Kisimul Group
Kisimul Group is a UK specialist care and education provider operating schools, children's and adult residential homes, and supported living across 44 sites for children and adults with autism, severe learning disabilities, and complex needs.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1977
- HeadquartersLincoln, United Kingdom
- Headcount501–1,000
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Kisimul Group does
Kisimul Group is a UK-based specialist care and education provider, founded in 1977 and headquartered in Swinderby, Lincolnshire, operating as the privately held Kisimul Group Limited. It serves children, young people, and adults with autism, severe learning disabilities, challenging behaviour, and complex needs through an integrated portfolio spanning specialist schools (Kisimul School Swinderby, Acacia School, and a Surrey provision), five children's residential homes, over twenty adult residential care homes, supported living services under the An Darach Care brand, and Calman Colaiste College — an independent specialist further-education college in Thorney, Peterborough. The company reports 44 operational locations concentrated across Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire, Shropshire, Peterborough/Cambridgeshire, and Greater London, employing 501–1,000 people (907 participated in its 2026 workplace survey).
The service model is organised around two proprietary frameworks: the Meaningful Life Model, a person-centred planning methodology applied across all sites, and MEAS ("respect" in Scots Gaelic), a behaviour-support training programme recertified by BILD for a further three years in 2026. These are complemented by in-house therapeutic services (speech and language therapy, educational psychology, specialist sleep practitioner support, and the Story Massage programme), vocational and enterprise education including on-site animal husbandry facilities, and assistive sensory technology such as the Sensory Showtime system. Care and education are regulated by the CQC and Ofsted respectively, and the group holds a two-star "Outstanding" Best Companies workplace accreditation.
Commercially, Kisimul operates a sales-led, referral-based model: placements are commissioned and funded by Local Authorities and health boards following collaborative assessment, with residential weekly fees covering most costs and supported-living tenants funding accommodation separately through benefits (Universal Credit, ESA, PIP). Pricing is negotiated through commissioning processes and not publicly disclosed. Revenue is generated through commissioned care services and supported-living tenancies, addressing per-resident demand for high-acuity provision across many public-sector payers rather than direct-to-consumer sales.
Kisimul Group firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Kisimul Group
- Legal name
- Kisimul Group Limited
- Website
- https://kisimul.co.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1977
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 501–1,000 employees
- Short description
- Kisimul Group is a UK specialist care and education provider operating schools, children's and adult residential homes, and supported living across 44 sites for children and adults with autism, severe learning disabilities, and complex needs.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Kisimul Group industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Specialist Care Services for Autism and Learning Disabilities
- NAICS
- Residential Intellectual and Developmental Disability Facilities (623210), Residential Intellectual and Developmental Disability Facilities (62321), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (624120), Other Individual and Family Services (624190)
- SIC
- Services-Nursing & Personal Care Facilities (8050), Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Social Services (8300)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Pediatric Rehabilitation & Developmental Therapy Centers (PT/OT/SLP) (HLAFAJAL)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Autism Classroom & School Program Support (Inclusion/Resource) (EDAKAKAC), Communication Support Childcare (AAC, speech/language-informed) (HSAAAIAH)
Keywords
Where Kisimul Group is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Lincoln
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices6 records
Markets served
Kisimul Group business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Commissioned Care Services: Services are commissioned and funded by Local Authorities or health boards. In residential care, the weekly fee covers most costs apart from personal expenditure. Residents receiving state benefits or with private income/savings over a certain threshold may be asked to contribute.
- Supported Living Tenancy: In supported living, the care is provided by Kisimul and accommodation by a separate landlord. Residents have their own tenancy agreement and are responsible for bills and cost of living expenses, funded through benefits such as Universal Credit, ESA, and PIP.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels5 records
Kisimul Group product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Kisimul Group delivers commissioned specialist residential care, supported living, and specialist education services for children and adults with autism, severe learning disabilities, and complex needs across 44 UK locations. Services span children's homes, adult residential homes, supported living (An Darach Care), three specialist schools, and Calman Colaiste College, all unified by the proprietary Meaningful Life Model. The offering is funded primarily through Local Authority and health board commissioning, supplemented by therapeutic services such as Speech and Language Therapy, Educational Psychology, and Sleep Practitioner support.
Product overview
Kisimul Group is a specialist care provider operating 44 locations across the UK, offering integrated services for children and adults with autism, severe learning disabilities, and complex needs. The portfolio includes Children's Services (specialist schools in Lincolnshire and Surrey, plus five children's homes), Adult Provision (over 20 residential care homes and supported living services under the An Darach Care brand), and Calman Colaiste College (independent specialist further education college with satellite provision). All services are unified by Kisimul's proprietary Meaningful Life Model—a person-centred framework ensuring individualised support and therapeutic care. The organisation also delivers therapeutic services including Speech and Language Therapy, Educational Psychology, Sleep Practitioner support, and the MEAS behaviour support training programme (BILD-certified). Education and care are delivered through classroom, vocational, and practical settings including on-site animal husbandry facilities. The operational footprint spans Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire, Shropshire, Peterborough/Cambridgeshire, and Greater London.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Meaningful Life Model: Kisimul's golden thread woven into everything they do - a bespoke plan designed to ensure all individuals accessing their services have person-centred support to reach their goals and dreams through a therapeutically and universally informed approach.
- MEAS
- Calman Colaiste College
- An Darach Care
Products and services
- Children's Residential Homes Residential care homes for children and young people with autism and complex needs, including Acacia Hall, Clann Dion, Hawthorn House, The Old Vicarage, and Tigh Abaid. Commissioned and funded by Local Authorities or health boards.
- Adult Residential Care Homes Twenty residential homes for adults with autism and learning disabilities across the UK, including An Caladh House, An Darach House, Blythe House, Tigh Bruadair, Tigh Fruin, and others. Commissioned by Local Authorities or health boards; weekly fees cover most service costs.
