Visit to Cressingham and Pinecroft Disabled Children's Homes

Last Wednesday I had the priviledge of completing a visit to the Reading Borough Council run disabled children's homes of Cressingham and Pinecroft respite facility in Whitley. I visited the homes to complete a Regualtion 33 Inspection under the 1989 Children's Act to ensure that staff have the appropriate resources, recording any issues concerning the well-being of the children and that the processes and procedures are in place to ensure the children residing at the homes, either on a long term basis or for respite are safe and looked after well.

I am always impressed at the caring attitude of the staff towards the children and I am pleased to see that the two homes have had improvements made to the facilities for the diabled children and that the homes look better after major redecorating. I have been on previous inspections where morale was not high due to sickness and staff vacancies. However I was pleased to see that at Cressingham there is now a full quota of staff and that the home has the maximum number of disabled children and young people.

What impressed me was the activities for the children and young people during half term. The planned activities for the Wednesday included swimming at Coral Reef, pizza dinner and pictures later in the afternoon. Thursday evening activities included a show of creatures, such as lizards for the young people to learn about.All in all I was able to verify from my visit that the OFSTED unaanounced visit to the homes recorded that the homes were good in their service to the children and young people.