Children's home run by Dimensions Care Limited

Inspection report for children’s home: 2775501 1 Registered provider: Dimensions Care Limited

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is owned by a private company and is registered to provide care for up to three children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in May 2025 and is working towards a level 5 qualification. The manager was present during the inspection.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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inadequate

How well children and young people are helped and protected inadequate

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inadequate

The effectiveness of leaders and managers inadequate

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inadequate

There are serious and widespread failures that mean children and young people are not protected or their welfare is not promoted or safeguarded and the care and experiences of children and young people are poor, and they are not making progress.

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inadequate

Date of last inspection: 3 September 2024

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inadequate

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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inadequate

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2775501 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

03/09/2024 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2775501 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

Children’s experiences and progress have been significantly affected by shortfalls in how they are cared for by staff and managers. This includes how they are helped and protected. Weak leadership and management of the home means that children are not safe. There are immediate risks to the safety and well-being of the children living at the home. The provider has put restrictions on children coming to live at the home due to this significant concern.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

Children’s moves into the home have not been well assessed. Staff do not have the information or guidance they require to care for children appropriately. This is because managers have failed to understand and evaluate children’s risks, needs and vulnerabilities before they have moved into the home. They have also failed to consider how children who already live at the home can live safely with new children who move in. As a result, some children have faced unplanned moves out of the house and significant police involvement. Serious incidents have resulted in harm to some children.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

Children’s complaints are not taken seriously. The manager does not use thorough and consistent approaches to managing complaints from children. Complaints are not recorded properly or followed up in accordance with regulatory requirements. As a result, children do not feel heard or valued.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

Children do not have access to all areas of the home. For example, the kitchen door has been locked to prevent children from preparing food and drinks. Staff routinely lock doors in the home, restricting children’s freedom and movement as a behaviour management strategy. Two children made complaints to staff about these restrictions which were not addressed by staff or the manager. Furthermore, this situation poses an additional fire risk, which places children at further risk of harm.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

Staff have provided some opportunities for children to express themselves. For example, children have been encouraged to explore their feelings and experiences through writing lyrics and engaging with music. This has offered a creative outlet and, at times, has helped children to regulate their emotions. However, these strategies are not embedded in a wider, consistent approach to emotional support, and their impact is not routinely evaluated.

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

Significant safeguarding incidents occur, during which children are at risk and experience harm. The manager and staff do not demonstrate that they have the skills and experience to keep children safe. Staff and managers do not always report, record or respond to incidents appropriately. For example, two children left the home late at night to meet with unknown males, which put them at significant risk of harm. Staff were able to support the children to come home safely. However, the support for the children following this incident was poor. Staff did not act to reduce risk for these children, and Inspection report for children’s home: 2775501 4 their lack of professional curiosity and lack of reflection failed to safeguard them going forward.

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

There are serious shortfalls in the assessment and management of risk for children living in the home. Contextual safeguarding risks for children are not well understood by staff; they fail to understand the significance of early indicators of risk and so do not act effectively when children’s vulnerabilities escalate, and they are at higher risk of harm due to domestic abuse, sexual and criminal exploitation, and alcohol misuse. During this inspection period, four children have experienced frequent and serious episodes of going missing from the home, during which they have been at significant risk of harm. The risk assessments and safety plans in place for these children are inadequate. Although some updates have been made, they lack sufficient detail and do not reflect the escalation of risks or the need for dynamic changes in support and protection. As a result, staff do not have access to up-to-date guidance on known risks or how to manage them effectively.

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

Children remain inadequately protected from harm due to systemic failings in staff practice and management oversight. Staff have not put in place safe or effective behaviour management approaches and have instead resorted to reactive responses, including police involvement. This has resulted in two children being arrested and reflects poor safeguarding decisions, which puts children at continued risk of being unnecessarily criminalised. Staff have consistently failed to act as nurturing and responsible parental figures, leaving children unsupported during periods of distress and conflict. The continued practice of locking fire doors as a behaviour control measure, which remains unchallenged by managers, restricts children’s liberty and presents a serious fire safety risk. Children have also been exposed to escalating violence, damage within the home environment and inappropriate staff conduct, all of which have created

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

an atmosphere of fear and emotional insecurity.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Leadership and management arrangements at the home are ineffective in ensuring the safety and well-being of children. Oversight of serious incidents is inadequate, and there is a lack of robust systems to monitor staff practice and decision-making. Leaders fail to ensure that staff consistently assess risks or respond appropriately to children’s vulnerabilities. As a result, safeguarding measures are not reliably implemented, and children have experienced significant harm. Failure to take effective action to improve the quality of care in the home has compromised children’s safety, experiences and progress. As a result, three compliance notices have been issued under regulation 12, regulation 13 and regulation 21.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

A new manager was appointed following the last inspection and registered with Ofsted in May 2025. She had previously worked in the home as the deputy manager and was familiar with the staff and children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Since the last inspection, there have been significant changes in the senior leadership team. The impact of these changes has not been well managed. This has led to a poor Inspection report for children’s home: 2775501 5 culture characterised by a lack of transparency and open communication and a hierarchical structure that has discouraged the involvement of the wider staff team. There has been a lack of oversight and accountability. Senior leaders have failed to offer adequate support and challenge to the new manager. Board directors have completed an investigation into what has happened and are devising plans to bring about improvement.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