- Supported Living (An Darach Care) Supported living services enabling adults with learning disabilities and autism to live independently in their own homes with tailored physical and emotional support. Care provided by Kisimul; accommodation via a separate landlord with the resident holding their own tenancy agreement.
- Kisimul School (Swinderby) - Lower School Specialist school for children with autism and learning disabilities located in Swinderby, Lincolnshire. Registered with Ofsted.
- Acacia School - Upper School Upper school provision for children with autism and learning disabilities in Lincolnshire, building on the Lower School curriculum at Kisimul School Swinderby.
- Calman Colaiste College Independent specialist further education college for young adults aged 19-25 with autism, learning disabilities, and complex needs. Located in Thorney, Peterborough on 29 acres with animal husbandry facilities. Includes a satellite facility at Tigh Fruin, Retford.
- Therapeutic Services Comprehensive therapeutic support integrated across all Kisimul services, including Speech and Language Therapy (SaLT), Educational Psychology, Sleep Practitioner services, Story Massage programme, and Positive Behaviour Support (PBS). Delivered by in-house qualified practitioners.
- Sensory Showtime System State-of-the-art sensory room technology with software that triggers sequences of music, bubble tubes, LED colour curtain strips, and fibre optic carpet via a simple switch, alongside a video projector for images and videos. Delivered within Kisimul's children's homes to empower young people.
- MEAS Behaviour Support Training Programme Kisimul's behaviour support training programme for all colleagues working with individuals who may present with behaviours of concern. Named from the Scots Gaelic word for 'respect'. Recertified by BILD for three years in April 2026.
Quantifiable outcome
- 100% of 153 surveyed relatives would recommend Kisimul services
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Kisimul Group
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Kisimul Group technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
Kisimul Group partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators4 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Kisimul Group competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Priory Group: Largest UK independent provider of specialist mental health, education and social care services. Operates specialist residential and education settings for autistic individuals and people with learning disabilities — directly overlapping Kisimul's children and adult services but across a much broader portfolio.
- Cygnet Health Care: Large UK independent provider of mental health, learning disability and autism services across hospitals, residential homes and supported living. Overlaps with Kisimul's high-acuity LD/autism residential services at greater scale.
Direct peers
- Achieve Together: UK specialist care provider supporting adults with learning disabilities, autism and complex needs through supported living and residential care. Closest direct peer to Kisimul's adult An Darach Care and adult residential homes in terms of commissioning model and service mix.
- Voyage Care: National UK provider of residential and supported living services for adults with learning disabilities, autism, acquired brain injuries and complex needs. Comparable commissioning-led model, similar person-centred ethos and overlap in adult complex care segment.
- Hft (Home Farm Trust): National UK charity supporting people with learning disabilities through supported living, residential care and specialist services. Very comparable mission, commissioning model and supported-living-led delivery to An Darach Care.
- United Response: UK national charity providing person-centred support for people with learning disabilities, autism and mental health needs, including supported living and residential services. Comparable commissioning mix and LD/autism specialism.
- Dimensions UK: Large UK not-for-profit specialist provider of support for people with learning disabilities, autism and complex needs, focused on supported living. Directly comparable to Kisimul's supported living arm in commissioning model and customer segment.
- MacIntyre: UK national charity providing high-quality care, education and specialist support for children and adults with learning disabilities and autism. Comparable to Kisimul's integrated children-and-adult care and education offering.
- Livability: UK charity supporting disabled people through residential, educational, community and faith-based services. Overlaps with Kisimul's residential, school and college provision for people with complex disabilities.
- Witherslack Group: UK specialist provider of education and care for children with complex needs including autism, ADHD and learning disabilities. Closely comparable to Kisimul's specialist schools (Swinderby, Acacia, Surrey) and children's homes in pupil profiles and Ofsted-regulated delivery.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Kisimul Group social profiles
Digital presenceKisimul Group compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance5 records
Kisimul Group financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Kisimul Group leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles17 records
Kisimul Group subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries35 records
Kisimul Group funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Kisimul Group M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Kisimul Group
What does Kisimul Group do?
Kisimul Group delivers commissioned specialist residential care, supported living, and specialist education services for children and adults with autism, severe learning disabilities, and complex needs across 44 UK locations. Services span children's homes, adult residential homes, supported living (An Darach Care), three specialist schools, and Calman Colaiste College, all unified by the proprietary Meaningful Life Model. The offering is funded primarily through Local Authority and health board commissioning, supplemented by therapeutic services such as Speech and Language Therapy, Educational Psychology, and Sleep Practitioner support.
Is Kisimul Group a public or private company?
Kisimul Group is a private company. It is classified as unknown and is currently operating.
When was Kisimul Group founded?
Kisimul Group was founded in 1977. It employs 501 to 1,000 people.
Where is Kisimul Group based?
Kisimul Group is headquartered in Lincoln, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Kisimul Group make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Commissioned Care Services are the primary driver. The others are supported Living Tenancy.
Who are Kisimul Group's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Priory Group and Cygnet Health Care. Direct peers are Achieve Together, Voyage Care, Hft (Home Farm Trust), United Response, Dimensions UK, MacIntyre, Livability and Witherslack Group.
Does Kisimul Group have an API?
No public API is recorded for Kisimul Group.
What industry is Kisimul Group in?
Kisimul Group's product category is Specialist Care Services for Autism and Learning Disabilities. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLAFAJAL, Pediatric Rehabilitation & Developmental Therapy Centers (PT/OT/SLP), with a secondary code of EDAKAKAC, Autism Classroom & School Program Support (Inclusion/Resource). Its NAICS code is 623210 and its SIC code is 8050.