Bracknell Forest Borough Council

Excellent result for adult social care

Fri, 28 Nov 2008 9:25:00 GMT

Adult social care services are good and have excellent prospects for improvements according to inspectors. The Council’s adult social care services were recently inspected by the Commission for Social Care Inspectors (CSCI) and a report released yesterday (Thursday, November 27) rated services as three stars - the highest rating possible. All councils across the country are judged against the quality of personal care they provide for their residents and are marked from zero stars for poor performers to three stars for outstanding services. Bracknell Forest’s three star score is an improvement from last year’s two star rating and follows a steady modernisation programme of support and care services. The official report stated adult social care is good and its capacity for improvement is excellent. Health and emotional wellbeing, choice and control and economic wellbeing are all areas where the Council is delivering excellent services. The areas of quality of life, freedom from discrimination and harassment and making a positive contribution were rated as good by inspectors. Key strengths outlined in the report included:* Bracknell Forest Council produces a full range of clear, accessible and well-publicised information regarding healthy living;* more people are supported to live in their own homes and there are good services available to carers;* the leisure initiative for people with learning disabilities has resulted in people with a range of special needs receiving appropriate support to participate in sports and leisure activities; and* people in Bracknell Forest can expect to receive referrals, assessments and reviews of services in a timely manner and with respect for the person. Lesley Heale, Director of Social Care and Learning, said: "I am aware staff within adult social care have been working tirelessly to improve adult care services for the people of Bracknell Forest over the past year to continue to modernise and improve support for the residents of the borough. "Our residents can feel confident we are committed to providing high quality personal care and our star rating confirms we continue to improve services for the borough’s most vulnerable people.” Cllr Dale Birch, Executive Member for Adult Services, Health and Housing, said: "We are a well run Council and we are committed to improving our services to older people and the CSCI report shows this. "We must however see this report as an important and helpful milestone on our continuing journey to improve our services still further. "I want to congratulate all those who have worked so hard to get to such a high level of care and support for our older people, especially our own staff, but also those from the voluntary sector and all the carers who help to make Bracknell Forest one of the best and most caring places to live.”

Capturing our natural world at South Hill Park Arts Centre

Mon, 24 Nov 2008 16:31:00 GMT

A selection of the best photographs of Bracknell Forest’s parks and countryside sites go on display at South Hill Park Arts Centre from Saturday, November 29. The pictures were taken by Bracknell Forest residents and entered into the Council’s park and countryside service’s photo competition earlier this year. More than 70 entries were received, many of which are now being used to promote the borough’s open spaces in a new set of leaflets and on the Council’s website. Sixteen images will make up the exhibition called Capturing Our Natural World which is to be displayed in the arts centre’s community gallery until Sunday January 25. It will feature the five winning entries and one highly commended runner up which were displayed in Bracknell library in June. The judges were Cllr Iain McCracken, Executive Member for Leisure, Corporate Services and Public Protection; Sally Coulson, the parks and countryside service’s Projects Officer; and Outi Remes, South Hill Park Arts Centre’s Arts and Exhibition Officer. Cllr McCracken said: "I am pleased we are able to display a larger number of the wonderful photographs which residents submitted to us earlier this year. "They reflect some of the most attractive areas of Bracknell Forest and are well worth coming to see.” There will also be two winning images displayed from a competition run by the Bracknell Standard and the Council with the support of Bracknell Regeneration Partnership, in support of this year’s Bracknell Flowers. The two images were taken by local children and capture some of the natural wildlife thriving in the borough. South Hill Park Arts Centre is in Ringmead, Bracknell. For more details visit www.southhillpark.org.uk or call 01344 484 123. To preview the pictures, visit www.bracknell-forest.gov.uk/leis-parks-photo-competition

All aboard for social care transport review

Mon, 24 Nov 2008 15:50:00 GMT

The Council is currently undertaking a review of Social Care and Community transport provision. The aim of the review is to: Look at transport arrangements provided by Bracknell Forest Borough Council Social Care vehicles; Review the transport provided by Keep Mobile (the current BFC community transport provider ) and; Put forward recommendations for the future of Social Care and Community transport. The review could allow transport users to shape the future service they need. A major part of the review is a survey aimed at people who are eligible to use the Keep Mobile service or the Council’s Social Care transport. Keep Mobile customers are usually registered disabled or aged over 70. Social Care Transport users are registered for social care with the Council or are carers of registered clients. If you are eligible (even if not a registered user) and would like to take part in the survey, or know someone that would, contact Shonagh Cooper at QA Research on 01904 632039 or email shonagh.cooper@qaresearch.co.uk

