Children's Home run by Wokingham Borough Council in Wokingham

Inspection report for children's home: 2818206 1 Registered provider: Wokingham Borough Council

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This children’s home is owned and run by the local authority. The statement of purpose says that the home provides a family environment for up to 4 children. There were 2 children living in the home at the time of the inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The home has been without a registered manager since the beginning of June 2026.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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requires improvement to be good

How well children and young people are helped and protected requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be good

The children’s home is not yet delivering good help and care for children and young people. However, there are no serious or widespread failures that result in their welfare not being safeguarded or promoted.

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requires improvement to be good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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requires improvement to be good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children's home: 2818206 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

07/05/2025 Full Good Inspection report for children's home: 2818206 3

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Summary of findings

Children have good relationships with the staff in the home, although there have been many changes in staff since the last inspection.

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Summary of findings

There has been some instability and inconsistency in approaches to care as a result of some poor communication from the former manager. Staff have not had the consistent support that they require to reflect on their practice.

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Summary of findings

In the main, children are safe and protected, although plans are not always consistent in how to respond, in particular if children are missing from home.

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Summary of findings

Children in the main have made some good progress, though, while living in the home.

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improvement to be good

Children have been negatively affected by mixed messages from the staff team due to miscommunication from the former manager, leading to inconsistencies in approach.

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improvement to be good

There have been several changes in staff since the last inspection, meaning that children do not always see the need to form relationships with staff. Despite this, the children have some very positive relationships with staff and are making progress in many areas of their lives.

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improvement to be good

Children’s views are understood and taken into consideration in all aspects of the home and how it is run. Their views are captured from informal discussions and for use at formal meetings for children with the wider professional network. Their rooms are personalised and reflect their personalities and interests.

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improvement to be good

Routines in the home ensure children have positive engagement with education, including those who have been out of education for a significant time. Children form some good friendship groups, spending time with them and their families, leading to increased confidence and maintaining their cultural identity.

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improvement to be good

Children are comfortable in their home and confident talking to staff, senior leaders and the recently appointed home manager. Children say that they like living in the home and that they have staff they can go to. Children learn skills for independence in line with their age and stage of development, with one child looking forward to moving on to a semi-independent flat in the coming weeks. Inspection report for children's home: 2818206 4 Children’s emotional and physical health needs are well met and understood by the staff. Joint working with emotional wellbeing professionals increases positivity in children’s views of themselves and processing trauma.

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improvement to be good

Children know the staff they can go to if they are worried or upset. Staff in the main are confident in caring for the children, but this is hindered by a lack of managerial consistency, support and access to children’s plans. This has meant that they have not always taken the right course of action when children have been missing from home or in responding to perceived risk by others in the community.

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improvement to be good

Staff understand children’s risks and vulnerabilities and help children recognise how they may be at risk while online or in the local community. Staff know how to respond should they be concerned for a child’s welfare and are confident in processes to follow in the organisation and how to escalate their concerns if needed.

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improvement to be good

Responses to incidents have been inconsistent, and staff have felt unsupported. A record and report of an incident used terms that stigmatise children or their families and friends. The staff team members feel that they can talk to each other, as well as seek guidance and support from the team leader and deputy manager. Staff and children reflect on significant incidents and consider how responses or approaches could be different in the future.

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improvement to be good

Responses are appropriate when children have been at risk through things such as self- injury, including seeking medical support and helping the child reflect on how they are feeling. However, Ofsted has not been notified of a recent incident as required.

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improvement to be good

The downstairs bathroom is in poor condition. It is not clean, and there is water damage from a previous leak that has not been rectified. While there is a minimum effect on children as they generally do not use this bathroom, it is not in keeping with the remainder of the home, which is well decorated and maintained.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The registered manager has recently left their position in the home. Staff say that they were inconsistent and undermined them in front of children, leading to inconsistency in care for children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The staff are confident that the responsible individual and deputy manager are providing them with the support they require to rebuild their confidence as a staff team. Additionally, the new home manager, who has only been in position for a matter of days, is listening to staff to produce an action plan to improve support consistency in the care provided to children. Inspection report for children's home: 2818206 5 Not all staff receive regular supervision. This has led to some feeling unsupported, and they have not had an appropriate space to reflect on their practice, concerns about children at the home or to receive feedback on their skills approach and abilities.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Staff are positive about their roles and the time they spend with children. They have access to a wide range of training, including in the therapeutic approach as set out in the statement of purpose.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Joint working with partner agencies has become increasingly strong, with social workers saying that they now have the level of communication they require to understand how children are progressing. Inspection report for children's home: 2818206 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 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 the home’s day-to-day care is arranged and delivered so as to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that plans for when children are missing from home are clear about which reporting approach staff are to use when informing the police. 7 August 2026

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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 the premises used for the purposes of the home are located so that children are effectively safeguarded. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(c)

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that the downstairs bathroom is clean and in good condition and that the ceiling is repaired in response to the leak and water damage from the bathroom above. 7 August 2026

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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

promotes their welfare. 7 August 2026 Inspection report for children's home: 2818206 7 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 work as a team where appropriate;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the home’s workforce provides continuity of care to each child. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(b)(e))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, managers are to ensure that staff are aware of any changes in plans or expectations; that staff are involved in decision-making; and that changes in staff are managed to minimise impact on children.

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Requirement Due date

The care planning standard is that children—

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Requirement Due date

receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home; and

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Requirement Due date

have a positive experience of arriving at or moving on from the home.

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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 help each child to access and contribute to the records kept by the registered person in relation to the child. (Regulation 14 (1)(a)(b) (2)(f))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that records are reflective, accurate and use non-stigmatising language. 7 August 2026

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if—

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Requirement Due date

a child is involved in or subject to, or is suspected of being involved in or subject to, sexual exploitation;

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Requirement Due date

an incident requiring police involvement occurs in relation to a child which the registered person considers to be serious;

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Requirement Due date

there is an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there; 7 August 2026 Inspection report for children's home: 2818206 8 a child protection enquiry involving a child—

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Requirement Due date

concludes (in which case, the notification must include the outcome of the child protection enquiry); or

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Requirement Due date

there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40 (4)(a)(b)(c)(d)(i)(ii)(e))

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that all staff have regular reflective spaces (also known as supervision) to consider their practice when looking after children. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.2)

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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: 2818206 9

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Wokingham Borough Council, Shute End, Wokingham RG40 1BN

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Inspector

Jennie Christopher, Social Care Regulatory Inspector Inspection report for children's home: 2818206 10 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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