The Dales

Updated 5 January 2026

Assessment dates: 2 and 3 February 2026.

The Dales is a nursing home supporting adults over and under 65 years, including people living with dementia, mental health conditions and physical disabilities. Staff knew people well and provided warm, compassionate and person‑centred care. The environment remained calm, welcoming and homely, and people and relatives consistently described staff as attentive, caring and responsive.

People told us they had complete confidence in staff and felt genuinely valued and respected. Staff demonstrated creativity and emotional connection in the way they supported people, enabling positive experiences even when plans changed. We found strong evidence of staff taking time to understand what mattered to people, including their communication needs, past histories, preferred routines, interests and aspirations. This approach ensured people were consistently enabled to express themselves, maintain independence and remain involved in decisions about their care.

There was a positive culture where staff worked effectively as a team and with external professionals to ensure people’s health and wellbeing needs were fully met. Life‑enrichment activities were thoughtfully planned and highly personalised, contributing to meaningful and fulfilling daily experiences for people. Relatives spoke positively about the caring nature of staff and described consistently high levels of trust and engagement.

Leaders promoted an open, inclusive and learning‑focused culture. The registered manager was visible, approachable and valued, and staff felt supported, respected and empowered to deliver high‑quality, person‑centred care. Governance arrangements remained strong, with oversight processes ensuring safe, compassionate and consistent care. Overall, the service demonstrated a caring culture underpinned by compassion, dignity and respect, with strengthened evidence supporting high‑quality caring practice.

Updated 5 January 2026

People and relatives consistently told us they had positive experiences of living at The Dales. People described the service as comfortable and supportive, and several commented on how the environment and routines helped them feel settled. One person told us, “It’s good, I don’t have to cook or wash up,” reflecting the relief many felt in receiving practical day‑to‑day support that promoted comfort and wellbeing.

People said they were able to make choices about their daily routines, including how they spent their time and the activities they took part in. One person shared that they valued maintaining their personal routines, saying, “I do like having my hair done up in the salon,” which demonstrated how staff supported people to retain aspects of their identity and independence.

People also told us they enjoyed spending time outdoors and appreciated the peaceful surroundings. One person said, “I sit on the benches out in the garden and enjoy hearing the birds and sheep on the hillside nearby,” highlighting the positive impact of the home’s location and garden access on people’s wellbeing.

Across feedback, people felt respected, listened to and supported by staff who they described as kind and approachable. Relatives spoke positively about their loved ones’ experiences and were reassured by the caring approach of the team. People felt confident staff would respond to their needs and said they experienced a homely and inclusive atmosphere. Overall, people had a positive experience of living at the service and felt safe, valued and well supported.