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Women with autism and learning disabilities in the UK are struggling to access menopause support, often facing more severe symptoms or earlier onset than the general population. Research from the University of Sunderland reveals a significant gap in resources for healthcare professionals regarding these women’s unique needs. Dimensions council member Emma Fraser, a 43-year-old with cerebral palsy, bravely shared her experience of navigating perimenopause in this article from i News and underscored the importance of communication when dealing with symptoms. Dimensions Health and Wellbeing Lead Dr Megan Bowes, emphasised that barriers to healthcare support can leave many women unaware of their menopause symptoms and highlighted that women who communicate differently might exhibit anxiety or distress, leading caregivers to misinterpret their needs. This could result in inappropriate treatments and a failure to identify menopause as a potential issue. Dimensions has worked to improve this situation by providing accessible resources, facilitating support during appointments, and advocating for longer consultation times. Increasing awareness and understanding of menopause among health professionals is crucial, particularly for those working with individuals who may struggle to communicate their symptoms effectively
Watch our new "Dimensions Values me as Me" video!
🙂 In Hertfordshire and looking for a different kind of job? We're looking for male support workers for our supported living homes, with six modern flats, sensory room, and en-suite room for staff sleep-ins. You will be supporting one person but also may provide support as needed to other people who live there. But you'll need to be able to keep up with them, so a driving licence is essential! #NotJustAJob
Tyler left his old job wanting to do something different, he considered support work but wasn't sure if it would be right for him; but not long after starting his role he fell in love with it. Hear more about Tyler's story to support work in our recent Youtube video.
What makes us happy at work? It's International Happiness at Work week so we spent the day with the team and people we support in Weymouth to find out what makes them happy. #NotJustAJob
We are delighted to announce that the Dimensions Group has successfully been accredited by the Great Place to Work Institute as one of the UK’s best Workplaces in the charity and not-for-profit sector, among both large and super-large organisations. This new category was announced for 2024, and we are pleased to share that this is our fifth recognition this year (which include UK Best Workplace under the main Great Place to Work programme and UK Best Workplace for ‘Development’). Our Colleague Survey and participation in these accreditations help us work to improve as an employer. We also know that it helps us recruit new colleagues, which is important for the continuity of care for those we support and colleague wellbeing.
Supporting Nigel - Careers with Dimensions As one of the country’s largest not-for-profits supporting people with learning disabilities, autism, behaviours of distress and complex needs, we are driven by our values. People with learning disabilities and their families are at the heart of everything we do and we want every person we support to have a great life, with excellent outcomes.
MP Charlotte Nichols visits Samantha Sam, who we support to live independently in Warrington invited her MP, Charlotte Nichols to visit her at home. Charlotte started off by explaining the difference between local and national government and the different responsibilities they have. MP Charlotte Nichols (left) and Sam (right) Sam was keen to ask her why support workers are paid less than nurses. Sam said: “My support workers are counsellors, cleaners, medication administrators, cooks, wellbeing advisers and `wear many hats’; I don’t understand why they don’t get paid more. Charlotte explained that the NHS has a grading system based on the skills and experience of staff which doesn’t exist in social care. Charlotte talked about the need for parity between the sectors so staff could work in health or social care and their skills could be transferable. Charlotte said: “It was great to meet Sam and her support workers, to discuss how we can reform social care in England to give those who need care and support and those who provide it, the best quality support. Speaking to Sam, it was clear how her support makes a difference to her life – supporting her independence, enabling her to pursue her interests and hobbies, looking out for her emotional wellbeing, and providing continuity, safety and stability. Her support workers love their jobs but pointed out that it’s getting increasingly difficult to give the quality-of-care Sam has to everyone who needs it due to sustained co
Dimensions Chief Executive Rachael Dodgson response to the current riots and violence in parts of the UK In light of the recent incident in Southport, where three young girls tragically lost their lives and others injured, the country is going through a period of unrest, triggering a spate of violence and riots taking place in parts of the United Kingdom. The way in which people of colour are being targeted and made to feel unwelcome and unsafe is abhorrent and entirely unacceptable. Here in Dimensions, 26% of our workforce identify as being from a BAME background, and we support many people from BAME backgrounds too. We stand in solidarity with everyone we support and employ, and their families. We have a zero tolerance for any type of discrimination in Dimensions, and the discrimination you witness outside of Dimensions will never be tolerated within it. Everyone should feel safe, be listened to and respected, no matter what their race, colour, disability or background; you are not alone. We have published guidance internally for our colleagues on how to keep safe, and an easy read material for the people we support. Together we are stronger, and we stand in unity with everyone from a BAME background. Rachael Dodgson, Dimensions Chief Executive
We are delighted that, in addition to our accreditation under the main Great Place to Work programme, as a result of colleague survey feedback, Dimensions group has also been successfully accredited as a UK Best Workplace for ‘Development’. This is a new category introduced in 2024 and the success can be partially attributed to 79% of colleagues agreeing that they are offered training or development to further themselves professionally, which is a higher score than other successful Great Place to Work organisations. Many colleagues have benefited from our Dimensions Academy and Aspire programme for career development and have reported extremely positive feedback, and we will work hard to ensure these opportunities continue.
