This is the corporate health data for quarter 1, 2026 to 2027.
Summary of people data
Recruitment and retention
At the end of the quarter the recruitment success rate (vacant positions that were filled in the period) was 73.7%, not including a small number of positions where the outcome is still to be confirmed. This is an increase compared to 66.3% reported at quarter 4.
At the end of June 2026, 88.9% of staff who were in council employment 12 months ago remained in employment. This is slightly lower than the 87.99% reported at the end of quarter 4.
There was a slight increase in the proportion of staff who have been with the council for 2 years or more. At the end of June 2026, the result was 76.9% compared to 75.1% reported at the end of quarter 4.
Staff voluntary turnover
The result reported at each quarter end is the average turnover over the previous 12 months. For example, the result at the end of quarter 1 2026 to 2027 is the average turnover between July 2025 to June 2026.
Percentage of staff voluntary turnover
| Comparator data | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Total voluntary turnover for Bracknell Forest Council, 2025 to 2026 | 10.6% |
| Unitary authorities (using median figures for headcount and leavers) 2024 to 2025 | 11.2% |
Source: Infinistats 2025 (for available authorities only).
Staff sickness: days per employee
By quarter
| Directorate | 2026 to 2027 quarter 1 | 2025 to 2026 quarterly average |
|---|---|---|
| People | 2.1 | 2.3 |
| Communities | 1.2 | 1.7 |
| Place | 1.6 | 1.4 |
| Resources | 1.0 | 2.0 |
| Total staff sickness (excluding maintained schools) | 1.8 | 2.1 |
By year
| Directorate | 2026 to 2027 annual average | 2025 to 2026 annual average |
|---|---|---|
| People | 8.4 | 9.3 |
| Communities | 4.8 | 6.8 |
| Place | 6.4 | 5.6 |
| Resources | 4.0 | 8.2 |
| Total staff sickness (excluding maintained schools) | 7.2 | 8.2 |
2026 to 2027 estimated annual average based on results year to date.
| Comparator data | All employees, average days sickness absence per employee |
|---|---|
| Bracknell Forest Council (excluding schools) 2025 to 2026 | 8.2 |
| Public Sector employers 2024 | 13.3 |
The latest benchmark result for public sector employers 2024 is from small sample size of participating local authorities. Therefore, caution should be shown when comparing figures.
Source: CIPD/Simplyhealth Survey 2025
The total staff sickness absence (1.76 days per employee) was lower than the same quarter last year (2.04 days per employee).
People directorate
Absence decreased by 19.1%, falling to 2.05 days lost per employee compared with 2.50 in quarter 4.
Children's Social Care saw an increase in absence rates, partly driven by a higher proportion of long-term sickness, while Adult Social Care recorded a significant reduction in absence.
Stress, depression and anxiety accounted for 25.6% of days lost and remained the leading cause of absence. In terms of reported instances, cold, cough, and flu was the most common reason, accounting for 17.5% of cases.
Communities directorate
Absence decreased by 42.9%, falling to 1.23 days lost per employee from 2.10 in quarter 4.
Contract Services recorded the largest improvement, with absence reducing by 65.9%.
Other long-term conditions accounted for the highest proportion of days lost (26.6%), while gastrointestinal illness was the most frequently reported reason for absence episodes, accounting for 20.3% of instances
Place directorate
Place recorded an 18.4% increase in absence, rising to 1.64 days lost per employee from 1.36 in quarter 4.
Building Control saw the largest increase in absence during the quarter. Stress, depression and anxiety accounted for 35.5% of days lost and was the predominant cause of absence.
Gastrointestinal illness was the most frequently reported reason by individual absence instances, accounting for 22.8%.
Resources directorate
Resources continued to report the lowest overall absence levels, with sickness reducing by 7.3% to 0.97 days lost per employee compared with 1.14 in quarter 4.
The largest reduction was seen within HR, OD and Payroll, although Finance and Business Services experienced a significant increase in absence (though not exceeding the council average).
Cancer accounted for 50.4% of days lost during the quarter, while headache or migraine was the most commonly reported absence reason, making up 24.3% of reported instances.
Long-term sickness accounted for 55.2% of all sickness absence during the quarter, compared with 52.5% in quarter 4.
Although the overall number of employees absent long term reduced from 35 to 28, long-term absence continued to represent the majority of sickness absence.
The highest proportion was reported in Place Directorate, where long-term sickness accounted for 68% of total absence. By the end of June, 13 employees in People Directorate remained absent long term, while fewer than 5 employees remained absent in each of the other directorates.
People
Decreased from 35.3% in quarter 4 to 27.7% in quarter 1.
Communities
Decreased from 30.1% in quarter 4 to 25.6% in quarter 1.
Place
Decreased from 24.5% in quarter 4 to 23.2% in quarter 1.
Resources
Decreased significantly from 30.5% in quarter 4 to 18.6% in quarter 1.
Reporting quarter sickness absence versus same time last year
Overall absence levels remained stable or improved compared with the same quarter last year.
People, Communities and Resources Directorates all recorded lower total sickness absence than in quarter 1 2025 to 2026, while Place Directorate reported a small increase.
