Children's Home run by GAC Family Services Limited in West Northamptonshire

Inspection report for children’s home: 2748501 1 Registered provider: GAC Family Services Ltd

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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 is operated by a private provider. It is registered to care for up to two children who may require support with social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager was registered with Ofsted in September 2023.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, two children were living at the home. Both children were seen and one child was spoken to as part of the inspection.

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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: 2748501 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

14/03/2024 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2748501 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The children are happy when they are at home. They have a sense of belonging. It is important to the children that their home feels like a family environment. They have helped decorate the home. The views of children are prioritised, and although there is reluctance from the children to engage in children’s meetings, staff can demonstrate that they know what the children want and need to be happy and settled at home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff work alongside families. For one child, the relationship with a parent has been empowering. Mutual respect between the adults has enabled a parent to make decisions about their child’s care. The child is benefitting from the excellent communication between their carers, and this is helping to manage a high level of risk and associated behaviours.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Communication with professionals is good. The manager keeps the placing authority for both children updated. When required, concerns are escalated. This prevents a delay in care planning for children and ensures that everyone has the most relevant information required to inform decision-making. There are concerns about the impact of the relationship between the two children. The manager has responded appropriately by requesting and attending joint strategy meetings to plan a way forward.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

One child is now accessing full-time education in a school where their needs can be met. The child is happy in school, and this new experience has increased their sense of achievement. The child has ambitions for their future, and staff use this new motivation to help them make better informed choices.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported to develop their independence as individuals. For both children, the importance of receiving nurture and emotional support and having positive role models supersedes the practical tasks of independence. Children are learning from staff who are leading by example. The diversity of the staff team helps children make sense of their own identities. This has been particularly important for one child in helping them to understand their cultural background.

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

Staff have a good knowledge of the children’s risks and associated behaviours. Children are supported to reduce risks through targeted work and reflective conversations. Children have positive relationships with staff and want to spend time with them. Children are open with staff and will talk about their behaviours, including the times when they are placing themselves at risk. The strength in these relationships enables staff to have a greater awareness of the risks they are managing. Inspection report for children’s home: 2748501 4 Children are not always safe when they are in the community. Children continue to go missing or remain absent from home without permission. Robust safety plans are in place, and staff have good knowledge of places children frequent. They have contact details for the people the children associate with, and staff go out looking for children. This good safeguarding practice contributes to their safe return.

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

On occasion, the children misuse alcohol and substances. This is a known risk identified in individual safety plans and risk management strategies. The protocol for how staff respond to these risks is not clear. This creates some inconsistency in the management of incidents when a child is suspected to be under the influence of alcohol or other substances.

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

One family has made a complaint about the care and safety of their child. Leaders and managers have investigated this complaint, alongside the child’s placing authority. The team around the child has concluded that staff are providing good care to the child while managing a high level of risk.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has good oversight of the home. She leads by example and encourages her team to continually learn and develop. The team does not have extensive experience in residential childcare; however, staff demonstrate a commitment to their role and benefit from an experienced leadership team.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff receive effective training and can demonstrate how this has a direct impact on their care of children. The manager empowers staff to take on additional responsibilities, such as attending meetings for children so they can have broader experiences.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Communication between staff is good. This is particularly important due to the high level of incidents that occur with the children outside of the home. Staff support each other during challenging periods. They appreciate that the strengths in their professional relationships will create better outcomes for children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has a clear vision for the home and has set out areas of improvement, with a plan of how these will be achieved. She is receptive to feedback and wants to ensure the children in her care are receiving the highest level of care. The manager is passionate about ensuring that all children are given the opportunity to live in a caring and loving environment. She has demonstrated her commitment to supporting children through some of the most difficult of times.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff supervision has improved. The manager recognises the importance of this being a meaningful process where staff can reflect and share their ideas. The manager has also implemented group supervision, which has been welcomed by the staff team. This helps to create a culture of new learning and shared experiences. Inspection report for children’s home: 2748501 5

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person 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 must comply within the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must complete a review of the quality of care provided for children (“a quality of care review”) at least once every 6 months.

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Requirement Due date

In order to complete a quality of care review the registered person must establish and maintain a system for monitoring, reviewing and evaluating—

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Requirement Due date

the quality of care provided for children;

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Requirement Due date

the feedback and opinions of children about the children’s home, its facilities and the quality of care they receive in it; and

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Requirement Due date

any actions that the registered person considers necessary in order to improve or maintain the quality of care provided for children.

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Requirement Due date

After completing a quality of care review, the registered person must produce a written report about the quality of care review and the actions which the registered person intends to take as a result of the quality of care review (“the quality of care review report”).

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Requirement Due date

supply to HMCI a copy of the quality of care review report within 28 days of the date on which the quality of care review is completed; and

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Requirement Due date

make a copy of the quality of care review report available on request to a placing authority, if the placing authority is not the parent of a child accommodated in the home.

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Requirement Due date

The system referred to in paragraph (2) must provide for ascertaining and considering the opinions of children, their parents, placing authorities and staff. (Regulation 45 (1) (2)(a)(b)(c) (3) (4)(a) (5)) 3 February Inspection report for children’s home: 2748501 6 This particularly refers to the registered person ensuring they seek the feedback and opinions of children, their parents, placing authorities and staff in order to improve the care provided to children. It also refers to reports being completed at least every six months and sent to HMCI within 28 days.

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that the individual risk assessments and safety plans for children reflect the responses and actions required from staff during an incident. This particularly relates to seeking medical advice following children consuming alcohol or other substances. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 42, paragraph 9.5)  The registered person should ensure that they have fully considered the impact of moving a new child into the home when both the new and existing child have a high level of risk. This should be recorded in the child’s relevant plans. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 56, paragraph 11.4)

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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: 2748501 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: GAC Family Services Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 49 Effra Road, London SW2 1BZ

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Inspector

Kayleigh Spinks, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2748501 8 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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