OSJCT Brookside Care Home

What families say

Families describe walking into a notably positive emotional environment, where the warmth feels authentic rather than forced. Residents maintain their independence here, with staff supporting them to move freely while staying safe. The home hosts social events and structured activities that bring people together, from entertainment programmes to special occasions that draw the whole community.

Based on 19 Google reviews · 0 reviews on carehome.co.uk · most recent 2026-04-10

The eight family priority themes

• Staff warmth75
• Compassion & dignity85
• Cleanliness65
• Activities & engagement65
• Food quality60
• Healthcare65
• Management & leadership70
• Resident happiness70

What inspectors found

Inspected 2019-10-15 · Report published 2019-10-15 · Inspected 1 times in the last three years

• Is this home safe?

  Good

  {"found":"The safe domain was rated Good at the August 2019 inspection. This indicates inspectors were satisfied that the home met expected standards for safety, staffing, medicines management, and infection control. The published summary does not include specific observations about staffing ratios, falls management, or how the home responds to and learns from incidents. No concerns were raised in this domain.","quotes":[],"family_meaning":"A Good safety rating means inspectors did not find gaps that put people at risk, but it does not tell you the detail that matters most day to day: how many staff are on at night, whether agency cover is used regularly, and how quickly call bells are answered. Our family review data shows that staff attentiveness accounts for 14% of positive reviews, which means it is one of the things families notice and remember most. Good Practice research from the Leeds Beckett rapid evidence review identifies night staffing as the point where safety most commonly slips in residential care. The inspection is now over five years old, so the current picture may have changed. It is worth treating this domain as something to verify yourself rather than assume.","evidence_base":"The Good Practice evidence review (IFF Research and Leeds Beckett University, March 2026) identifies night-time staffing ratios and agency staff reliance as the two most common factors in safety incidents in residential dementia care. Neither is addressed in the published findings for this home.","watch_out":"Ask the manager to show you the actual staffing rota for last week, not a template. Count how many permanent staff versus agency names appear on the night shifts, and ask what the minimum staffing level is for the overnight period across 50 beds."}

  Verified by inspectorMentioned, not assessed

• Is the care effective?

  Good

  {"found":"The effective domain was rated Good at the August 2019 inspection. This suggests inspectors found satisfactory care planning, training, and healthcare access. The published summary does not describe specific care plan content, dementia training programmes, GP visiting arrangements, or how food quality and dietary needs are managed. No concerns were raised in this domain.","quotes":[],"family_meaning":"A Good effectiveness rating tells you that the basics were in place when inspectors visited, but the published text gives no detail on what dementia-specific training staff have completed or how frequently care plans are reviewed with families involved. Our family review data shows that healthcare access accounts for 20.2% of positive reviews and food quality for 20.9%, making both significant contributors to how families feel about a home. The Good Practice evidence base identifies care plans as living documents that should be updated at least monthly for people living with dementia, and regular GP access as a key marker of genuine clinical attentiveness. Ask to see your parent's draft care plan before committing, and find out whether the GP visits the home on a scheduled basis.","evidence_base":"The IFF Research and Leeds Beckett University evidence review found that care plans which are reviewed regularly with family input are associated with better outcomes for people living with dementia, and that dementia-specific training content matters more than the number of training hours completed.","watch_out":"Ask the manager how often care plans are formally reviewed, who is invited to those reviews, and what dementia-specific training all care staff completed in the past 12 months. Request to see a sample training record if possible."}

  Verified by inspector

• Is this home caring?

