Enfield Council’s Children’s Services team offers good levels of support confirms Ofsted, following a comprehensive inspection carried out in July 2024.
The judgement reflects the Council’s ongoing commitment to delivering high-quality services for children and families across the borough, with some areas being recognized as “outstanding” by the inspectors.
The Ofsted report highlighted the Council’s effective leadership, strong partnership work, and the positive impact of its services on children’s lives. Particularly noteworthy was the outstanding help provided to children in care and the significant improvements made since the last inspection in 2019.
The report said: "Children who are in care in Enfield receive outstanding care and support from social workers and carers who know them very well. Consequently, most children, including those who are placed outside the borough, make significant and tangible progress." Inspectors also praised Enfield’s early help services, the quality of social work practice, and the positive outcomes achieved for care leavers.
Cllr Abdul Abdullahi, Enfield Council’s Cabinet Member for Children’s Services, expressed his pride in the achievement: "We are immensely proud of the report from Ofsted. It is a clear reflection of the dedication and hard work of our Children’s Services team. Our priority has always been to ensure that every child and young person in Enfield is given the best opportunity to thrive. This inspection reaffirms our commitment to supporting our young people and families, and we are determined to continue improving our services to achieve even greater outcomes in the future."
The report emphasized the stability and commitment of the staff team, which has been a cornerstone of the Council’s success. The inspectors acknowledged the positive working environment created by the Council, which has enabled social workers to deliver consistently good practice.
Tony Theodoulou, Executive Director - People at Enfield Council, praised the staff for their exemplary work: "The positive observations from Ofsted are testament to the extraordinary efforts of our staff who have gone above and beyond to ensure the well-being of children and families in Enfield. Their commitment and passion have been instrumental in achieving this result, and I am incredibly proud of what we have accomplished together. We will continue to work tirelessly to provide the highest standard of care, protection and support to children and families who live, work or study in Enfield."
Looking ahead, Enfield Council remains committed to further enhancing its services. Future plans include the continued development of family hubs, strengthening the out-of-hours service, and increasing support for foster carers. The Council is also focused on improving advocacy for young people at risk of homelessness and ensuring that care leavers fully understand their rights and entitlements.
- Ofsted awarded Enfield’s local authority children’s services a ‘Good’ rating following the inspection which took place from 22 to 26 July 2024.
- On 2 September 2024, the government confirmed that it would be scrapping single headline Ofsted judgements for schools with immediate effect. However, the ‘Good’ rating for Enfield Council remains in place.