Rathside Rest Home

Updated 4 February 2026

Date of assessment: 12 and 17 February 2026.This assessment was carried out due to the length of time since the service was assessed.Rathside Rest Home is a residential care home providing care and support for older people, including people living with dementia.People benefitted from a stable and well‑trained staff team who responded promptly to changing needs. Staff felt supported through mentoring, supervision and training, and described strong teamwork and a culture focused on kindness and doing the right thing. Leadership was visible, approachable and valued by staff people and their relatives, who felt listened to and included in decisions.Safety was generally well managed. Safeguarding processes were followed, risk assessments were detailed, and communication with health professionals was effective. However, some areas of the environment required improvement, for example securing wardrobes to walls. While refurbishment was underway at the home, these issues meant the environment did not consistently meet a good standard.Infection prevention and control practices were strong, and healthcare professionals described the home as “very clean… very responsive.” Medicines were administered safely, supported by regular staff competency assessments and partnership working with external professionals. Some actions, including the recording of medicines administered on an ‘as required’ basis to meet people’s immediate needs, required more consistent follow‑through.Governance systems were in place, but oversight was not always fully effective. Completion of audit actions were not effectively evidenced. Leaders acknowledged these issues and planned to further strengthen their assurance systems.Partnership working with health and community professionals was constructive and responsive. People were supported to stay connected with family and the wider community. Staff told us they were supported through shadowing, mentoring and ongoing training and said there were enough colleagues available to meet people’s needs.People experienced compassionate, individualised care that promoted independence, choice and control. Staff ensured information was accessible, listened to people and their relatives, and involved them in care planning and future decisions, including end‑of‑life care.

Updated 4 February 2026

People and their relatives consistently described safe, kind and attentive care, with many expressing strong confidence in the staff and how the service was run. People were well cared for, comfortable and safe, and staff were recognised as competent, respectful and responsive. People told us they felt safe because staff were present, vigilant and quick to act if someone’s needs changed. Relatives described consistent communication, saying staff contacted them immediately about incidents or health changes. One relative said, “They ring me and keep me in touch if they get an infection or have a fall.” Families repeatedly described staff as friendly, respectful and patient. People told us staff took time to talk to them, understood their needs well and treated them with dignity. Comments included, “These girls are like a little extension of you,” and “The staff are lovely, nothing is too much trouble.” People and relatives described personalised care that reflected people’s preferences and routines. Staff supported people sensitively, including those living with dementia or who were cared for in bed. Relatives highlighted that even when people could not join group activities, staff offered one‑to‑one time, such as sitting with them, doing nails or chatting. People and relatives told us the food was good, plentiful and adapted to people’s needs. One relative explained, “The food is excellent… [Person] is eating and drinking very well,” while another commented that their loved one, previously a picky eater, had “put on weight since moving in.”People enjoyed a wide range of activities and said staff encouraged them to take part while respecting choice. Relatives noted people could join in group events or simply observe if they preferred, and that activity staff adapted approaches for people living with dementia.People and relatives described the home as well staffed, with prompt responses to needs and good continuity of staff. Relatives said management were approachable and responsive, explaining, “If they are concerned, they call me and discuss what needs to be done.”