Children's home run by Sportfit Support Services Limited

Inspection report for children’s home: 2682524 1 Registered provider: Sportfit Support Services 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

This home can provide care for up to four children who may have emotional and social difficulties. At the time of inspection, two children were living in the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The has been no registered manager since August 2024.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

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good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

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good

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2682524 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

25/07/2023 Full Good 01/11/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children’s home: 2682524 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Two children were present for this inspection. Both were spoken to during the inspection. They are given opportunities to take part in things that bring them joy; swimming, bowling, trips away, visits to London and spending time with those who are important to them.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff have developed trusted and secure relationships with the children. The children feel able to talk to staff about a variety of topics, worries and anything they have on their minds. In return, staff listen without judgement and have created a safe space for the children to talk in. As staff have been able to support children, children have made progress from their starting points.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff encourage children to engage in and see the importance of education. Both children attend education and have made progress. One child has started at a full-time setting and has been going consistently, having not been in education when they arrived at the home. One child is supported to continue to attend school on a reduced timetable, which is consistently reviewed, and will be completing GCSE exams.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s health needs are promoted. Staff support children to engage with medical appointments and are curious about why children may find them hard, finding ways for the children to feel confident with external professionals. All children have access to local health services. Specialist services are provided for the children as needed. Medication management is safe.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff have a consistent approach and model of care in line with the home’s statement of purpose which has benefited the children in their care. Staff enjoy this approach as it has enabled them to support the children to manage their own emotions, recognise stresses and respond more positively to challenging feelings.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children who come to the home have a planned and well-thought-out transition. The impact on the other children in the home is considered and the manager evaluates their strengths and areas they would need to enhance. Children have left since the last inspection. There is learning when children leave; the manager has reflected on everyone’s role in the process. She seeks to strengthened it to reduce placement breakdowns.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

There is a proactive response from the home to reduce the risk of injury through self- harm. Staff understand the children and are consistently curious to learn from incidents to reduce them. There are clear plans in place, which include how to respond to incidents. There is a joined-up response with external professionals and one child has Inspection report for children’s home: 2682524 4 recently taken up a specialist intervention with the child and adolescent mental health services, having previously declined this support.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Positive behaviour is promoted by staff. Should there be occasions where behaviour leads to restorative practices being required, staff use them to increase children’s sense of personal responsibility. However, the recording of these incidents is not always explicitly linked on the home’s record management system.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

When children go missing from the home, there is a coordinated response. There is a plan in place which is followed to reduce the risk from lengthy and repeat episodes of going missing. The staff go after children and search for them. They engage with external professionals to secure children’s return home. Missing-from-home incidents have reduced.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Restraint has been used in this inspection period. There are records of the incidents which are reviewed by managers. There is evidence of attempts to implement the home’s model of support prior to the restraint and the child was spoken to throughout and afterwards. There is a window restrictor in place in two rooms in the home; one is in a child’s bedroom. This is linked to their local authority care plan. However, their use has not been reviewed and does not include the voice of the child.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

The manager recognises the risks that being online, using social media and having a phone may cause to the children. The manager is curious and committed to learning more about the ever-changing risks. There is clear understanding that children need to be supported to understand how to remain safe online, not just now, but for the rest of their lives.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The current manager was previously the deputy manager of the home. This smooth transition has provided consistency for the staff and children. The manager has applied to register with Ofsted.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager of this home is passionate in her commitment to provide the best possible care to the children. She has worked hard to establish positive relationships with external professionals and family members of children in her care. She has tasked key workers with developing achievable plans for the children to make progress. These are reviewed and evaluated. She ensures there are placement plans in place that mirror the local authority care plans. However, some plans have photos that are not up to date.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has oversight of key conversations and daily logs for the children. These documents are consistently written by staff and are recorded in a non-judgemental way. The manager is clear that she wants the children to achieve and has aspirations for them. The home has had a positive impact on the children’s lives. Inspection report for children’s home: 2682524 5 Staff are proud of the work they do; they feel well supported by management and say that managers model good care. The staff report working well as a team and they know what they need to do due to plans and directions in place from the manager. Staff speak positively about the training offered to them. However, some staff mandatory training has not been done, or the required due date has passed.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Supervision is regular and effective. It focuses on the children in the home and staff development and is recorded effectively. Team meetings are held to develop staff practice and share knowledge. They include an overview of each child and the staff are given space to explore the impact of the work on their own well-being.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Some areas of the physical environment feel institutional, rather than like a domestic home. One child referred to the home as their care home. Inspection report for children’s home: 2682524 6

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that the home maintains a homely and domestic feel, keeping in mind the impact on the children of the large office. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9)  The registered person should ensure that all records of consequences are accurately recorded across their reporting system. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 46, paragraph 9.36)  The registered person should ensure that any physical restrictions to the home are reviewed so they are in place for no longer than is necessary. Any review should include the voice of the child. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 48, paragraph 9.52)  The registered person should ensure that agreed timescales for staff to complete core training are established and have a record of ongoing core training in place that is

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Recommendations

kept up to date. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 53, paragraph 10.8)  The registered person should ensure that children’s case records are kept up to date, including photos. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.3)

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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: 2682524 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Sportfit Support Services Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 63a Millbrook Road East, Southampton SO15 1HN

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Inspector

Hannah Spencer-Townesend, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2682524 8 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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