Care firm to shut children's homes in special measures

THE private firm behind five children’s homes placed in special measures amid shocking failures has announced they have been permanently closed.

- JANE HAYNES News Reporter

The conditions at three of the five homes operated by Dimensions Care Ltd were exposed after Ofsted inspectors made appalling discoveries during visits, including a child who went missing and later reported being sexually assaulted and possibly drugged by men in a hotel room.

The firm this week announced the small, family-style homes were to permanently close with immediate effect.

The homes were located across the region, including in Coventry, Telford and three in Sandwell, and were all judged inadequate during recent inspections.

Inspectors interviewed one child at the home in Coventry who went missing all night and was “drugged and sexually assaulted” by adult men.

The aftercare and support they received was described as “poor”.

At a second home, another child with a well known interest in knives and gangs and deemed “at risk” was taken by home staff to meet up with dubious “friends” on numerous occasions, and ended up being involved in crime, Ofsted inspectors found.