children safe. Staff know how to respond to children who go missing from home and children’s self-harm has significantly reduced.

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The safety of children

Staff have not consistently considered risks around one child’s social media use. A risk assessment was not in place to consider social media use for the child living in the home. This was addressed during the inspection.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Leaders have partially met the requirements and recommendations from the previous inspection. One recommendation is not met and will be a requirement.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The leaders have made improvements to the oversight and monitoring systems. The manager has a detailed monthly quality assurance audit. This is being embedded into practice and has identified actions to improve the quality of care. The manager has facilitated reflections with staff following significant incidents to improve practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

During the inspection, there were cigarette stubs on the patio. The manager addressed this during the inspection. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2682524 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

01/11/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2682524 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, 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

Subject to paragraph (6), the registered person must establish a procedure for considering complaints made by or on behalf of children. (Regulation 39 (1))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the complaints procedure for the home should be followed by informing the child of the outcome in writing. 21 April 2023

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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, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, risk assessments should be conducted to ascertain whether children are at risk of harm online. 21 April 2023

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that the home meets children’s basic day-to- day needs and physical necessities. Staff should seek to meet the child’s basic needs in the way that a good parent would, recognising that many children in residential care have experienced environments where these needs have not been consistently met; doing so is an important aspect of demonstrating that the staff care for the child and value them as an individual. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.7) Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2682524 5

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Sportfit Support Services Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Portman House, 53 Millbrook Road East, Southampton, Hampshire SO15 1HN

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Inspector

Mark Dawkins, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2682524 6 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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