Short-term absence was lower than the previous year in all directorates except Communities, where it increased marginally.
Total absence
| Directorate | Quarter 1 current year (days) | Quarter 1 previous year (days) |
|---|---|---|
| People | 2.05 | 2.28 |
| Communities | 1.23 | 1.29 |
| Place | 1.64 | 1.59 |
| Resources | 0.97 | 2.45 |
Short-term absence
| Directorate | Quarter 1 current year (days) | Quarter 1 previous year (days) |
|---|---|---|
| People | 0.92 | 1.00 |
| Communities | 0.67 | 0.64 |
| Place | 0.52 | 0.69 |
| Resources | 0.48 | 0.58 |
Summary of complaints
In line with good practice, the quarterly average from the last 12 months is included in the charts for comparison (July 2025 to June 2026).
There were no discrimination, harassment or victimisation (DVH) complaints recorded so far during the year.
During 2024 to 2025, the corporate complaints process was revised to a 2-stage process, reduced from 3 stages. The Children's Services and Commissioning statutory complaints process still includes a third stage. Adults’ statutory complaints is a single stage process.
People: Children's services
During quarter 1 the total number of statutory stage 1 and stage 1 cases received by Children’s Services is slightly lower than the 12-month rolling quarterly average (11 versus19), which may be due to a new reporting format this quarter. Previous reporting under Children's Services included cases related to Commissioning due to low volumes in Commissioning. From quarter 1, Commissioning complaints are reported separately for clarity.
Total statutory stage 2 and stage 2 complaints are in line with the 12-month rolling average of 6. LGSCO complaints received are also in line with the average (2).
2026 to 2027 case numbers by stage and quarter
People: Commissioning
From quarter 1, Commissioning complaints are reported separately from those relating to Children's Services complaints for clarity.
During quarter 1, the total number of statutory stage 1 and stage 1 complaints is slightly higher than the 12-month rolling quarterly average (4 versus 3).
2026 to 2027 case numbers by stage and quarter
People: Adult services
The number of statutory cases received by Adult Services in quarter 1 is higher than the 12-month rolling quarterly average (10 versus 6).
LGSCO cases received is below average (1 versus 2).
2026 to 2027 case numbers by stage and quarter
People: Education and learning
During quarter 1, the number of stage 1 cases received by Education and Learning is higher than the 12-month rolling average (18 versus 13).
Stage 2 cases are also higher (8 versus 6) and LGSCO are lower (1 versus 2).
2026 to 2027 case numbers by stage and quarter
People: Early Help and Communities
During quarter 1 the number of stage 1 cases received by Early Help and Communities is higher than the 12-month rolling quarterly average (13 versus 10).
Stage 2 cases are in line with the average. LGSCO cases are slightly higher (2 versus 1).
2026 to 2026 case numbers by stage and quarter
Place
During quarter 1, the number of stage 1 cases received by the Place directorate is significantly higher than the rolling 12-month average (35 versus 20).
Cases escalated to stage 2 were also higher than average (13 versus 7). This is due to complaints about delays to land charges searches which made up 42% of complaints in quarter 1 (15 complaints at stage 1 and 5 complaints at stage 2).
LGSCO cases remain comparable with the average (1).
2026 to 2027 case numbers by stage and quarter
Communities
During quarter 1, the number of stage 1 cases received by the Communities directorate is significantly lower than the rolling 12-month average (3 versus 7).
Cases escalated to stage 2 and LGSCO cases are both slightly lower than the average (1 versus 2 for each category).
2026 to 2027 case numbers by stage and quarter
Resources
During quarter 1, the Resources directorate received 10 stage cases, broadly in line with the 12-month rolling average.
Three cases were escalated to stage 2, slightly higher than the rolling 12-month quarterly average of 2.
LGSCO cases received is in line with the average (1).
2026 to 2027 case numbers by stage and quarter
Learning from complaints
Following the launch of the new complaints system in March 2025, the process to report on volumes, learning points and remedies for complaints across the council has been under development.
Some priority system developments have been delivered in the period to allow the team to assess the efficiency and accuracy of reporting. Future developments will reflect reporting guidance from the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman and will be informed by any recommendations from a current internal audit of complaint processes.
Complaint outcomes: council wide, all stages
At the end of quarter 1 2026 to 2027, 109 complaints had concluded across all council complaint stages and all council services.
Of these complaints:
- 47% were not upheld (51 complaints)
- 28% were partially upheld (31 complaints)
- 24% were upheld (26 complaints)
- 1% were closed as 'No finding' (1 complaint)
At the end of quarter 1 2026 to 2027, 109 complaints had concluded across all council complaint stages and all council services.
| Outcome | Quarter 1 2026 to 2027 | 12-month rolling quarterly average (July 2025 to June 2026) | 12-month rolling total result (July 2025 to June 2026) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Upheld | 26 (24%) | 17.5 (17%) | 70 (18%) |
| Partially upheld | 31 (28%) | 31.25 (31%) | 125 (31%) |
| Not upheld | 51 (47%) | 51 (50%) | 204 (51%) |
| No finding | 1 (less than 1%) | 1.25 (1%) | 5 (1%) |
Totals may not add up to 100% due to rounding.
