Council Family Information Service gets top marks

This week staff at Informed Families (IF), Enfield Council’s Family Information Service, were celebrating, as they were told by the Department for Children Schools and Families (DCSF) that they ‘performed well’ during a recent mystery shopper exercise.

The aim of the exercise was to determine whether over 200 Family Information Services nationwide were giving 'model' answers to families looking for childcare.

The exercise required mystery shoppers to ask a questions about a range of topical scenarios concerning help with the costs of childcare, the 'free entitlement' (nursery education funding), childcare for disabled children or with Special Educational Needs, and flexible working for parents.

Staff at IF performed excellently across all scenarios and were graded at 89%.

The shoppers also noted IF staff’s efficiency on their call-handling, professionalism and politeness. The results justify the Service’s current matrix Quality Standard Award, achieved in Spring 2005.

Jovian Smalley, IF Development Manager, said "I am delighted with this result, which proves that Informed Families provides quality information advice and guidance.

"This result comes at a period of sustained growth and development, and is a credit to the commitment of the whole team to provide an exceptional information service for Enfield families.

“We have recently been challenged by new childcare legislation which extends our service to young people aged 20, but this result shows that we are more than ready to meet this challenge.”

This document was last updated on 2008-01-18 15:47:32 published by the Communications team. Document Reference:LBE_132217