West Berkshire · specialist care

Learning disability care services in West Berkshire

19 home care agencies and 25 care homes in West Berkshire are registered with CQC to support those with a learning disability. Compare the highest rated, see how to get help from West Berkshire Council, and where to find support.

Data: CQC registered specialisms · Data as of 19 October 2026

The short version

  • 100% of inspected agencies reach Good or above (19 in total).
  • 92% of inspected homes reach Good or above, out of 25.
  • West Berkshire Council offers a free care needs assessment: 01635 503050.
  • Advice line 0808 808 1111 (Mencap Learning Disability Helpline).

Citation: "Learning disability care services in West Berkshire", published by The Care Panel (Oct 2026).

Help at home: specialist agencies

Ordered by rating, then by inspection date.

By town

Care homes for those with a learning disability

Ordered by rating, then by inspection date.

By town

Charities and local support

Phone 0808 808 1111 to reach the Mencap Learning Disability Helpline. Carers' service locally: Reading and West Berkshire Carers Hub (Age UK Berkshire and CommuniCare).

Specialist services in West Berkshire in numbers

19 of the 39 home care agencies in West Berkshire (49%) are registered to support those with a learning disability; across England the share is 52%. Specialist home care agencies in West Berkshire score 100% Good or Outstanding (15 rated). The figure is 100% for the area as a whole and 89% for England's specialist home care agencies. 4 are still waiting for a first rating.

Across England 34% of care homes register to support those with a learning disability. In West Berkshire it is 25 of 44, or 57%. Of the 24 specialist care homes with a rating, 92% are Good or Outstanding, compared with 90% of all rated care homes in West Berkshire and 86% of specialist care homes across England. They have 168 beds between them.

0 specialist care homes are rated Outstanding and 2 Requires improvement or Inadequate. CQC has not yet rated 1 of them. Purley Park Trust Limited has more of the specialist care homes than any other company: 5.

The Burghfield Common town page lists the most specialist home care agencies nearby, 21; Thatcham lists 13.

Our analysis of CQC registered specialisms, Oct 2026.

Picking the right service

Go beyond the headline grade and read the inspection report itself. A declared specialism is no guide to experience either. Find out about the number of similar clients, staff training, keeping a small consistent team, and the approach to distress or refusal.

Questions worth adding:

  • How do you reduce restrictive practices?
  • How do you support work, education, hobbies and relationships?
  • How do you follow "Right support, right care, right culture"?

Help from West Berkshire Council

Attendance Allowance has no means test, and a direct payment (when the council is funding care) lets you hire a provider with relevant expertise. How care is paid for in West Berkshire.

Both follow an assessment of needs, which is at no cost. Savings play no part in getting one; the test is whether day-to-day difficulties meet national eligibility rules. Asking for an assessment in West Berkshire.

Questions about learning disability care in West Berkshire

How many care providers support those with a learning disability in West Berkshire?

The regulator lists 25 homes and 19 agencies locally with this specialism (Oct 2026). 92% of the inspected homes and 100% of inspected agencies reach Good or better.

Can West Berkshire Council pay towards learning disability care?

It can. Ask West Berkshire Council to assess the person's needs; if they qualify and savings are less than £23,250, the council covers a share or all of the cost after checking income and capital.

Who can we call for advice?

Call 0808 808 1111 (Mencap Learning Disability Helpline).

More for West Berkshire

Data: CQC register, Oct 2026, used under the Open Government Licence v3.0. We are an independent directory and do not provide care.

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