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

Inspection report for children’s home: SC037986 1 OFSTED USE ONLY

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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 home is run by the local authority and provides a short-breaks service for disabled children. The home currently provides short breaks for 22 children. During this inspection, 3 children were accessing the service.

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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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outstanding

How well children and young people are helped and protected outstanding

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outstanding

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

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outstanding

The children’s home provides highly effective services that consistently exceed the standards of good. The actions of the children’s home contribute to significantly improved outcomes and positive experiences for children and young people who need help, protection and care.

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outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC037986 2 OFSTED USE ONLY

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

11/03/2025 Full Good 17/01/2024 Full Good 31/01/2023 Full Good 09/03/2022 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC037986 3 OFSTED USE ONLY

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children have an exceptionally high-quality experience in a home where they are consistently nurtured and well cared for. Staff build warm, trusting and meaningful relationships with children, enabling them to feel safe, valued and emotionally secure.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

From the moment that children arrive, they are warmly welcomed and encouraged to make choices, such as selecting their snacks and settling into the environment at their own pace. Staff support children to explore and express their emotions early in the visit, allowing care to be adapted thoughtfully to meet each child’s emotional needs. This results in children feeling understood and supported throughout their stay.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff work creatively and consistently to ensure that children enjoy their time at the home and that they are supported to form positive relationships with their peers. Staff carefully plan group activities, which include story time and sensory-based experiences such as communication using touch and music. Staff help children to interact positively with others in a safe and structured way. The impact of this approach is evident in children’s improved emotional regulation and sleep patterns.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff proactively and sensitively gather children’s views using a wide range of communication methods, including the Picture Exchange Communication Method, visual communication books and picture boards. Staff are highly attuned to children’s body language, facial expressions and emotional cues, enabling them to recognise and respond to even the most subtle communication. Children’s wishes and feelings are very well recorded and clearly inform daily care and longer-term planning.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff work innovatively and collaboratively with professionals from children’s schools and a range of other professionals to promote children’s independence and development. Children’s targets are clearly displayed and accessible to staff, ensuring activities and routines are consistently aligned with each child’s individual goals set out in their local authority plans.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children benefit from exceptionally well-planned introductions to the home. Introductory tea visits, combined with staff visits to children’s family homes, allow staff to gain a deep understanding of each child’s routines, relationships and care needs. Staff use this knowledge to provide care that mirrors familiar practices where appropriate, while confidently making professional judgements that prioritise the child’s best interests.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Feedback from professionals and parents highlights the significant positive impact of the service. One professional commented, ‘Staff take time to get to know each child as an individual, showing genuine interest in the child’s interests. As a result, children feel safe, valued, and able to develop strong, lasting bonds with staff.’ Inspection report for children’s home: SC037986 4 OFSTED USE ONLY

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Parents speak highly of the care their children receive, with one parent commenting that their child has an ‘amazing time’ and that they ‘highly rate the service’.

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

Children’s risks are comprehensively understood by staff and meticulously planned for. Risk assessments are highly detailed and are regularly reviewed and adapted in response to children’s changing needs. Staff demonstrate excellent insight into children’s vulnerabilities and consistently apply agreed strategies, resulting in children being kept safe while also supported to take developmentally appropriate risks.

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

The management team’s use of group risk assessments is highly effective and demonstrates a strong commitment to individualised care. Decisions regarding overnight stays are carefully considered and based on a holistic understanding of children’s needs, sleep patterns and staff skill sets. This ensures nighttime care is not only safe but tailored, nurturing and responsive, leading to positive outcomes for children.

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

When children use safe beds at their parent’s home, the manager has demonstrated excellent risk-based decision-making by providing low-level beds with floor mattresses to be used at the home. This carefully considered approach has enabled children to settle successfully, increasing independence and reducing the need for restriction during the night.

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

Ensuring children’s emotional wellbeing is a clear strength of the service. Children who experience self-harming behaviours in other settings show a significant reduction in these behaviours when staying at the home. This is due to highly effective one-to-one support, emotionally attuned care, and staff’s ability to help children understand, express and regulate their emotions.

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

For one child, whose current risks prevent them from staying overnight at the home, the manager is working closely with external professionals, including occupational therapists, to explore safe and innovative solutions. This demonstrates a strong commitment to inclusion and ensures that decisions are not risk-averse. Instead, they are well informed, child centred, and forward thinking.

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

Positive behaviour support is embedded and consistently applied. Staff are highly skilled at recognising early signs of distress and use creative de-escalation strategies, such as ‘walk and talk’ techniques, to successfully divert situations before they escalate. As a result, the use of restrictive physical interventions is minimised.

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

Children’s complaints are taken seriously and responded to immediately. Staff act promptly to address any discomfort or distress, ensuring children feel listened to. This responsive approach means that issues are often resolved quickly, reducing anxiety and reinforcing children’s sense of safety and trust. Inspection report for children’s home: SC037986 5 OFSTED USE ONLY

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager is aspirational and child centred. The management team has a clear vision that places children’s emotional wellbeing, safety and individual development at the heart of the service. This vision is consistently understood and embedded in practice by a highly motivated and skilled staff team.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager ensures that the staff have an excellent understanding of children’s care plans and consistently apply appropriate strategies. The registered manager holds regular reviews and reflective discussions with staff during team meetings, which ensures strategies remain effective and responsive. Staff are encouraged to evaluate their practice, resulting in continuous improvement and consistently positive outcomes for children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager ensures that children’s views, wishes and feelings drive practice and decision-making. Systems are exceptionally well developed to capture children’s voices. Staff are trained and supported to interpret children’s body language, facial expressions and emotional cues and to use different communication methods. The management team ensures this information is well recorded, regularly reviewed and used meaningfully to shape care, routines and planning.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Partnership working is a significant strength. Progress is robustly monitored through three-monthly reviews, with adjustments made swiftly as needed. These reviews feed directly into local authority plans, demonstrating highly effective oversight and collaborative working with external agencies.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The management team promotes innovation and continuous improvement through regular supervision and relevant training for staff. Newly appointed staff have reported that the robust training they received has supported their work and they can confidently work with the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Managers actively seek and value feedback from parents, ensuring their involvement in children’s review meetings. Information about the service is shared with families on a quarterly basis through a newsletter. The manager is currently developing a parent information pack and a collaborative working model with adult services. This will help ensure that the independent support provided to children aligns with the expectations of adult services, further strengthening the overall quality and consistency of the service. Inspection report for children’s home: SC037986 6 OFSTED USE ONLY

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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 7 OFSTED USE ONLY

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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

Shaheda Dhandia, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC037986 8 OFSTED USE ONLY

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Inspector

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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