Children's home run by Bracknell Forest Borough Council in Bracknell Forest

Inspection report for children's home: SC037986 1 SC037986 Registered provider: Bracknell Forest Borough Council Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This children’s home provides day care and residential short breaks for up to five children with learning disabilities. The home is owned and managed by a local authority. Three children were present during the inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in August 2022.

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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 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: SC037986 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

09/03/2022 Full Good 30/09/2019 Full Outstanding 11/12/2018 Full Outstanding 14/03/2018 Full Outstanding Inspection report for children's home: SC037986 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children who stay at this home have fun, make new friends and experience new opportunities. Child-centred care is at the heart of staff practice. Children build trusting and secure relationships with the staff.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The children’s individualised name plaques are placed on their bedroom doors, ready for them when they arrive at the home. The managers and the staff work hard to ensure a homely and well-resourced home for the children. Children choose their bedding and other soft furnishings. One parent described the service as a ‘home from home’.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff encourage the children to make choices and participate in day-to-day activities. There is effective use of individualised communication schedules, social stories and children’s preferred communication methods. This helps the children to develop their communication skills and become more independent.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff carefully plan activities to ensure that the children make the most of their time at the home. Activities are based on what the children tell and show the staff they enjoy. A recent activity-themed week was an enormous success for the children. As well as being enjoyable, the staff recognise that play builds the children’s confidence and social skills.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children receive consistent and supportive care during their stay. Close links with schools and families ensure that good communication is maintained. This provides the children with consistency across their different environments.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is a welcoming and inclusive environment. The managers and staff ensure that diversity is celebrated, for example, through books, multicultural toy figures and learning about cultural events. This helps the children learn about others and feel accepted.

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

Staff know what to do if they are worried about the safety of a child and they are vigilant to signs or changes in the children’s behaviours that may need further consideration. The open communication between the staff, families and professional network reduces risks to the children.

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

Skilled staff are effective at using encouragement, positive choices and humour to encourage positive behaviours. Staff support the children to achieve goals through the ‘smart stars’ system. These small and individualised targets encourage the children to achieve and experience success. Inspection report for children's home: SC037986 4 When the children become distressed or worried, the staff use their knowledge of the children to help reduce their anxiety. The use of physical intervention is rare. It is only used as a last resort to protect the children or others from immediate harm.

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

Children’s risk assessments and care plans reflect the changing needs of the children and provide the staff with relevant information and guidance. However, some children do not have up-to-date education, health and care (EHC) plans. This means that staff may not be aware of wider information that relates to the children’s identified needs and outcomes.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home is well managed, by a hands-on and dedicated newly appointed registered manager. A respectful and accepting culture exists throughout the home. Consequently, the children benefit from living in a caring and well-run home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The management team ensures that the staff have the necessary skills to meet the specific needs of the children. Staff feel well supported. Supervision meetings are child-centred and provide the staff with appropriate support and development. A wide range of training is available. As a result, the staff are empowered to perform their roles well and with confidence.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager closely monitors the day-to-day quality of care in the home. Senior leaders and managers have embarked on a process of developing the service to increase capacity so that more children and families can benefit from the service. The requirements made at the last inspection have been met.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Refurbishment of parts of the home and improvement work to the garden have been slow to progress. Senior leaders have now agreed funding and work is due to start imminently. This means that the outside area will be more accessible for children with physical disabilities, which will further enhance children’s stays at the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home is appreciated by families and professionals, who speak highly about the support and care that the children receive. There is a real commitment to partnership working. Positive relationships between staff, parents and professionals ensure the bests interests of the children remain the focus of the staff’s practice. Inspection report for children's home: SC037986 5

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure the children’s home and the outside grounds meet the needs of the children and that the home is maintained in a timely manner. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9)  The registered person should ensure that they and their staff engage proactively with the placing authority to contribute fully to the relevant plans for the child’s care, specifically EHC plans. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 56, paragraph 11.3)

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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: SC037986 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Bracknell Forest Borough Council

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Time Square, Market Street, Bracknell RG12 1JD

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Inspector

Anne-Marie Davies, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: SC037986 7 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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