- Care home
Eastside Gardens
Assessment report published 23 June 2026
Contents
Ratings
Our view of the service
Eastside Gardens is a care home registered to provide accommodation, nursing and personal care to a maximum of 90 people, some of whom are living with dementia or have nursing needs. The home comprises 4 units, across 2 floors, with a range of communal and outdoor space. At the time of the inspection site visits, there were 87 people living at the home, with a new admission planned.
The assessment was carried out between 18 February and 26 March 2026. We undertook 3 visits to the home on 18,19 and 23 February 2026. Following these, we spoke with relatives, health and social care professionals and reviewed information which the registered manager and staff had provided electronically. The assessment was carried out in line with CQC methodology, taking into account the length of time the location had been registered. This was the first inspection of this service against this registered provider, meaning there was no previous CQC rating.
The environment was incredibly welcoming and homely with a calm and relaxing atmosphere. People’s bedrooms were personalised and designed to meet their needs. The colour palette throughout was neutral whilst warm and with accent colours. All furniture and soft furnishings coordinated with the theme. The home was immaculate and inviting, with a cosy feel about it.
People received exceptional care from highly skilled staff who were very responsive to their individualised care needs which staff had identified through comprehensive assessment to plan the right care for them. Care was based on excellent, evidence-based practice and reflected national guidelines. The provider had an open culture responsive to learning lessons, and a very strong focus on driving quality and improving people’s experience of care. Staff were well trained and received regular effective support and development from leaders. The environment was conducive to delivering high quality care, with personalised and adapted facilities and aids for people.
Care at the service was exemplary. People were respected and valued as individuals. People's wellbeing was improved by the person-centred activity planning developed with remarkable attention to detail around people’s needs and preferences. There was an outstandingly flexible approach, and people were directly involved in planning and reviewing their care.
The provider had systems and processes to ensure people, relatives and staff were able to provide feedback on their care and service provided. The home had received numerous positive comments and compliments. In the main, effective governance systems and processes ensured the management team were able to effectively audit the service and drive improvement in service delivery. Innovative and creative ways of learning lessons from the wider provider group were evident, with clear involvement from other professionals contributing to valuable partnership working.
There were some shortfalls in the consistency of records relating to medicines administration. However, no harm had occurred and we were assured people received their medicines safely as needed. The registered manager was responsive to these findings and had already taken action to learn lessons and implement robust checks on medication records.
People's experience of this service
People received outstanding care in a compassionate, supportive and homely setting. We observed, without exception, how every staff member, visitor and person living at the service wanted to greet us. Conversations were relaxed and everyone spoke confidently about decisions being made with them.
Every person we talked with spoke highly of the care, the staff and management and the home environment. People felt safe, well cared for and treated with dignity and respect. They also felt listened to and several told us, “Staff go above and beyond.” When asked, one person said, “I have never been happier … I love it. It’s so friendly and there’s a feeling of home.” Another person said, “They give you help and cuddles, they are friendly and kind. We are one big happy family … I love it.”
Family members told us they felt their relative was safe, well cared for and were happy. They described how the staff team worked hard and were compassionate and caring. Relatives felt there were enough staff, management was approachable, and if there were any issues, they felt confident they would be sorted straight away.
There was plenty of activities for people to join in with and enough staff to spend time with should people want or need them to. Family members told us that the staff team knew their relatives well and treated them with dignity and respect.
One family member told us, “How about describing the palpable sense of warmth and care that permeates the building or how moving it is to witness the love and dignity extended to residents and their families. It is not only the residents who benefit … families can rest in the knowledge those we hold closest are cared for in a simply outstanding environment.”