Join Bracknell Forest travelshare and reduce the cost of travel

Thu, 20 Nov 2008 15:39:00 GMT

Students found out how many people they could squeeze in the back of a Volvo, at the launch of the Bracknell Forest travelshare database. Teams of young people from Bracknell and Wokingham College helped to promote the new database at an event in Charles Square, Bracknell, on Friday, November 14. The challenge was to advertise Bracknell Forest travelshare, an online system promoted by the Council to help people who make similar journeys to travel together. It could be sharing lifts in a car, or even finding someone to walk or cycle with – and can be for work or pleasure. It helps to reduce motoring expenses as the driver can split costs with the passenger as well as cut the number of cars on the borough’s streets. There are four simple steps to join the travelshare database: One: go to www.bracknellforesttravelshare.co.uk and register, or call 08700 111199.Two: enter the details of any journeys you want to make.Three: the system searches for people making the same or similar journey and lists them. Four: contact any matches via the website. Personal details remain confidential – communications between potential matches are made through the website. Participants can decide if other people can see home or email addresses. Cllr Mrs Mary Ballin, Executive Member for Planning and Transportation, said: I would like to thank the students from Bracknell and Wokingham College for helping us to launch the travelshare database. The database can help cut the cost of travel and help congestion and the environment. Even if you’re just looking for a companion for a walk or cycle ride, you can still log on and register your journey.” Bracknell Forest businesses can have a dedicated group on the database, contact the Council’s travel plan co-ordinator on 01344 351266, or call Liftshare on 08700 780225 or email natalie@liftshare.com

Special offer on green cones which can compost all food waste

Wed, 19 Nov 2008 14:30:00 GMT

Bracknell Forest residents are being offered a second chance to buy a green cone composting system - which can take all food waste including meat, bones, bread and dairy products, for a special price of just £10 while stocks last. The green cones will be available from 10am until 2pm at Bracknell Leisure Centre, Bagshot Road, on Saturday, November 22. The green cone normally costs £69.99 plus delivery. The green cone turns food waste back into its natural components of water and carbon dioxide. You can put all your food waste – not just vegetable peelings and fruit skins, but meat, bones, fish, bread crusts and dairy products – into your green cone and forget all about it. Through a completely natural decay process it turns into harmless liquid that seeps into the soil. To operate effectively the green cone needs a sunny position with free draining soil, and there will be no smells or vermin. You will be able to leave it working away in your garden for several years before it needs emptying. Cllr Mrs Dorothy Hayes, Executive Member for the Environment, said: "The Council works hard to help residents dispose of their waste without it ending up in harmful landfill sites. "Our last green cone sale was incredibly successful so get there early before they all run out." For a £10 green cone, visit the roadshow with proof of residency, like a council tax or utility bill. Cash payments only, one per household, only 400 are available. Green cone staff will be available to answer any questions. Limited supplies are available online for £19.95 - including home delivery - visit www.greencone.com

Graffiti vandals being targeted in Bracknell Forest

Tue, 18 Nov 2008 15:28:00 GMT

Bracknell Forest Council is working with Thames Valley Police to target recurrent graffiti vandals in the borough. Bracknell Forest Council takes the issue of graffiti vandalism very seriously and tries to keep the borough as free from graffiti as it can be. During the last few months graffiti has become more of a problem, especially on private property. The Council and the police are particularly keen to establish the identity of those leaving the tags, TUK, AL and AMO on property in and around Bracknell. The tag is what a graffitist calls a signature and it could be an initial or street name. Steve Loudoun, Chief Officer: Environment and Public Protection at Bracknell Forest Council, said: Fortunately graffiti is not normally a big problem in the borough, but recently we have had problems with a group of people leaving particular tags. The cost to the taxpayer and the property owner is of concern as it the negative image that graffiti gives to an area." Ian Boswell, Community Safety Manager at Bracknell Forest Council, said: We are working closely with our partners including the police to identify the culprit or culprits for this behaviour. Graffiti is criminal damage which carries a possible prison sentence. There is a significant cost to the council as a result of removing graffiti and we are keen to prosecute and explore ways of recovering our costs.” The estimated cost to the country of removing graffiti is over £1 billion and any people caught causing graffiti can be prosecuted under the Criminal Damage 1971 Act. The maximum fine can be up to £5,000 and young offenders may be given a community service order. If anyone has any information which will help to identify the culprits they should contact Bracknell Forest Borough Council on 01344 352000 or alternatively the police on: 08458 505 505 or Crimestoppers on: 0800 555 111