Children's Home run by Optimum Youth Care Limited in Harrow

Inspection report for children’s home: 2843400 1 Registered provider: Optimum Youth Care Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The privately run home provides care for up to one child with learning disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

The home and manager registered with Ofsted in November 2025.

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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

Date of last inspection: not previously inspected

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: not applicable Inspection report for children’s home: 2843400 2

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Summary of findings

Managers and staff provide nurturing care for the child. Staff meet the child’s needs by following care plans and adapting communication aids to ensure that the child can express their views. Staff provide various activities for the child to enjoy in the home and in the community; this helps the child to feel confident and develop self-awareness. The child is subject to a deprivation of liberty order (DoL order), but some staff have limited awareness of the impact of this on the child. Some staff have limited understanding of restraint techniques, and some are not aware of how to whistleblow should they wish to do so.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child has settled well in this warm and inviting environment. They are making good progress, supported by staff who provide nurturing care.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff adapt their communication to match the child’s needs. They use communication aids, such as social stories and pictures, to interact with the child. These help the child to understand what happens next in the day, as well as to express their views, and they are developing their self-confidence as a result.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child enjoys a range of experiences and activities on a regular basis, helping them to develop their skills. For example, staff support the child to have trips out in the community, go swimming, attend a bike club and make regular trips to the hair salon.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff provide opportunities for the child to develop achievable independence skills in the home. This helps the child’s self-awareness and helps them to take pride in and ownership of where they live.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support and welcome parents into the home. Positive feedback from parents reflects the development of trusting relationships with staff and confidence in the level of care that the staff provide. Staff follow plans and work in collaboration with parents and external professionals to ensure that the child makes progress in accordance with their needs.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff meet the health needs of the child well. They support the child to attend and participate in meetings to ensure their voice is heard. Staff welcome health professionals into the home; this helps to reduce levels of anxiety for the child when attending regular health appointments in the community.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff value education. They advocate for the child in meetings and engage in collaborative planning, which informs decision-making about the next steps to meet the Inspection report for children’s home: 2843400 3 child’s educational needs. Staff also help the child to learn and to develop independence skills through various activities in the home.

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

Staff understand the risks and triggers for the child. Staff know how to sensitively calm the child when they are agitated; this helps to keep the child safe. As a result, incidents have reduced.

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

Staff have good awareness of medication procedures and administration for the child. Records are kept up to date and have oversight from the registered manager.

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

Consequences for the child are proportionate and fair, helping the child to be protected from harm. Records include staff reflections, enabling them to learn and plan accordingly for the child. Physical interventions have reduced over time. However, not all staff have full awareness of restraint techniques and the recording systems in place.

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

Most staff have a good understanding of whistleblowing procedures. However, some staff have limited awareness of who they can report whistleblowing concerns to, should they wish to do so.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager promotes a nurturing culture in the home. This is achieved by maintaining good working relationships with external professionals and creating additional bespoke plans to ensure staff improve outcomes for the child.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager knows the child well. They monitor the child’s progress and maintain oversight of records.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff value supervision, which addresses their wellbeing as well as providing the opportunity for discussions about practice. The registered manager evaluates staff knowledge and competencies in creative ways, ensuring that shortfalls are identified.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

A training programme is in place for staff. However, some staff have limited awareness of DoL orders and the implications for children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Although safer recruitment practice is in place, not all staff have a full work history recorded. Inspection report for children’s home: 2843400 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 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 to 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 staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(c))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that staff understand the content and impact of DoL orders and have the necessary training in restraint techniques. 31 July 2026

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that they maintain good employment practice, as set out in regulations 31 to 33. This should include exploring the applicant’s full employment history. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.1)  The registered person should ensure that staff are familiar with the home’s whistleblowing procedures. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 43, paragraph 9.15) Inspection report for children’s home: 2843400 5

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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: 2843400 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Optimum Youth Care Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Broadwing Accountancy Services Ltd, The Rickyard Barn, Blisworth Hill Farm, Stoke Road, Blisworth, Northampton NN7 3DB

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Inspector

Andrea Ulett, social care inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2843400 7 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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