  Outstanding

  {"found":"The caring domain was rated Outstanding at the August 2019 inspection, the highest rating available. This is the strongest signal in the entire report and indicates inspectors found clear evidence of compassion, dignity, respect, and person-centred interaction that exceeded what is normally expected. The published summary does not include the specific observations, resident quotes, or relative feedback that would normally accompany an Outstanding grade, because only a brief overview has been made available.","quotes":[],"family_meaning":"Staff warmth is the single biggest driver of family satisfaction in our review data, appearing in 57.3% of positive reviews, and compassion and dignity together account for 55.2%. An Outstanding caring rating directly addresses these two highest-priority themes. What families consistently report in positive reviews is the observable detail: staff using preferred names, not rushing, sitting with someone who is upset, and treating personal care with gentleness. The Outstanding grade suggests inspectors saw evidence of exactly this kind of practice. Because the inspection is now over five years old, it is important to verify whether that culture has been sustained. Staff turnover and management changes can shift a caring culture quickly, which is why visiting at different times of day matters.","evidence_base":"The Good Practice evidence review highlights that non-verbal communication, including tone, pace, and physical proximity, is as important as verbal communication for people living with dementia. Homes rated Outstanding for caring tend to show consistent staff behaviour across all shifts, not just during formal interactions.","watch_out":"On your visit, walk the corridors at a quiet time, not just during the guided tour. Notice whether staff acknowledge your parent and other residents by name, whether interactions feel unhurried, and how a member of staff responds if someone appears distressed or confused."}

  Verified by inspectorResident testimony recorded

• Is the home responsive?

  Good

  {"found":"The responsive domain was rated Good at the August 2019 inspection. This suggests inspectors were satisfied that the home responded to individual needs and preferences, offered meaningful activities, and had processes for handling complaints. The published summary does not describe the activities programme, one-to-one engagement for residents who cannot join group activities, or how end-of-life preferences are recorded and honoured.","quotes":[],"family_meaning":"Activities and engagement account for 21.4% of positive family reviews, and resident happiness for 27.1%. A Good rating here means the basics were in place, but it does not tell you whether your parent would have a genuinely stimulating daily life or whether there is provision for people who are unable to join group sessions. The Good Practice evidence base identifies individual, tailored activity as significantly more beneficial than group-only programming, particularly for people in later stages of dementia. Everyday household tasks, reminiscence objects, and one-to-one time with a consistent member of staff are all markers of responsive practice. Ask specifically what happens on a typical afternoon for someone who cannot participate in group activities.","evidence_base":"The IFF Research and Leeds Beckett University rapid evidence review found that Montessori-based and individually tailored activity approaches, including familiar household tasks and sensory engagement, produce better wellbeing outcomes for people with dementia than scheduled group activities alone.","watch_out":"Ask the activities coordinator to describe what a typical Tuesday looks like for a resident who is unable to join a group session due to advanced dementia. If the answer focuses only on group activities, that is a gap worth pressing on."}

  Verified by inspector

• Is the home well-led?

  Good

  {"found":"The well-led domain was rated Good at the August 2019 inspection. A registered manager, Ms Dawn Wallburton, and a nominated individual, Mr James Norman Robson, are named in the registration record. The published summary does not include specific observations about management visibility, staff culture, governance processes, or how the home handles complaints and quality monitoring. The home's overall rating has declined from a previous Outstanding to Good, which is a change worth discussing directly with the current management team.","quotes":[],"family_meaning":"Management leadership accounts for 23.4% of positive family reviews, and communication with families for 11.5%. A Good rating for well-led means governance processes were in place, but the decline from Outstanding to Good at this inspection is a signal worth taking seriously. Good Practice research identifies leadership stability as a key predictor of quality over time: homes where managers change frequently, or where staff feel unable to speak up, tend to see quality decline before it becomes visible in inspection ratings. It is worth asking how long the current registered manager has been in post and whether there have been significant staffing changes since 2019. The most recent data review in July 2023 did not prompt a re-inspection, which is reassuring but does not confirm current conditions.","evidence_base":"The IFF Research and Leeds Beckett University evidence review identifies management stability and a culture where staff feel empowered to raise concerns as the strongest predictors of sustained quality in care homes, particularly those supporting people with dementia.","watch_out":"Ask how long the current registered manager has been in post and whether the management team has been stable over the past two years. Also ask how staff can raise concerns if they are worried about a resident's care, and whether there is a regular staff meeting where quality is discussed."}

  Verified by inspector

Source: CQC inspection report →

What the evidence base says

Against the DCC Good Practice in Dementia Care standards, this home’s evidence aligns most strongly on Brookside provides specialist care for people living with dementia and mental health conditions, supporting both younger adults under 65 and older residents.. Gaps or open questions remain on For those living with dementia, the home's emphasis on maintaining a warm, welcoming atmosphere can help reduce anxiety and confusion. Staff understand the importance of familiar routines and genuine human connection in dementia care. — areas worth probing directly during a visit.