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

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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 2 children with emotional and social difficulties.

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Information about this children's home

At the time of the inspection, there were 2 children living at the home. Both children were spoken to as part of the inspection.

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Information about this children's home

The manager registered in June 2024. Current plans are for the deputy manager to register as manager in June 2026 when the current manager goes on maternity leave.

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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. The actions of the children's home contribute to improved outcomes and positive experiences for children and young people who need help, protection and care.

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good

Date of last inspection: 9 September 2025

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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

09/09/2025 Full Good 02/01/2025 Full Good 19/12/2023 Full Good Inspection report for children's home: 2734662 3

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Summary of findings

Children are cared for by committed and nurturing staff who understand their individual needs. Children benefit from strong, trusting relationships, effective safeguarding practice and meaningful opportunities to develop their independence and confidence.

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Summary of findings

Children are making good progress from their starting points and live in a stable, nurturing and genuinely homely environment. Leaders and managers have created a positive culture that prioritises relationships, safety and individual progress.

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Summary of findings

Leaders and managers provide stability and clear direction. While challenges remain, particularly in relation to incidents of a child going missing from care, these are actively managed with resilience, persistence and a child-centred approach.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff work hard to ensure that children live in a warm, stable and genuinely homely environment. The house is well maintained, personalised and does not feel institutional. Personal touches, such as photographs and individualised bedroom spaces, help children to develop a strong sense of belonging. The home celebrates children's achievements, with visible recognition throughout, including praise and incentive systems that promote positive behaviour.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children's views are central to practice. There is a strong culture of listening, and children are supported to express themselves in ways that suit their needs and preferences. Staff respond meaningfully to children's views, ensuring they feel heard, respected and valued. Children say that they feel comfortable approaching staff for support.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Relationships between staff and children are a significant strength of the home. Observations during the inspection evidenced consistently warm, nurturing and trusting interactions. Children confidently approach staff for reassurance, guidance and support, demonstrating a strong sense of emotional security. Notably, children who have previously experienced difficulties in forming relationships are now developing positive and meaningful connections, including with male role models. Strong attachments are clearly evident, even for those children who spend periods of time away from the home, as they continue to maintain close and secure emotional bonds with staff.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Education is prioritised. Staff demonstrate a clear commitment to supporting children's aspirations. For example, staff have researched and explained realistic pathways to support a child's ambition of becoming a veterinary nurse. They have also supported another child's interest in gaming and technology by securing access to a coding programme. Staff advocate effectively with external professionals, particularly in Inspection report for children's home: 2734662 4 addressing delays in education planning. This demonstrates the home's commitment to helping children achieve their potential.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are making meaningful progress across different areas of their lives. Staff actively promote confidence and independence. For example, one child has developed the confidence to attend community activities more independently, such as visiting a hairdresser. This has had a positive impact on other areas of their development, including education and social engagement.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported to engage with their local community and wider experiences. They participate in activities such as charity events and holidays, which broaden their experiences and support their social development.

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

Children say that they feel safe and secure in the home. Staff promote an open and enabling culture that balances children's need for independence with appropriate safeguarding measures.

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

Risk assessments are detailed, regularly reviewed and tailored to individual children. Staff demonstrate a good understanding of behaviours and are able to identify early signs of distress, enabling timely and appropriate intervention. Staff use professional judgement effectively, supported by ongoing training.

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

Care planning is effective and well coordinated. Key-work sessions are purposeful, reflective and responsive to children's evolving needs. Partnership working with families and professionals is strong, contributing to a shared understanding of children's needs and ensuring consistent support.

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

There has been an increase in incidents of one child going missing from care. While this remains an area of concern, staff respond consistently and proactively, following robust procedures. Importantly, the strength of relationships means that the child often shares information about their whereabouts and returns home. Return home interviews are consistently encouraged, and professionals are kept well informed. The strong relationships between staff and the child continue to act as a protective factor.

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

Behaviour management is proportionate and restorative. Children understand expectations and view staff responses as fair. This supports positive engagement and accountability. For example, a child was observed calmly discussing a plan to take responsibility for damage caused. There have been no incidents of physical intervention, reflecting the effectiveness of de-escalation strategies and relational practice.

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

Health arrangements are safe and well managed. Medication systems are robust and subject to regular audit and oversight. While children are not currently self-administering medication, this is appropriately reviewed in line with individual care planning. Inspection report for children's home: 2734662 5 The home environment is physically safe, with effective health and safety systems in place. Necessary safety measures, including fire safety equipment, are present and maintained in a way that preserves the home's warm and homely feel.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers provide effective and consistent oversight of the home. They promote a positive culture where children's welfare, safety and progress are central.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Senior leaders demonstrate thoughtful forward planning. Arrangements to cover the manager's maternity leave are being carefully considered to ensure continuity of leadership and stability for children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Managers are developing creative and reflective ways to evidence children's progress, including the use of visual methods, such as videos. This supports both reflection and the celebration of achievements.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The staff team is stable, committed and works well together. Staff morale is high and there is a strong sense of shared purpose. This consistency is particularly important given children's previous experiences of instability.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff are well trained and supported. There is a clear focus on ongoing professional development, with most staff progressing towards relevant qualifications. Reflective practice is embedded through team meetings, debriefs and learning from incidents.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Managers maintain strong and effective relationships with external professionals, including social workers, education providers and families. This ensures a coordinated and consistent approach to care planning and delivery in children's lives.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has ensured that they have met the requirements from the last inspection. However, there remains a delay in the regulation 44 reports being submitted to the regulator. This has impacted the capacity of the regulator to review and report on the monthly independent person's visits and findings. 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 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

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

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Requirement Due date

The provider must submit regulation reports in line with process timescales. 22 June 2026

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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 7

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

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Inspectors

Simon Hunter, Social Care Inspector Theresa Kambani, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: 2734662 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. If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or

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Inspectors

medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted Inspection report for children's home: 2734662 9

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