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

Inspection report for children’s home: 2734662 1 Registered provider: GAC Family Services Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is privately owned. It is registered to provide care for up to two children with emotional and social difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, there were two children living at the home.

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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

Date of last inspection: 19 December 2023

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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: 2734662 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

19/12/2023 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2734662 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since the last inspection, staff have welcomed a second child to the home. Both children describe good relationships with staff. One child has developed a greater understanding of using humour to express themselves. There is a lot of laughter in the home. Feedback gathered from children’s families confirmed that children are happy and settled in the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s views are actively sought. Staff have focused discussions with children on relevant topics. Managers review this work and identify next steps for helping children. Children complete child-friendly care plans with staff. This supports the planning of their care. Managers respond to children’s requests and questions with letters that are written with children in mind. Staff support one child’s communication through individualised visual aids. This child’s ability and confidence to have conversations with others have developed. Children feel listened to and cared for.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff help children to broaden their interests, such as going for days out to see animals and going swimming. One child acknowledged that they have reduced the amount of time that they spend alone in their bedroom, and they are now more active in the day. The child said that they have changed from feeling overwhelmed and anxious to now feeling confident and sociable when engaging with other people. Staff help children to develop their independence skills. One parent told the inspector that they have noticed that their child uses these skills when they visit them.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff help children to enjoy time with people who are important to them. One parent said they were grateful for the support that staff provide. In line with the child’s wishes, staff regularly visit when the child stays at the parents’ homes. Seeing key people in their lives helps children understand their sense of loss and eases torn loyalties. The manager agrees on protocols with children’s social workers to manage children’s family time safely.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff help children to improve their health and well-being. One child said that their sleep has improved since living in the home. Staff support children if they find it difficult to attend health appointments. This has varying success. Staff spend time with children to explore difficult thoughts and emotions. The manager makes referrals to mental well-being services for additional support.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s educational progress is mixed. One child is thriving at school. The child enjoys learning new things, especially phonics. For the other child, several bespoke packages of support have been tried. Their overall access to learning remains very low. While staff prompt the child to get ready for school, some Inspection report for children’s home: 2734662 4 staff say they need to do more to encourage them. The manager and external professionals are working together on applications to new schools.

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

Staff update children’s relevant plans and risk management plans frequently. They include guidance on how to anticipate incidents, what behaviours to look out for and how to respond during and after an incident. Plans clearly show the changes in children’s vulnerabilities. Children rate their own risks in child- friendly risk management plans. This helps children to understand risks they may be facing and how to reduce them.

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

Incidents of self-harm have reduced for both children since living in the home. Staff help both children to manage difficult thoughts and feelings. One child said they now have better coping skills, and they recognise their own progress in managing their emotions. This keeps them safer and helps the child feel increasingly settled; the number of incidents of missing from the home has reduced.

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

Staff rarely hold children to keep them safe. All staff are trained in de- escalation and holding children. One child spoke about not being angry, and their parent described them as more patient. There has been a reduction in the number of occasions when the child’s emotions lead to them and others being hurt. This helps the child to enjoy more settled relationships with their family.

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

The other child says they understand the rules but don’t like them. They know that staff act because they care about their safety and well-being. However, staff are not always consistent in helping the child to understand natural consequences when boundaries are not followed. The manager acknowledges this is an area for development.

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

Staff use various rewards systems. One child responds particularly well to incentives. They remember their positive behaviours for earning a special reward. This helps children make good choices.

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

The communal areas of the home are comfortable and personalised. Children’s souvenirs and artwork are on display. However, on the day of inspection, the condition of one child’s room was poor. While staff had offered their help and encouragement to clean the room for several days, this was not effective. By allowing the room to remain in an unsuitable state for a number of days, the child was not supported to develop their dignity, self-esteem and independence. A staff member cleaned the room during the inspection. Inspection report for children’s home: 2734662 5

