Children's Home run by GAC Family Services Limited in Middlesbrough

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2679276 1 Registered provider: GAC Family Services Ltd

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is owned and managed by a private provider. It provides care for three children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in April 2024.

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Inspection date: 8 October 2025

Date of last inspection: 20 and 21 May 2025

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Inspection date: 8 October 2025

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Inspection date: 8 October 2025

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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Information about this inspection

At this inspection, the inspector evaluated:

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Information about this inspection

 the care of children  the safety of children  the effectiveness of leaders and managers. The inspector has looked closely at the experiences and progress of children, using the social care common inspection framework. This assurance 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’. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2679276 2

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Findings from the inspection

We did not identify any serious or widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance inspection.

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Findings from the inspection

Children experience continuity in the care they receive. The manager has successfully recruited a full team of permanent staff, reducing the reliance on agency workers. As a result, children are cared for by familiar staff and this supports stability and consistency.

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Findings from the inspection

Managers work with the staff to improve their relationships with children. Reflection sessions during team meetings help staff learn from experiences and improve their interactions. Models of care are regularly discussed, and plans are reviewed to embed these approaches into practice. Consequently, children, staff and professionals say that relationships have improved.

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Findings from the inspection

The staff work well with children to manage their emotions. Regular discussions take place to work through difficult feelings and explore different strategies. Children learn to understand their situation and receive support or address concerns. As a result, children are helped to prepare for their futures, understand expectations and overcome emotionally difficult times.

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Findings from the inspection

The manager acts quickly in response to allegations of abuse against staff in the home. They speak to staff and children to establish facts and remove staff from duty. The manager reflects on incidents to learn lessons and implement refresher training for staff. Although the relevant agencies were informed, the manager did not notify Ofsted in line with legislation.

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Findings from the inspection

The plans that inform staff about how to manage children’s behaviour do not reflect the training that staff have received. This was raised at the last inspection but remains unresolved. The plans have been reviewed on five occasions, but managers have failed to identify and correct the information. This may cause confusion in how staff respond to keep children safe.

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Findings from the inspection

Children’s care plans are out of date and contain incorrect information. The plans agreed with the local authority have not been updated for 18 months, and managers did not escalate their concern about this delay, despite the period of time since the children’s care plans were updated. As a result, the home’s own care plans may not reflect the actions agreed during the last two care reviews.

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Findings from the inspection

When children receive consequences for poor behaviour, managers do not review the records to ensure they are appropriate or effective. As a result, staff are able to use coercive language to ensure children comply with their wishes and give unrelated consequences that are ineffective. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2679276 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

20/05/2025 Full Requires improvement to be good 03/06/2024 Full Requires improvement to be good 02/10/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good 27/06/2023 Full Inadequate Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2679276 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 within the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if—

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Requirement Due date

there is an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there. (Regulation 40 (4)(c)) 19 November 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 the home’s workforce provides continuity of care to each child;

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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)(e)(h)) 19 November 2025

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must prepare and implement a policy ("the behaviour management policy") which sets out—

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Requirement Due date

how appropriate behaviour is to be promoted in the children's home; and

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Requirement Due date

the measures of control, discipline and restraint which may be used in relation to children in the home.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must keep the behaviour management policy under review and, where appropriate, revise it. 19 November 2025 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2679276 5 The registered person must ensure that—

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Requirement Due date

within 24 hours of the use of a measure of control, discipline or restraint in relation to a child in the home, a record is made which includes—

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Requirement Due date

the effectiveness and any consequences of the use of the measure; and

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Requirement Due date

within 48 hours of the use of the measure, the registered person, or a person who is authorised by the registered person to do so ("the authorised person")—

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Requirement Due date

has spoken to the user about the measure; and

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Requirement Due date

has signed the record to confirm it is accurate; and

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Requirement Due date

within 5 days of the use of the measure, the registered person or the authorised person adds to the record confirmation that they have spoken to the child about the measure. Regulation 35 (1)(a)(b) (2) (3)(a)(vii)(b)(i)(ii)(c)) Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2679276 6

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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: Unit 29a, The Link, 49 Effra Road, London SW2 1BZ

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Inspector

Lee Riley, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2679276 7 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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