Why it matters: The acquisition brings CF Social Work under the ownership of Keys Group, which operates more than 25 specialist schools and 180 residential children's homes across England and Wales. CF Social Work has grown from serving 30 children five years ago to supporting more than 300 children across the East of England.
The details: CF Social Work runs four residential homes in Suffolk: Tutum House in Ipswich, Felix House in Felixstowe, Vella House in Leiston and Arva House in Witnesham. The company also delivers social work assessments, psychology services and educational support for children struggling to access mainstream schools.
The business is based at K Line House on West Road in Ipswich. The sale price was not disclosed, with Keys Group confirming it does not disclose financial details of acquisitions.
Three of the company's four Suffolk homes hold "good" Ofsted ratings – Felix House in Felixstowe (rated June 2024), Vella House in Leiston (May 2025) and Arva House in Witnesham (July 2025).
However, Tutum House in Ipswich, which cares for three children aged 10-17, was rated "requires improvement" by Ofsted in June 2025 under CF Social Work's previous ownership structure.
The other side: Ipswich.co.uk asked Keys Group how many staff CF Social Work employs, whether the Ipswich headquarters will be retained, whether the four Suffolk homes will remain open, and how the company ensures quality standards when scaling operations.
In response to multiple questions, Katie Drakeford, commercial director at Keys Group, said: "Keys has been delighted to welcome colleagues from across CF and is looking forward to working alongside them as the organisation continues to evolve and grow."
The company did not specify commitments on employment numbers, headquarters location or service continuity. On quality assurance, Keys Group stated that "CF and Keys share the same determination to provide the very best care and support possible for the children and families who use their services, with a focus on quality assurance that goes beyond compliance through robust policies, systems and procedures."
What they're saying: Ross Evans, managing director of CF Social Work, said: "This is a fantastic step forward for our growing business. Keys Group is a well-established and respected organisation that shares our passion for delivering high-quality outcomes for children and young people. We believe this partnership is an excellent fit, aligning perfectly with our values and vision for the future."
Tom Spencer, managing partner at BCF Equity Partners, added: "It has been a great privilege to support CF Social Work - an organisation that does so much good and has transformed the lives of so many children over the last five years. At the heart of the business is a management team that always puts the child first."
For context: Private equity firm BCF Equity Partners backed Ross Evans, managing director of CF Social Work, in a buyout five years ago. Under BCF's ownership, the business expanded from providing education services to a small number of children to operating residential homes and delivering social work assessments across the East of England.
Law firm Browne Jacobson advised on the sale, with Grant Thornton providing financial advice. Vicky Tomlinson, partner at Browne Jacobson, said: "CF Social Work and Keys Group are closely aligned as specialists in this area, and this transaction will help to scale up their services and enable even more young people to thrive."
The bottom line: The acquisition sees one of Ipswich's growing children's services providers join a national operator with an established presence across England and Wales.
