Children's Home run by Strides Childcare Services Ltd in Enfield

Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2769126 1 Registered provider: Strides Childcare Services Ltd

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children's home

This home is privately owned and provides care for up to 3 children who experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children's home

The home was registered with Ofsted in February 2024. There has been no registered manager since 30 September 2025. A new manager is in place but has not submitted a full application to register with Ofsted.

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Information about this children's home

At the time of the inspection, 2 children were living in the home, and one child was staying with family.

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Information about this children's home

The inspector was aware during this inspection that serious child protection allegations were being investigated by the appropriate authorities. While Ofsted does not have the power to investigate allegations of this kind, actions taken by the setting in response to the allegations were considered alongside other evidence available at the time of the inspection to inform the inspector's judgements.

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Information about this children's home

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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Information about this inspection

At this inspections, the inspector evaluated:

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Information about this inspection

 the care of children  the safety of children  the effectiveness of leaders and managers. Inspector has looked closely at the experiences and progress of children, using the Social Care Common Inspection Framework. This assurance inspection was carried Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2769126 2 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'. Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2769126 3

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Findings from the inspection

This visit was carried out to address specific concerns received by Ofsted regarding the care provided to children.

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Findings from the inspection

We did not identify any serious or widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance inspection.

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Findings from the inspection

The provider has recruited a new manager to the home. The new manager is supported by the responsible individual and senior leaders. However, the new manager has not yet submitted their application to register with Ofsted.

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Findings from the inspection

A child spoken to during this inspection said that they feel safe. They can identify a trusted person to talk to if they have concerns. Staff are warm in their interactions with the children and show an appropriate understanding of the children's life experiences and how these impact on their behaviour. Feedback from placing authorities is positive about the care provided to children.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff demonstrate appropriate understanding of whistleblowing policies and procedures. They have received relevant training on safeguarding and know the children very well. Allegations or suspicions of harm are dealt with immediately and reported to the relevant agencies. This enhances children's safety in the home.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff are alert to risks and know the children's vulnerabilities well. They work with other professionals, including children's social workers and the police, to discuss potential risks and safety plans. Risk assessments are regularly updated following incidents. Children are helped to understand risks through individual key-work sessions. Some children engage well with staff and talk about what is happening in their lives.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff are able to de-escalate children's aggression or challenging behaviour, and physical intervention is rare in this home. Staff only use physical restraint when it is necessary to safeguard children and others. However, incidents of restraint and the measures used are not always clearly recorded. There is insufficient management oversight of the incidents. These shortfalls compromise managers' and staff's ability to reflect on and adapt their practice when necessary.

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Findings from the inspection

There is a well-coordinated response when children are missing from the home, and incidents of children going missing have reduced. Staff are proactive, maintain contact with the relevant professionals and look for children in the local area. Individual plans identify risks and the actions to be taken when children go missing from the home. However, individual missing-from-care protocols do not provide a clear plan to ensure that all staff can easily access the same information when needed. Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2769126 4 The home's physical environment is clean, tidy, well maintained and well decorated. Children's bedrooms and communal areas are well furnished, personalised and comfortable. However, for one child, there was a period in the past when their bedroom was not maintained to a good standard, despite staff completing daily checks.

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Findings from the inspection

Three requirements and a recommendation have been made as a result of this assurance inspection. Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2769126 5

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

29/04/2025 Full Good 16/07/2024 Full Good Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2769126 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

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 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

lead and manage the home in a way that is consistent with the approach and ethos, and delivers the outcomes, set out in the home's statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child;

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Requirement Due date

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(c)(h))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, leaders and managers must ensure that the recruited home manager submits a complete application to register with Ofsted.

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Requirement Due date

Leaders and managers must ensure that all significant incidents in the home have management oversight and take action to address any shortfalls identified. 30 April 2024

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Requirement Due date

The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

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Requirement Due date

that staff— 30 April 2026 Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2769126 7 assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child's relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand how to keep safe;

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Requirement Due date

have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm;

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Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child's welfare; and

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Requirement Due date

that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed, furnished and maintained so as to protect each child from avoidable hazards to the child's health; and (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(vi)(d))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, leaders and managers must ensure that all significant incidents in the home have clear management oversight, and ensure that records are detailed, used effectively to monitor the service and enable continued learning.

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Requirement Due date

Managers must ensure that children are helped to learn how to keep themselves safe, and ensure that the children's bedrooms are maintained to a high and safe standard at all times.

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Requirement Due date

The quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who—

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Requirement Due date

understand the children's home's overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children;

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Requirement Due date

use this understanding to deliver care that meets children's needs and supports them to fulfil their potential.

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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

understand and apply the home's statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

provide personalised care that meets each child's needs, as recorded in the child's relevant plans, taking account of the child's background; 30 April 2026 Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2769126 8 provide to children living in the home the physical necessities they need in order to live there comfortably;

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Requirement Due date

provide to children personal items that are appropriate for their age and understanding. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(b)(iv)(vii)(viii))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, leaders and managers must ensure that all children's bedrooms are maintained to a high and safe standard at all times.

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that staff are familiar with the home's policies on record-keeping and understand the importance of careful, objective and clear recording. In particular, the registered manager should ensure that all children's records are detailed, are of good quality and reflect children's experiences and views. ('Guide to the Children's Homes Regulations, including the quality standards', page 62, paragraph 14.4) Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2769126 9

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Children's home details

Registered provider: Strides Childcare Services Ltd

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Children's home details

Registered provider address: 39 Woodgrange Avenue, Enfield EN1 1EW

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Children's home details

Responsible individual: Patrick Nnebedum

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Inspector

Dorothy Thompstone, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2769126 10 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 children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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