Children's home run by Sportfit Support Services Limited

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2803078 1 Registered provider: Sportfit Support Services Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home was registered in October 2024. The home provides care for up to four children who may have social and emotional difficulties. At the time of inspection, there was one child living in the home.

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Information about this children’s home

There has been no registered manager since March 2025.

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This monitoring visit

This visit took place to monitor progress at the home after serious and widespread concerns were found at an assurance inspection in November 2025.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers have made no progress in meeting the compliance notices issued at the last inspection. These notices related to establishing appropriate management arrangements and the home’s failure to recruit a suitable manager. As a result, leaders of the organisation have made the decision to close the home.

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This monitoring visit

During the previous assurance inspection, eight requirements were set. Leaders and managers have addressed four of these.

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This monitoring visit

A restriction was imposed after the last inspection, preventing the home from admitting any additional children. The home has complied with this requirement and has not admitted any further children.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders have not recruited a manager with the required experience to lead the home. Attempts to appoint a manager have been unsuccessful, as candidates have not had the necessary experience required for the role by the organisation. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2803078 2 The management arrangements have not improved and remain weak. The home is still being led by the deputy manager, who does not hold the appropriate qualifications or have sufficient experience for the role. The responsible individual lives some distance away; they cannot provide face-to-face support or be present in the home.

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This monitoring visit

The quality of care provided to the child has improved. Staff have put clear boundaries and safeguards in place for the child’s internet and phone use, and they have applied these consistently. As a result, the child is sleeping better and taking part in a wider range of activities. On the day of the inspection, the child went out in the morning to go shopping, visit the cinema and meet a family member. However, the home did not have the child’s local authority care plan, which is needed to guide the care being provided.

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This monitoring visit

The child has recently started school and is engaging well. Staff are working closely with the relevant professionals to make sure the child’s educational needs are met. Because of this support, the child was able to settle in and start school successfully.

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This monitoring visit

Staff are receiving regular supervision. When any practice concerns arise, the deputy manager discusses these with staff and records the actions taken. As a result, staff feel better supported in their roles.

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This monitoring visit

Since the last inspection, safeguarding notifications have been shared in a timely manner. This has allowed Ofsted to maintain prompt oversight of any concerns raised by the home.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders report that they have improved the induction process for staff, for when children move into the home. However, no children have moved in since these changes were made, so this cannot be demonstrated. As a result, the requirement has been restated. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2803078 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

15/07/2025 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2803078 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 with 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 promotes their welfare.

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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

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

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(f)(h))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that there are suitable management arrangements and effective monitoring systems in place. 31 March 2026

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Requirement Due date

*The registered provider must appoint a person to manage the children’s home if—

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Requirement Due date

there is no registered manager in respect of the home; and

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Requirement Due date

If the registered provider appoints a person to manage the home, the registered provider must, without delay, give HMCI notice of— 31 March 2026 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2803078 5 the name of the person so appointed; and

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Requirement Due date

the date on which the appointment takes effect.

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Requirement Due date

The quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive

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Requirement Due date

understand the children’s home’s overall aims and the outcomes

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Requirement Due date

use this understanding to deliver care that meets children’s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential.

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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

provide personalised care that meets each child’s needs, as recorded in the child’s relevant plans, taking account of the child’s background;

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Requirement Due date

make decisions about the day-to-day arrangements for each child, in accordance with the child’s relevant plans, which give the child an appropriate degree of freedom and choice.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement is restated. 31 March 2026

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Requirement Due date

The care planning standard is that children—

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Requirement Due date

receive well-planned care from the home;

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Requirement Due date

and have a positive experience of admission and transition processes.

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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 31 March 2026 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2803078 6 that the home is to provide care, as set out in the home’s statement of purpose. (Regulation 14 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that staff have the required skills and training to meet the needs of children before they move into the home.

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Requirement Due date

*These requirements are subject of a compliance notice.

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that the responsible individual has the capacity to supervise the management of each children’s home that they are responsible for. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 60, paragraph 12.4)

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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: 2803078 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: Sportfit Support Services Ltd, 63a Millbrook Road East, Southampton SO15 1HN

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Inspector

Chido Mangava, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2803078 8 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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