Enfield · North London
Supported Living for Enfield Residents
Enfield adults can live in one of our supported living homes, permanently or for a respite stay, but none of the homes is in Enfield. They are in Uxbridge, Whitton and Kingston upon Thames. Uxbridge is the nearest: roughly 45 to 60 minutes by car, or a long Piccadilly line ride from Southgate or Cockfosters. A placement needs the agreement of the person's Enfield social worker.
Where an Enfield resident would live with us
Enfield is London's northernmost borough, and all three of our homes are in the west and south-west. So any move would take the person a fair way from Edmonton, Palmers Green or Enfield Town. These are the journeys:
- Uxbridge is the nearest. By car it is roughly 45 to 60 minutes, round the M25 from the north of the borough or along the A406 and A40 from the south. By public transport, the Piccadilly line runs from Arnos Grove, Southgate, Oakwood and Cockfosters to Uxbridge, on trains that take the Uxbridge branch. That is about 1 hour 30 minutes or more, and you may have to change at Acton Town or Rayners Lane.
- Whitton and Kingston upon Thames take about 1 hour 30 minutes or more from most of Enfield.
From the Piccadilly line side of the borough, Uxbridge is one line away. From Ponders End or Enfield Lock, every option crosses London, so work out how often you would visit before agreeing to anything.
Which Enfield team do you start with?
It depends on who the person is and whether Enfield services already know them.
An adult with a learning disability
The Enfield Integrated Learning Disability Service (EILDS) brings Enfield Council social workers together with learning disability health staff from North London NHS Foundation Trust. It is based at the Carnegie Building, 258A Hertford Road, Enfield Highway. To be eligible, the person must be an adult living in Enfield with a primary diagnosis of learning disability, must be registered with an Enfield GP, and must meet the Care Act eligibility criteria. Families can refer themselves; professionals send the referral form to ildsreferrals@enfield.gov.uk. If your relative already has an EILDS worker, ask them about supported living first.
A young person still with children's services
EILDS starts working alongside Children's Services when a young person turns 16. A Transition Operational Group decides which adult team takes each young person on. Its members include the Joint Service for Disabled Children, SEN, Continuing Care and health. If supported living is the long-term plan, raise it at the reviews around 16. Don't leave it until the months before the 18th birthday.
Mental health needs
For mental health, supported accommodation is arranged through North London NHS Foundation Trust teams and the person's care coordinator. The Enfield Community Rehabilitation Team, for example, accepts referrals only from a care coordinator. We have not found a published Enfield panel or pathway for this, so ask the care coordinator how decisions are made.
Anyone not yet known to adult social care
Start with Enfield Adult Social Care's Single Point of Access on 020 8379 1001, Monday to Friday, or email adultsocialcare@enfield.gov.uk. You can also request a needs assessment online. The GOV.UK page for Enfield links to the council's form.
Placements outside Enfield are agreed, not assumed. If the person would move to one of our homes, the social worker has to agree that it meets their assessed needs. You can call us at any stage, but involve the social worker from the start.
Who pays for supported living for someone from Enfield?
There are two separate costs. The care and support are funded by Enfield Council once a needs assessment confirms eligible needs, and a financial assessment then decides whether the person pays anything towards them. The rent for the room is separate, and Housing Benefit often covers it. If someone's needs are mainly health needs, the NHS may fund their care through Continuing Healthcare. We quote only after we have met the person and know what support they need.
If Enfield arranges a placement in another borough, Enfield usually stays responsible for funding and reviews under the "ordinary residence" rules in chapter 19 of the Care and Support Statutory Guidance. Get this confirmed in writing before the move. Our guide to paying for care explains the means test in more detail.
Tenancy and support are separate
In supported living, the person has a tenancy or licence for their room, which gives them housing rights. Their support is delivered under a separate plan by a provider registered with the CQC for personal care. In a care home, the room and the care come as one package. JNP Sidona is registered with the CQC but has not yet been inspected, so we have no rating. The homes are described on our supported living page.
What to ask any provider
- What exactly will the person sign, and who is the landlord?
- Who are the other residents, and does the person have a say in who moves in?
- How is support covered at night?
- EILDS requires registration with an Enfield GP. Once the person registers with a GP near the new home, how will their learning disability health support continue? Ask the social worker this too.
- Will staff help the person travel back to Enfield to see family, friends or a day centre?
- Can we try a short respite stay first?
Support for Enfield family carers
If you are the person's main carer, you are entitled to your own assessment. In Enfield, Enfield Carers Centre carries out carers' assessments for the council, from Britannia House on Baker Street, EN1 (020 8366 3677). The assessment also checks whether you qualify for a carer's direct payment, which in Enfield is loaded onto the council's prepaid E-Card. For a break in the meantime, see our respite care page.
What we can help with in Enfield
- Homes in Whitton, Kingston and Uxbridge
- Permanent or respite stays
- Support with daily living skills
- Help to build independence
- Tenancy and care explained clearly
- Community, day centres and outings
- Visit before you decide
- Referrals from social workers welcome
Areas of Enfield we cover
Care across the borough, including these neighbourhoods. Each has its own page with local detail.
Our services
How we can help in Enfield
From a few visits a week to a carer who lives in, choose the support that fits.
Enfield FAQs
Questions from Enfield families
Questions families ask us about Enfield. If yours is not here, ask us directly.
Ask a questionWe live in Cockfosters. Is Uxbridge realistic for regular visits?
It is the most realistic of our three homes. Cockfosters is at the end of the Piccadilly line, and Uxbridge-branch trains go all the way, though the journey is long. By car, the M25 or the A406 and A40 take roughly 45 to 60 minutes, depending on traffic. Check too whether your address is under Enfield or Barnet council, as Cockfosters is split.
My daughter is 16 and known to the Joint Service for Disabled Children. Is now too early?
No. Enfield's transition work starts at 16, when EILDS starts working with Children's Services. Ask for supported living to be included in her transition planning now, so the adult team knows it is part of the plan.
Can we refer ourselves to EILDS?
Yes. EILDS accepts self-referrals from people and their families, and professionals send referrals to ildsreferrals@enfield.gov.uk. The person needs to be registered with an Enfield GP and have a primary diagnosis of learning disability.
Would Enfield still fund the support if my brother moved to Uxbridge?
Usually yes, when Enfield arranges the placement, because of the Care Act's ordinary residence rules. Get it confirmed in writing by the social worker before the move. Housing Benefit for the rent would be claimed at the new address.
Do you have a home or an office in Enfield we could visit?
No. Our homes are in Uxbridge, Whitton and Kingston, and our only office is in Lewisham, SE13. We can arrange a visit to the home you are considering.
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