There are significant gaps in the manager’s understanding of the home’s strengths and weaknesses. Leaders have not identified this shortfall or provided the manager with the support and challenge needed to improve her practice and maintain effective oversight. For example, the manager was unaware of local multi-agency teams that could support children at risk of exploitation. As a result, children have not received the specialist help they need, and staff have not been supported to understand these risks or to work collaboratively to safeguard children. The manager does not have effective systems in place to review the quality of care or to evaluate children’s experiences. Consequently, she does not identify potential risks or take action to address poor practice. This places children at continued risk of harm.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The registered manager does not consistently notify Ofsted following serious incidents. This failure to share critical information compromises the regulator’s ability to monitor the safety and quality of care provided within the home. As a result, thematic oversight is weakened, and opportunities to identify patterns or areas for improvement are missed. The absence of timely notification also undermines the broader safeguarding framework, leaving children and the local authority without a necessary protective safety net.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Senior leaders have failed to provide adequate support and oversight, despite being aware of persistent weaknesses within the home. The staff team lacks experience, with only three out of 10 members holding the required qualification for working in residential childcare. Neither the manager nor the staff consistently demonstrate the skills or competence necessary to meet the complex needs of vulnerable children. This failure has directly contributed to poor experiences and outcomes for children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Staff have not received training that equips them to meet the specific and complex needs of children. Children living at the home have engaged in self-harm, including the use of ligatures. The manager has failed to recognise the need for staff to undertake specialist training in these areas. As a result, staff are not sufficiently skilled to provide appropriate support or to reduce risks effectively. Inspection report for children’s home: 2775501 6

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person(s) must take to meet the Care Standards Act 2000, The Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and the ‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’. The registered person(s) must comply within the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

*The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

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Requirement Due date

assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child’s relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand how to keep safe;

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Requirement Due date

have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm;

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Requirement Due date

manage relationships between children to prevent them from harming each other;

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Requirement Due date

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person;

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Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare; and

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Requirement Due date

are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that effective action is taken following any safeguarding concerns, that children’s plans are kept up to date and that staff are given clear direction to support children. 5 October 2025 Inspection report for children’s home: 2775501 7 *The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that—

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Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

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Requirement Due date

lead and manage the home in a way that is consistent with the approach and ethos, and delivers the outcomes, set out in the home’s statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child;

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Requirement Due date

understand the impact that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each child and use this understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided in the home.

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Requirement Due date

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(c)(f)(h))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that they have effective oversight of all incidents and take action to address any concerns. Additionally, they must ensure that staff have the relevant skills and abilities to meet the needs of the children living in the home. 5 October 2025

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Requirement Due date

The quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who—

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understand the children’s home’s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children;

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use this understanding to deliver care that meets children’s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to— 5 October 2025 Inspection report for children’s home: 2775501 8 ensure that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed and furnished so as to—

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Requirement Due date

enable each child to participate in the daily life of the home. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) (2)(c)(i)(ii))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that the home is in good repair and provides a homely and nurturing environment in which children can thrive.

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Requirement Due date

Subject to paragraph (6), the registered person must establish a procedure for considering complaints made by or on behalf of children.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that a record is made of any complaint, the action taken in response, and the outcome of any investigation.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must supply to HMCI, at HMCI’s request, a statement containing a summary of any complaints made during the preceding twelve months and the action that was taken in response to each complaint. (Regulation 39 (1) (3) (5))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that when children make a complaint that this is taken seriously and undertake an investigation as required within their polices. Children must be included in these investigations and outcomes must be made known to them. 5 October 2025

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Requirement Due date

*The registered person must ensure that—

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the privacy of children is appropriately protected;

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children can access all appropriate areas of the children’s home’s premises; and

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any limitation placed on a child’s privacy or access to any area of the home’s premises—

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is intended to safeguard each child accommodated in the home;

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is kept under review and, if necessary, revised; and 5 October 2025 Inspection report for children’s home: 2775501 9 allows children as much freedom as is possible when balanced against the need to protect them and keep them safe. (Regulation 21 (a)(b)(c)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that children have access to all areas of the home.

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Requirement Due date

A notification made under this regulation—

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Requirement Due date

the other persons, bodies or organisations (if any) who or which have been notified; and

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any actions taken by the registered person as a result of the matter;

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must be made or confirmed in writing. (Regulation 40 (5)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(b))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all serious incidents are reported to HMCI without delay. 5 October 2025

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After consultation with the fire and rescue authority, the registered person must—

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take adequate precautions against the risk of fire, including the provision of suitable fire equipment in the children’s home. (Regulation 25 (1)(a))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure the home is a safe place for children to live and ensure that no doors are locked within the home. 5 October 2025

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Requirement Due date

* These requirements are subject to a compliance notice.

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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 Inspection report for children’s home: 2775501 10 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: 2775501 11

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Dimensions Care Limited

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Children’s home details

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

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Inspectors

Julia Tompson, Social Care Inspector Hayley Booth, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2775501 12 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

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