Children's Home run by Harmonia House Ltd in Barnet

Inspection report for children’s home: 2809398 1 Registered provider: Harmonia House Ltd Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This privately run home provides cares for up to 4 children with social and/or emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The home and the manager registered with Ofsted in April 2025.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, 2 children were living at the home.

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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 outstanding

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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: 24 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: 2809398 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

24/09/2025 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2809398 3

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Summary of findings

Children receive thoughtfully planned care, helping them to settle in the home and make good progress. They enjoy a range of fun activities and benefit from having good routines and structure to their day. Both children are in education, including one child who had been out of education for some time. Children’s risk assessments are specific and relevant and include clear guidance to staff about how to keep children safe. Staff have a clear, shared vision for each child and feel well supported. Leaders and managers are focused on promoting children’s development and helping them to achieve their goals. One recommendation has been made regarding behaviour management.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children receive thoughtfully planned, individualised support and care at this home. They benefit from the integrated therapeutic model of care provided by the in-house therapists. The clinical team provides individual support to children following an assessment on admission, as well as helping to formulate a trauma-informed care plan for staff to implement. A consistent response from the staff team is helping children to settle in the home and make progress from their respective starting points.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children enjoy a range of fun activities both in the home and the community. They benefit from having good routines and structure to their day. Children are given opportunities to have new experiences in the home and the community. The home has a large garden where children enjoy fun activities, including football and trampolining. The children also spend time in the community, going shopping and visiting the cinema and the zoo.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Both children have a full-time education placement. One child had been out of education for a period but has started to attend school again and has completed their GCSEs. Feedback from one school is very positive about staff communication and support. The manager and staff take effective action when children are not in education. They talk with education professionals and provide children with educational activities at home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s health needs are met well. Children attend all their routine health appointments. Staff work closely with health professionals to ensure that children receive the appropriate support. Specialist help and support are sought when necessary.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are well prepared for independence, both with practical skills and emotional support. Staff help children to learn how to budget and cook their own meals. One child is being helped to search for a job. Staff understand their role in helping children to stay in touch with their families and support them to do so if appropriate. Inspection report for children’s home: 2809398 4

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

Staff understand and manage children’s risks well. They develop strong and warm relationships with the children, which enables the children to share any worries they have. The stable and consistent home environment, together with the warmth and confidence of the staff, helps children to feel safe and secure.

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

Episodes of children going missing from the home have significantly reduced. Children receive a well-coordinated response when they are missing from home. Staff understand the risks and follow individual missing-from-home protocols. The manager and staff work effectively with other professionals when children are missing and request independent return home interviews from placing authorities to gather important information to manage and reduce risks.

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

Staff use individual positive behaviour plans to support children. They set consistent boundaries and routines for children, which they respond to well. A reward system is used to promote and encourage positive behaviour. Leaders and managers have embedded a culture of using restorative approaches in place of consequences.

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

Incidents in the home are managed well and are followed up with robust management oversight. Staff have completed physical intervention training and know how to de- escalate challenging situations. There have been 7 incidents of physical intervention since the last inspection. Staff talk to children following these incidents and help them to reflect on their behaviour. However, for one incident, staff did not show appropriate understanding of the child’s triggers to prevent the situation from escalating.

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

Managers thoroughly assess the needs of new children coming into the home and any impact this change may have on the children already there. They work well with placing authorities and the in-house therapeutic team to identify the needs of new children. Managers identify and provide sufficient staff to meet these needs to keep all children safe in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The home is led and managed by a committed and experienced registered manager. She and the staff have high aspirations for the children in their care. They are focused on promoting children’s development and helping them to achieve their goals. Leaders and managers know the children very well and carefully monitor their progress.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager is dedicated and advocates tirelessly to ensure that children lead positive and fulfilling lives. She challenges professionals to ensure that children’s individual care plans meet their needs. She has excellent oversight of the home and understands the children’s day-to-day experiences and the quality of care that they receive. Inspection report for children’s home: 2809398 5 Staff respect and value the registered manager and say that they feel well supported by the leaders and managers. Records of staff supervision and team meetings demonstrate in-depth discussions about the children, including reflection and clear direction. Training is effective, with a focus on ensuring that staff can meet the needs of the children in their care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Leaders and managers have an excellent understanding of the home’s strengths and areas for development. There is meaningful management oversight of all records, which are regularly reviewed. Internal and external monitoring systems are used to review the progress of the service. This excellent oversight contributes to the ongoing improvement and development of the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Feedback from professionals and a parent of one of the children is highly complimentary. They describe the quality of care provided to children as overwhelmingly positive. Leaders and managers work proactively with other professionals and build strong, constructive relationships with children’s social workers. Professionals receive regular updates on the progress and experiences of children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

No requirements were raised at this inspection. One recommendation has been raised. Inspection report for children’s home: 2809398 6

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that all staff are confident in the principles of restraint and any techniques used to prevent challenging situations from escalating as defined in the home’s statement of purpose. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 49, paragraph 9.57) Inspection report for children’s home: 2809398 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: 2809398 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Woodgate House, 2-8 Games Road, Cockfosters, Barnet EN4 9HN

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Inspectors

Kay Barnett, Social Care Inspector Dorothy Thompstone, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2809398 9 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.

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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