Children's Home run by Smartcare Services in Enfield

Inspection report for children’s home: 2561501 1 Registered provider: Smartcare Services

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This privately owned home was registered with Ofsted in April 2020. It provides care for up to four children who experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

Two children were living in the home at the time of the inspection. The inspector spoke with one child during the inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager’s post has been vacant since July 2024. A new manager was appointed in January 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 requires improvement to be good

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good

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

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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: 2561501 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

18/06/2024 Full Good 11/07/2023 Full Good 20/04/2022 Full Good 18/05/2021 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2561501 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children thrive in a warm and inviting environment, where they feel secure and valued while forming strong and trusting relationships with caring staff.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

One child, who has been living in the home for some time, has made considerable progress. This progress has been helped by them having consistent and nurturing care that has been provided by the dedicated staff team.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff actively promote children’s learning. The two children currently living in the home receive educational support. One child has a visiting tutor. Leaders have strongly advocated for this child to be offered a school placement as soon as possible, recognising the importance of a structured school environment over home-based learning. Additionally, staff encourage children to explore alternative educational pathways, such as apprenticeships that help them to broaden their opportunities.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff understand children’s individual needs and encourage them to take part in key- work sessions. These sessions are not only opportunities for children to share their wishes and feelings, but also serve as a means for staff to support children to explore their vulnerabilities and to understand why staff can sometimes be concerned for their safety.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are encouraged to attend children’s meetings. These meetings enable children to participate in planning the weekly menu, creating the shopping list, and identifying activities they would like to take part in. Staff also use this time to gather children’s views on the home decor and to practise their rights, including checking that they know how to raise concerns or complaints.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children enjoy a variety of activities linked to their interests. For example, children attend a local youth club, attend a music studio, and have opportunities to have trips to the seaside.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support children to stay in touch with family and friends. This has included staff arranging a birthday barbecue for one child, which the whole staff team attended, and the child was able to invite their friends and family.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since the last inspection, some children have moved into the home but have only stayed for a short period. Some of these children’s endings have been sudden and with little notice. When these moves occur, staff support the children during their moves.

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

Staff understand children’s needs well. Risk assessments and care plans detail children’s risks, their needs and triggers. De-escalation strategies are tailored to each child, Inspection report for children’s home: 2561501 4 matching the communication styles from the placing authorities’ care plans. This approach has resulted in one child’s risks significantly reducing.

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

Leaders and managers ensure that when significant risks, such as criminal and sexual exploitation or allegations of sexual harm, are identified that comprehensive safety plans are swiftly implemented. While care plans are robust, some suitability assessments for new children moving into the home are not always thorough. These assessments do not consistently take into account all the children’s needs or adequately evaluate whether staff possess the necessary skills and training to meet the children’s diverse needs.

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

Staff follow established procedures when a child goes missing from the home, adhering to agreed safety protocols. They maintain contact with the child and ensure that all relevant professionals and agencies, including the police, are kept fully informed. Leaders take decisive action to escalate concerns when other professionals fail to recognise a child’s vulnerabilities.

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

Leaders and managers respond appropriately to allegations against staff, ensuring swift reporting to safeguarding agencies and working closely with placing authorities to address concerns effectively.

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

Bedroom searches are conducted responsibly, only in response to identified risks or concerns. Children are informed in advance when a search is necessary. If children are not present during the search, they are promptly notified afterwards.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Since the last full inspection, there have been changes in leadership and management, and the home has been without a registered manager since July 2024. After an active recruitment process, a new manager was appointed in January 2025. They have started the process to apply to Ofsted to be registered. However, at the time of this inspection, Ofsted had not received a completed application that could be processed.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

At the last inspection, a high proportion of staff were agency workers. Since then, many have moved into permanent roles, leading to a significant reduction in the use of agency staff. However, on reviewing recruitment practices, leaders were unable to provide dates when Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) update service checks were carried out for the manager and some agency staff.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Despite leaders acknowledging delays in the submission of monthly reports from the independent visitor to Ofsted, these issues have continued. As a result, leaders have failed to ensure the timely and regular review of the quality of care. This has limited regulatory oversight.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Staff morale is good, and staff feel supported in their roles. Leaders ensure that staff have the training they need to best support the children they care for. Team meetings are regular and well attended. Children are discussed at these meetings so that any risks to children are highlighted, and staff can be alerted to these. Inspection report for children’s home: 2561501 5 The manager and staff benefit from regular reflective supervision and yearly appraisals.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Leaders actively oversee the home, holding daily manager’s meetings with the current manager to assess children’s care and progress and identify areas for improvement. Inspection report for children’s home: 2561501 6

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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

A person may only manage a children’s home if—

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Requirement Due date

the person is of integrity and good character;

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Requirement Due date

having regard to the size of the home, its statement of purpose, and the number and needs (including any needs arising from any disability) of the children—

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Requirement Due date

the person has the appropriate experience, qualification and skills to manage the home effectively and lead the care of children; and

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Requirement Due date

the person is physically and mentally fit to manage the home; and

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Requirement Due date

full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the person in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2.

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Requirement Due date

For the purposes of paragraph (1)(b)(i), a person has the appropriate experience and qualification if the person has—

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Requirement Due date

within the last 5 years, worked for at least 2 years in a position relevant to the residential care of children;

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Requirement Due date

worked for at least one year in a role requiring the supervision and management of staff working in a care role; and

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Requirement Due date

the Level 5 Diploma in Leadership and Management for Residential Childcare (England) ("the Level 5 Diploma"); or

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Requirement Due date

a qualification which the registered provider considers to be equivalent to the Level 5 Diploma. (Regulation 28 (1)(a)(b)(i)(ii)(c) (2)(a)(b)(c)(i)(ii)) 1 July 2025 Inspection report for children’s home: 2561501 7 In particular, the manager must submit a complete application to Ofsted so that their fitness to manage the home can be assessed.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that an independent person visits the children’s home at least once each month.

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Requirement Due date

The independent person must provide a copy of the independent person’s report to—

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the manager must ensure that these reports are sent to Ofsted each month. 1 July 2025

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety.

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Requirement Due date

employ an individual to work at the children’s home; or

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Requirement Due date

if an individual is employed by a person other than the registered person to work at the home in a position in which the individual may have regular contact with children, allow that individual to work at the home,

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Requirement Due date

if the individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (3).

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Requirement Due date

full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2. (Regulation 32 (1) (2)(a)(b) (3)(d))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the manager must ensure that, when recruiting staff, a DBS is completed by the provider or a record of the check on the update service is maintained. This must also include checks on agency staff. 1 July 2025 Inspection report for children’s home: 2561501 8

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Recommendation

 The registered person should only accept placements for children where they are satisfied that the home can respond effectively to the child’s assessed needs as recorded in the child’s relevant plans, and where they have fully considered the impact that the placement will have on the existing group of children. Considering the skills and training of staff. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulation, including the quality standard’, page 56, paragraph 11.4)

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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: 2561501 9

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 10 Watermark Way, Foxholes Business Park, Hertford, Hertfordshire SG13 7TZ

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Inspector

Salean Bryant, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2561501 10 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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