Complaint outcomes: by area, all stages
Position at the end of quarter 1, 2026 to 2027.
The year to date outcomes for all complaints across each service, in descending order of total complaint volume by service area were:
Place
- 18 complaints upheld (50%)
- 4 complaints partially upheld (11%)
- 14 complaints not upheld (39%)
Education and learning
- 4 complaints were upheld (19%)
- 6 complaints were partially upheld (29%)
- 10 complaints were not upheld (48%)
- 1 complaint had no finding (1%)
Children's social care
- 2 complaints were upheld (15%)
- 9 complaints were partially upheld (69%)
- 2 complaints were not upheld (15%)
Early help and communities
- 3 complaints were partially upheld (25%)
- 9 complaints were not upheld (75%)
Resources
- 1 complaint was upheld (8%)
- 4 complaints were partially upheld (33%)
- 7 complaints were not upheld (58%)
Adults' social care
- 1 complaint was upheld (13%)
- 5 complaints were partially upheld (63%)
- 2 complaints were not upheld (25%)
Communities
- 4 complaints were not upheld (100%)
Commissioning
- 3 complaints were not upheld (100%)
In quarter 1, the upheld and partially upheld complaints were mostly related to:
- timeliness - 29% of upheld and partially upheld cases
- decisions and outcomes - 24% of upheld and partially upheld cases
- overall quality of service - 23% of upheld and partially upheld cases
Complaints relating to land charges searches made up 83% of the upheld or partially upheld complaints about timeliness, impacted by technical issues with the IT system needed to process land charges searches.
The detailed learning of each complaint is very varied and the broad categories do not, in themselves, highlight broad issues. Services have looked at the detailed learning from each complaint to take relevant actions. Examples of learning and improvement actions as a result of upheld or partially upheld complaints in this quarter are included in the table below.
There were no upheld or partially upheld complaints about Communities or Commissioning in quarter 1, so these areas do not appear in the table.
| Area | Complaint | Outcome | Learning | Actions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Education and learning | Complaint about the handling of parent preferred specialist placement and the process. | Partially upheld | A complaint highlighted confusion regarding the SEND post-16 placement consultation process, where parents may interpret consultation with a preferred setting as confirmation that the placement has been agreed. | Improve information provided to families about post-16 placement consultations, explaining the purpose of consultations, how decisions are reached, and the available routes of challenge and appeal. |
| Children's social care | Complaint regarding the section 47 child protection process | Partially upheld | A complaint highlighted that families do not always fully understand section 47 child protection enquiries, particularly during periods of heightened stress when verbal explanations may not be easily retained. | Review the information provided to families about section 47 enquiries and strengthen written guidance and supporting materials to make sure families better understand the process, their rights and what to expect. |
| Early help and Communities | Complaint to contest a review decision, stating the statutory review contained factual inaccuracies, logical contradictions, and ignored critical evidence. | Partially upheld | A complaint identified the need for greater clarity in communicating review decisions and the reasons underpinning those decisions, particularly where individuals may disagree with the outcome. | Review decision letter templates and guidance to make sure decisions, rationale and next steps are clearly explained, alongside continued monitoring of statutory timescales |
| Adult social care | Complaint regarding the standard of support and care received | Partially upheld | A complaint highlighted that a hospital discharge case was not initially managed through the most appropriate pathway, leading to confusion regarding responsibilities and support arrangements. | Reinforce hospital discharge processes and referral pathways with staff to make sure individuals are directed to the correct service at the earliest opportunity and receive timely, coordinated support. |
| Resources | Complaint about enforcement action and delays to complaint handling | Partially upheld | Complaint was upheld in relation to complaint handling only. The process for complaints submitted outside the standard process was not clearly communicated or followed. |
Apology and suitable remedy have been provided. Staff training and guidance provided to make sure complaint processes are used consistently. |
| Place | Incorrect information provided regarding council ownership and responsibility for an area of land | Upheld | The council’s initial response focused on land ownership for a particular purpose and did not consider all types of land ownership by the council. | Apology and suitable remedy have been provided. Relevant teams have been reminded that future land searches must include land held by the council for any purpose. |
Strategic risks and audits
The Strategic Risk Register is reviewed by Strategic Risk Management Group (SRMG), the Corporate Management Team (CMT) and is reported to the Governance and Audit Committee on a 6-monthly basis.
The full details of the Register can be found in the Governance and Audit Committee papers for 18 March 2026 (PDF, 0.34MB).
In response to the recommendation from the Overview and Scrutiny Commission to review the key metrics it wished to receive in future reports on SEND reform, in consultation with the Chair of the Commission, a number of indicators that are part of the Reform Data template are being explored. The final set of indicators will be agreed after the Department for Education’s approval of the Reform Plan.
Progress against the internal audit plan was also reported to the Governance and Audit Committee. Details on all audit recommendations are included in the Internal Audit Update to the Governance and Audit Committee on 17 June 2026 (PDF, 0.1 MB).