Dimensions Kent Limited in Sandwich rated Outstanding by the Care Quality Commission

Published: 6 January 2017 Page last updated: 12 May 2022
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The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has found the quality of care provided by Dimensions Kent Limited, in Sandown Road, Sandwich, Kent to be Outstanding following an inspection in November 2016.

Dimensions Kent Limited provides supported living services to people living in their own homes. At the time of this inspection fourteen people were being supported who had high complex needs and required a one to one bespoke service. It is a specialist service for people that have anxious or emotional behaviour that has limited their quality of life and experiences.

Inspectors rated Dimensions Kent Limited, Outstanding for being responsive and caring and Good for being safe, effective and well-led.

Deborah Ivanova, Deputy Chief Inspector of Adult Social Care for the South, said:

“I was pleased to read how Dimensions Kent Limited gives an outstanding service to the people it cares for. I am struck by the extent to which the organisation were determined that people would receive the support and independence they needed to remain living in their homes

“People should always be cared for by services that are safe, effective, caring, responsive to their needs, and well led. I would encourage other providers to read this report, and the others we have published on services we have rated Outstanding, to see what they can learn.”

“The staff at Dimensions Kent Limited should be extremely proud of the work they do and I would like to congratulate everyone there for achieving our highest rating.”

Inspectors found staff understood the importance of making people feel safe and protected from harm. Staff treated people with respect at all times; they were patient and kind, and gently encouraged people to take their time to communicate their needs. Detailed plans about individual's communication needs enabled people to express themselves in ways that were understood by staff. People showed warmth towards staff who listened and acted on what they said or needed.

People who needed support with communication skills were supported by staff who knew them well. Care and support plans had information of how people would present if they were happy or when something was wrong. There had been no complaints this year and although the relatives told us that they did not have any complaints they said they would not hesitate to raise and discuss any issues with the locality managers if they had any concerns.

The service had developed and sustained effective links with organisations such as the local university that helped them develop best practice and in turn contributed to the development of new concepts to support people with learning disabilities. In addition they were involved in sharing practice through a project in India. At the time of the inspection one staff member was providing support to people in India to exchange best practice in areas of personalisation.

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For further information please contact CQC Regional Engagement Manager John Scott on 07789 875809 or, for media enquiries, call the press office on 020 7448 9401 during office hours. Journalists wishing to speak to the press office outside of office hours can find out how to contact the team here. (Please note: the duty press officer is unable to advise members of the public on health or social care matters). For general enquiries, please call 03000 61 61 61.

About the Care Quality Commission

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) is the independent regulator of health and social care in England.

We make sure health and social care services provide people with safe, effective, compassionate, high-quality care and we encourage care services to improve.

We monitor, inspect and regulate services to make sure they meet fundamental standards of quality and safety and we publish what we find to help people choose care.