Wokingham

A local Wokingham centre for disabled children has been highlighted for its good service in a report published by the Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI).

Wokingham District Council’s Bridges Resource Centre in Woodley recently received an unannounced inspection from the CSCI. In their report, the inspectors praised the centre for meeting the needs of the young people. They also acknowledged improvements in services as well as the centre’s capacity to develop even further.

Bridges is a specialist resource centre in Woodley offering services for disabled children and young people and their families, including short break care, weekend clubs, activity trips and a range of activities.

The government’s policy Every Child Matters, highlights national and local priorities for children’s services, and provides a framework for CSCI inspections to ensure children’s services are judged on their contribution to the outcomes considered essential to well-being in childhood and later life. These outcomes are: being healthy, staying safe, enjoying and achieving, making a contribution and achieving economic well-being.

As part of a rigorous inspection, surveys were also conducted with Wokingham members of staff, social workers and parents, which were sent prior to the inspection to gauge services provided at Bridges. Judgements for most aspects of the service were awarded a grade three which states that all standards were met and were good. Bridges was awarded a grade four – where standards exceed expectation – for the policies and procedures in place for the treatment provided to ensure the complex health needs of the young people are met and good health is promoted.

Inspectors recognised that health promotion is an integral part of Bridges’ philosophy and information is readily available to the young people. Staff encourage young people to speak out and it was apparent to the inspectors that young people were offered choice and their opinions taken into account. The centre promotes the success of individual children and this is demonstrated with an ‘achievement notice board’ in the entrance to the centre for everyone to see.

The inspectors praised Bridges for the relationships between young people and those who care for them and said: ‘Relationships continue to be a strength of the home and a good variety of activities are organised, in line with the young people’s wishes and abilities’. The inspectors also praised the centre for holding regular reviews of care plans to ensure everyone is updated as each young person progresses.

The inspectors outlined that young people at Bridges ‘received individual support to ensure they reach their full potential and their education is promoted as being valuable in preparing them for adulthood.’ Some young people now attend a ‘focus group’ each week, jointly run with the district council’s youth service, which teaches life skills and also enables them to undertake the Duke of Edinburgh Award.

Wokingham Young people were praised for making a positive contribution and the inspectors noted a number of ways they have been able to influence their own care and how the centre is run. Communication with young people is conducted in a number of ways including pictures, words and symbols. Specialist equipment enables the young people to access information and facilities available to them.

Bridges provides a respite service and a survey returned from parents said they were pleased with the centre and they stressed they felt involved in how their child would be looked after whilst at the centre. Staff were also praised and the report noted ‘a team of experienced and competent staff provide the services and care the young people need.’

Bridges' manager Neil Williams said: "I am delighted that the hard work of the team in developing Bridges' services and involving the children and their parents has once again been recognised by the Commission for Social Care Inspection. This successful report is down to continued commitment and is thoroughly deserved by everyone.”

Cllr Frank Browne, executive member for Wokingham children’s services, said: “I very much welcome this independent report on the standards at Bridges Resource Centre and I am delighted they have been judged as ‘good’ by the Commission for Social Care Inspection. Unannounced inspections are very demanding as the inspectors undertake rigorous assessment and I would like to congratulate the staff on their hard work and commitment which has resulted in a positive assessment of this important facility.”

Wokingham District Council