Children's Home run by GAC Family Services Limited in Redcar and Cleveland

Inspection report for children’s home: 2791528 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 operated by a private provider. It offers care for up to 3 children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in January 2025.

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Information about this children’s home

There were two chidlren living at the home. Both chidlren were spoken with during 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: 2791528 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

19/08/2025 Full Good 14/08/2024 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children’s home: 2791528 3

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Summary of findings

Children are happy living in the home and have positive relationships with the staff. Photos of children and celebrations of their achievements adorn the walls and create a homely atmosphere. The children decorate the home for special events and help maintain the garden, promoting their feelings of belonging.

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Summary of findings

Managers and staff work closely with other professionals to quickly identify risks and keep children safe. Children contribute to their risk assessments, sharing how they want to be helped. Staff feel supported by leaders and managers. They have access to a range of training and development opportunities that enhance their practice.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children enjoy living in the home. They have positive relationships with all the staff and enjoy a wide range of activities. Children are confident that staff will be there for them if they become upset or worried. Children describe the home as ‘mint’ and say that they would not change anything about it.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support children with their education. Children’s attendance has improved and they are making good progress. The manager advocates on behalf of the children if their learning needs are not being met. Education professionals spoke positively about effective communication with the staff and the quality of the relationships staff have with children.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff build positive relationships with children and their families. Children have regular well-planned time with the people who are important to them, including brothers and sisters living with previous carers. When appropriate, children return to live with their families and receive support from staff until arrangements stabilise

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff help children to prepare for independence. Children have detailed independence plans that cover important things they will need to know when they leave the home. Staff record their progress with photos and written testimonies. One child is engaging enthusiastically in their independence learning and is developing the skills and knowledge they need for adulthood

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

When children move into the home, the manager carries out suitability assessments that consider all children’s needs. Children have detailed moving-in plans that include visits to the home and taking part in activities with the children who already live in the home. When children leave the home, they have a clear departure plan. Children and their families feel supported by the home and contact the staff when they need advice. Inspection report for children’s home: 2791528 4

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

Staff work closely with police and children’s social workers to ensure that children who are vulnerable to exploitation are kept safe online. Staff have meaningful conversations with children about online risks. Staff use a variety of resources and real-life examples to ensure that children understand the dangers that adults are concerned about.

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

Managers and the staff have regular consultations with a clinical psychologist to support their practice. Staff understand the children’s mental health struggles and provide frequent, well-planned conversations with children. This helps children to understand and manage their emotions and any mental wellbeing difficulties they may encounter. Children report feeling well supported in relation to their mental health and emotional wellbeing.

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

The manager has reviewed the home’s approach to consequences and promotes restorative practice. Children now understand why consequences are applied in response to negative behaviours. Children learn how to make amends and apologise appropriately for some of their actions. Sensitive conversations with children help staff and the child to understand why they have acted in a certain way.

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

Staff respond appropriately to children when they are distressed. Staff have conversations with children that support each child to reflect on incidents. However, the recording system for incidents is disorganised, and staff do not routinely reflect on incidents within meaningful timescales. Management oversight of incidents is also unclear.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff say they ‘love’ working in the home. They value the opportunities and training, as well as the nurturing environment that leaders and managers have created for everyone. Staff talk about how receptive the managers are to suggestions and welcome staff bringing learning from their previous roles. Staff feel valued with schemes such as the ‘employee of the month’ award.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager wants the home to have a family atmosphere and a sense of camaraderie. All staff receive regular, reflective practice-related supervision sessions, which they find very supportive. The manager prioritises staff wellbeing, and staff can discuss any issues they experience and reflect on their work-life balance. The manager has supported one of the team leaders in developing a smartphone app that supports mental health for the team.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager understands the strengths of the home and the areas that he would like to develop. He has introduced initiatives that improve the experience of living and working in the home for children and staff. Achievements for the children and the staff are celebrated. Healthy competition, collecting football stickers or playing a round of golf help staff and children build strong and trusting relationships. Inspection report for children’s home: 2791528 5 Staff have access to a range of training and development opportunities. Leaders and managers recently facilitated a development day with the provider’s other homes. Leaders and managers develop innovative ways of supporting staff to learn and understand various aspects of their role. However, one member of staff has failed to achieve their diploma qualification within the required time frame. Inspection report for children’s home: 2791528 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 registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety.

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Requirement Due date

employ an individual to work at the children’s home; or

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Requirement Due date

if an individual is employed by a person other than the registered person to work at the home in a position in which the individual may have regular contact with children, allow that individual to work at the home,

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Requirement Due date

if the individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (3).

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Requirement Due date

For the purposes of paragraph (3)(b), an individual who works in the home in a care role has the appropriate qualification if, by the relevant date, the individual has attained—

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Requirement Due date

the Level 3 Diploma for Residential Childcare (England) (“the Level 3 Diploma”); or

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Requirement Due date

in the case of an individual who starts working in a care role in a home after 1st April 2014, the date which falls 2 years after the date on which the individual started working in a care role in a home. (Regulation 32 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(b) (4)(a) (5)(a)) 1 September 2026

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that staff are familiar with the home’s record keeping policies and understand the importance of maintaining clear, objective, and accurate records. Detailed records should be kept for all individual incidents, including evidence of management oversight, review, and any actions taken in response. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4) Inspection report for children’s home: 2791528 7

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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: 2791528 8

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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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Inspector

Kirstie Sutherland, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2791528 9 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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