A MENTAL health institution in Crowthorne is the second NHS hospital in the UK to have gained a prestigious service award.

Broadmoor Hospital has gained a Restorative Service Quality Mark (RSQM) from the Restorative Justice Council.

The 'badge of quality' guarantees that a service is a safe, high quality system which focusses on rehabilitating offenders through reconciliation with victims and the community surrounding it.

Dr Estelle Moore, head of psychological services at Broadmoor Hospital said: "Receiving the Restorative Service Quality Mark is an important step in helping patients to be accountable in their recovery and in helping victims and families give voice to their experience of crimes committed against them.

"Restorative practices can restore trust and create the context for closure for those involved."

The facility, which has been taken over by West London NHS Trust from Kier at the end of April 2019, is due to receive its first patients before the end of the year.

As well as this, it has taken the hospital six years to achieve the award.

Broadmoor Hospital has upgraded to a modern appearance, using natural light to provide a more open feel and brightly decorated walls chosen by the patients themselves, to inject a bit of colour and fun to the facility.

Jim Simon, chief executive of the RJC, said: "Congratulations to Broadmoor Hospital on achieving the Restorative Service Quality Mark, Safe and effective restorative practice can play a crucial role in addressing harm and helping people to recover in complex settings such as a forensic mental health hospital.

"This award demonstrates the hospitals commitment to delivering high quality restorative approaches with its staff and patients."