Children's home run by Dimensions Care Limited

Inspection report for children's home: 2686902 1 Registered provider: Dimensions Care Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home provides care for up to three children who have social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager is suitably qualified and has completed the level 5 diploma in leadership and management.

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Information about this children’s home

The home registered in July 2022 and this is the first inspection.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

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good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

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good

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children's home: 2686902 2

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Three children were living at the home at the time of the inspection. No children have moved on from the home since it was registered with Ofsted.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Two children have made significant progress considering their starting points. Both children have built positive relationships with staff. These positive relationships, coupled with staff’s therapeutic parenting, have enabled children to build trusting relationships with them. As a result, the children are able to speak about their lived trauma, childhood experiences and any barriers to learning. This has enabled staff and partner agencies to put in place specialist support services for the children, which they are engaging in.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Managers have updated the home’s statement of purpose and lowered the age range of children who can live at the home. Staff and managers have done some specific training to ensure that they can meet the needs of a young child who has moved into the home. Through consultation with the child’s social worker, an individualised care plan has been put in place which enables staff and managers to provide him with care that meets his needs.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff and managers support children to spend quality time with close family and friends. They have facilitated holidays for them to spend time together and make lovely memories. In addition, they arranged for two siblings to have a sleepover on Christmas Eve, which meant the children were together on Christmas Day and were able to open their presents and enjoy dinner together.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is spacious and is decorated with children’s photos and their achievements. Children were proud to show the inspector their rooms, which have been personalised and reflect their interests. Children have plenty of space and make the most of the different areas throughout the home for playing, and doing homework, art and crafts and baking.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have a wide range of opportunities to share their views, wishes and feelings. For example, staff regularly meet with children and have key-work sessions. The manager has good oversight of children’s views and ensures that they have a range of different resources to help them to express their views and be involved in decisions about their care.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

One child has struggled to settle at the home as she wants to live closer to her family. The child is not engaging with her set daily routines or education. There has been some drift and delay in her placing authority finding a suitable education provision, which the provider has challenged. Managers have served notice on this child’s placement because, despite their efforts, the child is not investing in the home and does not want to remain living there. Inspection report for children's home: 2686902 3

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Children do not frequently go missing from home. There have only been two episodes of going missing for one child, which staff managed well. Because they have established good relationships with the child’s family and friends, staff were able to locate him quickly and bring him home safely. Staff exercised professional curiosity to understand the reasons why he had gone missing and discussed what they could do to support him and reduce the risk of him going missing from home again. Independent return home interviews were conducted on both occasions.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Staff respond well to unwanted behaviours from children. They undertake follow-up work with children to help them discuss their views and feelings and agree ways to manage their behaviours differently. This enables children to understand the impact of their behaviour on themselves and other people.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Children develop strategies to help them to regulate their emotions better, and this means that incidents of self-harm are rare. When children do harm themselves, staff respond well and offer them additional support.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Staff appointed to work in the home are recruited safely. This helps to ensure that safe adults care for children.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Staff recognise triggers to children’s behaviours and can work with children to help them to de-escalate difficult situations. Staff offer children praise and rewards for their positive behaviours. This helps children to see that staff recognise the steps they have taken to change their behaviours.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is very experienced and offers stability to the team. She is child- focused and has good insight into the needs of the children. The manager has plans to develop the service to improve on the current good standards.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff come from a variety of backgrounds and have a range of experiences. This gives new staff good learning opportunities and support when they join a stable and knowledgeable team. The stable staff team provides children with continuity of care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff receive regular supervision, which is detailed and reflective. New staff are well supported through their induction and probationary period. Staff who have worked in the home for longer have appraisals, and the manager supports them with their professional development. When there are issues around staff practice, the manager addresses these, which helps staff to reflect and improve their practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff have completed mandatory training as well as additional training courses relevant to the children’s individual needs and behaviours. Most of the staff have the required level 3 qualification in caring for children or are enrolled on the course. Inspection report for children's home: 2686902 4 Feedback from external professionals about the home is positive. They told the inspector that the manager and staff communicate well with them and they feel that children are making good progress. One child’s social worker said that this is the best children’s residential home she has worked with.

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people, using the social care common inspection framework. This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000 to assess the effectiveness of the service, how it meets the core functions of the service as set out in legislation, and to consider how well it complies with the Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and the ‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’. Inspection report for children's home: 2686902 5

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Dimensions Care Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Unit 5, Brooklands Place, Brooklands Road, Sale M33 3SD

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Inspector

Rumbi Mangoma, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: 2686902 6 to achieve excellence in the care of children and young people, and in education and skills for learners of all ages. It regulates and inspects childcare and children’s social care, and inspects the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, further education and skills, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It assesses council children’s services, and inspects services for looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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