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Since the last inspection, a new registered manager has started in post. She is enthusiastic and committed to providing quality care for children in the home. She recognises how the use of agency staff affected a child’s ability to build trusting relationships. She has worked hard to achieve a fully staffed team. Education professionals and a children’s independent reviewing officer say children have positive relationships with staff.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff appreciate the support given by managers, who recognise their achievements as well as opportunities for professional development. Staff receive a range of training, which the manager monitors through monthly reporting. This training includes areas of learning for children’s specific needs. Staff receive regular supervision, which follows a detailed format. This promotes discussion about the support children and staff need.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Team meetings are structured and well attended. Staff voice their views to develop their responses to children. When there are practice issues, the manager acts decisively through relevant processes. She calls emergency meetings when she needs to address practice issues quickly with the team.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Managers and staff communicate regularly with education and social care professionals. The manager uses her knowledge of children’s behaviour patterns to advocate for children’s interests. She escalates to the responsible individual when the desired result is not achieved.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff show empathy and nurture in their care. However, some responses by staff do not support one child to understand the impact of their choices. There is scope for drawing on wider professional support to explore strategies. There has been an occasion when a child has shown unsafe behaviours towards a staff member. The management evaluation lacked professional challenge about staff responses. It did not help the child understand the seriousness of their actions for themselves and others. The team is newly established, and the manager acknowledges there is further work required to develop staff’s confidence in responding to children’s behaviours that are sometimes challenging.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Independent visits take place, but there is limited evidence of consultation with the children and staff. Children and staff are not regularly given the opportunity to raise potential issues with an independent person. This limits independent oversight and potential improvement. Reports are not shared with Ofsted in line with regulations. This limits the regulator’s timely oversight of practice in the home. Leaders are making changes to address this part of their quality assurance. Inspection report for children’s home: 2734662 6

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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 within the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

The positive relationships standard is that children are helped to develop, and to benefit from, relationships based on—

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Requirement Due date

an understanding about acceptable behaviour; and

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Requirement Due date

positive responses to other children and adults.

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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

meet each child’s behavioural and emotional needs, as set out in the child’s relevant plans;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to develop socially aware behaviour;

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Requirement Due date

encourage each child to take responsibility for the child’s behaviour, in accordance with the child’s age and understanding;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to develop and practise skills to resolve conflicts positively and without harm to anyone;

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Requirement Due date

communicate to each child expectations about the child’s behaviour and ensure that the child understands those expectations in accordance with the child’s age and understanding;

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Requirement Due date

are provided with supervision and support to enable them to understand and manage their own feelings and responses to the behaviour and emotions of children, and to help children to do the same; 17 February 2025 Inspection report for children’s home: 2734662 7 that each child is encouraged to build and maintain positive relationships with others. (Regulation 11 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(x)(b))

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Requirement Due date

This relates to ensuring that all staff provide consistent routines and boundaries.

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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

that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed, furnished and maintained so as to protect each child from avoidable hazards to the child’s health. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(d))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, this relates to ensuring staff protect children’s dignity by maintaining acceptable living standards throughout the home. 17 February 2025

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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

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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

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child;

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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)(c)(h)) 17 February 2025 Inspection report for children’s home: 2734662 8 In particular, this relates to ensuring that managers’ oversight of incidents is robust, provides professional challenge about inconsistent responses to children and identifies learning for staff. In particular, ensure that monitoring and oversight systems evaluate the effectiveness of strategies in place to ensure appropriate support for children.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that staff are equipped with skills and relevant support to meet children’s needs.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that an independent person visits the children’s home at least once each month.

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Requirement Due date

When the independent person is carrying out a visit, the registered person must help the independent person—

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Requirement Due date

if they consent, to interview in private such of the children, their parents, relatives and persons working at the home as the independent person requires; and

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Requirement Due date

to inspect the premises of the home and such of the home’s records (except for a child’s case records, unless the child and the child’s placing authority consent) as the independent person requires.

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Requirement Due date

A visit by the independent person to the home may be unannounced.

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Requirement Due date

The independent person’s report may recommend actions that the registered person may take in relation to the home and timescales within which the registered person must consider whether or not to take those actions.

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Requirement Due date

The independent person must provide a copy of the independent person’s report to—

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Requirement Due date

HMCI. (Regulation 44 (1) (2)(a)(b) (3) (5) (7))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that the independent person seeks feedback from children, parents, relatives and staff working at the home. Ensure that their reports are received by Ofsted within the required time frame. 17 February 2025 Inspection report for children’s home: 2734662 9

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that staff act as effective advocates for or on behalf of a child who may be experiencing difficulties with education or training matters including, but not limited to, attainment, admissions, attendance or behaviour, as a good parent would do. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 28, paragraph 5.12)

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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: 2734662 10

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: GAC Family Services Limited

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Children’s home details

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

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Inspector

Helen Gronhaug, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2734662 11 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 children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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