Whether it’s inside or outside of work, it’s clear that Danielle loves nothing better than pulling up her sleeves and getting stuck into the job in hand. At home, it’s interiors and renovating old houses that keep her busy, gaining a reputation amongst family and friends for solving most DIY issues with a butter knife! That ‘can-do’ and ‘no-nonsense’ approach translates perfectly into the workplace where she finds herself at the helm of Sportsfit Support Services – a company that Tristone invested in three years ago.
Danielle joined Sportfit in 2015, supporting the business in a financial capacity by managing payroll. A chance phone call from a social worker, who was calling up to check that a supported accommodation placement was ready, opened up Danielle’s mind to the possibilities and potential of the role. From taking that call, and visiting the home to check everything was how it should be for the youngster’s arrival, she became more involved in the operational side of the business, rising through the ranks to officially become managing director in August 2022.
Eighteen months on, and the business has gone from strength to strength. Since it opened its doors in 2012, Sportfit has transformed from a short breaks specialist to a post-16 supported accommodation provider, before opening its first children’s home in July 2021.
“Tristone very much encouraged us to venture into children’s homes and regulated provision,” Danielle explains. “They felt that our approach, the work we were doing, the quality of our services, and the processes that we had in place, were very much in line with what was needed in the regulated sector.”
It’s that arena where Danielle sees further growth, with plans to open a further children’s home shortly and a group of solo children’s homes in the not too distant future. This perfectly complements other specialist areas of the business, including one-to-one tutoring for those youngsters who may struggle to adapt to mainstream education. The aim is to venture once again into the regulated sector and open up their own school. For now, Sportfit is proudly the largest supported accommodation provider in Hampshire, with a firm eye on quality – both for those they support, but also staff.
“All our services are supported by our therapy team,” Danielle explains. “All staff have access to face-to-face counselling to support them in their role, as well as wellness action plans that have been introduced across the board. It can be quite a challenging job, so it’s important for us to focus on people’s mental health and wellbeing, allowing them the space to download and share any issues and concerns.”
It’s that idea of shared support and encouragement that is mirrored across the Tristone community.
“Not only do we access to systems and processes, as well as new technology that promotes efficiency and best practice, but it’s nice to know that you are part of a bigger picture – a community of like-minded people who are all striving for the same aims and are willing and happy to work collaboratively,” says Danielle.
That ‘hand hold’ approach is particularly useful when trying to deal with a plethora of challenges facing the social care sector. Whether it’s a squeeze on Government funding, more specific funding issues around supporting unaccompanied asylum seeking children (UASC), to rates of pay and recruitment – the list is long.
“There is a big challenge in the perception of care,” explains Danielle. “The stigma attached is a difficult one to get rid of, leading many people to view it as a low grade, low skilled job. But it’s far from it, and it’s our job collectively to demonstrate the benefits of working in social care and the difference you can make to young people’s lives.”
It’s being able to make a difference and not giving up on youngsters that first drew Danielle into the role. “We are not going anywhere,” she insists. “They may fight against us, they may punch holes in the walls of our accommodation, and damage property out of frustration, but we will keep filling those holes,” Danielle says. “We will keep role modelling how you should live your life and, most importantly, we will always make them feel as if they are coming home.”
Family and home are core to Sportfit’s proposition and its success. “It’s a real cliché, but we are like a family,” Danielle insists. “Sometimes it’s hard to separate work and home life, but if you have a job that you love and a team that you get on really well with, then you can live with the occasional cross-over!”
Photo credit: Professor25
