Dalkeith Residential Home – CQC Rated "Good"
At a Glance
The information you need to decide whether this home warrants a closer look.
Residential homes
Staff warmth score
of reviewers answered yes
Good to know
- Registered beds20
- SpecialismsCaring for adults over 65 yrs, Caring for adults under 65 yrs, Dementia, Mental health conditions, Physical disabilities, Sensory impairment
- Last inspected2020-01-03
- Activities programmeThe chef here takes real pride in preparing fresh, wholesome meals, and residents seem to appreciate the care that goes into their food. Recent improvements to the decoration and repairs show ongoing investment in keeping the environment comfortable and welcoming.
- Visit Website
The Evidence
What the review data, the inspection reports, and the dementia-care evidence base tell us about this home.
What families say
Visitors often mention the warm atmosphere that greets them at the door. They talk about seeing residents engaged in activities, chatting with staff, and looking content in their surroundings. It's the kind of place where staff take time to connect with families too.
Based on 19 Google reviews · 0 reviews on carehome.co.uk · most recent 2026-04-10
The eight family priority themes
- Staff warmth72
- Compassion & dignity72
- Cleanliness68
- Activities & engagement60
- Food quality60
- Healthcare68
- Management & leadership72
- Resident happiness68
What inspectors found
Inspected 2020-01-03 · Report published 2020-01-03 · Inspected 3 times in the last three years
Is this home safe?
{"found":"Safe was rated Good at the December 2019 inspection, an improvement from the previous Requires Improvement rating. This indicates inspectors were satisfied with how the home managed risks, medicines, and staffing at that point. The available published text does not reproduce specific observations about falls management, infection control, or night staffing ratios. The home registered with Amicis Care Limited and had a named registered manager in post. A further review in July 2023 found no evidence requiring a rating change.","quotes":[],"family_meaning":"A Safe rating that has improved from Requires Improvement is genuinely reassuring, because it means inspectors identified problems previously and the home addressed them. That said, the inspection is now more than five years old, and the published text gives no detail on night staffing numbers or how the home handles incidents. Good Practice research consistently finds that night staffing is where safety is most likely to slip in smaller homes like this one, which has 20 beds. Agency staff use is another key indicator: consistent, familiar faces matter especially for people with dementia. The 2023 monitoring review found nothing alarming, but you will need to ask directly to understand the current picture.","evidence_base":"The IFF Research and Leeds Beckett University rapid evidence review found that night staffing ratios and agency staff reliance are among the strongest predictors of safety risk in care homes, particularly for people living with dementia who may be more distressed or mobile overnight.","watch_out":"Ask the manager to show you the actual staff rota for the past two weeks, not a template. Count how many permanent staff versus agency workers covered night shifts, and ask what the minimum number of carers on duty overnight is for the 20-bed home."}
Is the care effective?
{"found":"Effective was rated Good at the December 2019 inspection. This domain covers care planning, staff training, healthcare access, nutrition, and how well the home meets the assessed needs of each person. The available published text does not include specific detail on care plan quality, GP access arrangements, or dementia training content. The home's range of specialisms, including dementia, mental health conditions, and sensory impairment, indicates that effective care across varied needs was being delivered to the inspector's satisfaction at the time of assessment.","quotes":[],"family_meaning":"A Good Effective rating means inspectors were satisfied that the home knew what it was doing for the people living there. For a home supporting people with dementia alongside other conditions, this is particularly important because care plans need to reflect individual histories, not just clinical needs. Good Practice research identifies care plans as living documents that should change as a person changes, and families should be involved in reviews. Food quality is also part of this domain: 20.9% of positive family reviews across our data specifically mention food, and a mealtime visit is one of the best ways to assess how much genuine care goes into daily life. The inspection text gives no detail here, so these are things to explore on a visit.","evidence_base":"The Leeds Beckett rapid evidence review found that regular, family-inclusive care plan reviews are one of the strongest markers of person-centred practice, and that dementia-specific staff training significantly reduces distress incidents and improves quality of life for residents.","watch_out":"Ask the manager when care plans are reviewed, how the home involves families in those reviews, and what dementia training is mandatory for all care staff. Ask to see the training record for a recent new starter."}
Is this home caring?
{"found":"Caring was rated Good at the December 2019 inspection. This domain assesses whether staff treat people with warmth, dignity, and respect, and whether people's independence is supported. The published text does not reproduce specific inspector observations or quotes from residents or relatives about staff interactions. The rating indicates inspectors were satisfied with the overall standard of care and dignity in the home at the time of the visit. A rating improvement from Requires Improvement suggests the home had meaningfully addressed any earlier shortfalls in this area.","quotes":[],"family_meaning":"Staff warmth is the single biggest driver of family satisfaction in our review data, mentioned in 57.3% of positive reviews, and compassion and dignity feature in 55.2%. These are not abstract concepts: they show up in whether a carer uses your parent's preferred name, whether they knock before entering a room, and whether they move at your parent's pace rather than their own. The inspection found the standard was met, but we cannot tell you from the published text what that looked like in practice. On a visit, watch how staff speak to the people who live there when they think no one is observing. That interaction is the most reliable signal you will get.","evidence_base":"The Good Practice evidence base highlights that non-verbal communication, including eye contact, tone, and unhurried body language, matters as much as words for people living with dementia, and that staff knowing individual preferences and histories is a foundation of person-led care.","watch_out":"During your visit, watch an unscripted interaction between a carer and a resident in a corridor or communal area. Notice whether the carer makes eye contact, uses the person's name, and takes time. Then ask a member of staff what your parent's preferred name would be and how they would find that out."}
Is the home responsive?
{"found":"Responsive was rated Good at the December 2019 inspection. This domain covers whether the home provides personalised, individual care, offers meaningful activities, responds to complaints, and plans appropriately for end of life. The available published text does not include specific detail on the activity programme, individual engagement, or how the home handles complaints. The home's range of specialisms suggests it supports people with varied and complex needs, which requires responsive, tailored care to achieve a Good rating.","quotes":[],"family_meaning":"Activities and engagement account for 21.4% of positive family reviews in our data, and resident happiness for 27.1%. For a 20-bed home supporting people with dementia, what matters most is not a busy group calendar but whether there is something meaningful for your parent specifically, including people who cannot or do not want to join groups. Good Practice research points to individual, one-to-one activities, including everyday tasks like folding, sorting, or helping in the kitchen, as particularly effective for people with dementia who find group settings overwhelming. The inspection confirms the standard was met but gives no detail about what daily life actually looks like here. Ask to see the activities record for the past month, not just a prospective plan.","evidence_base":"The IFF Research rapid evidence review found that Montessori-based and individual task-focused activities, rather than group entertainment, produce the strongest wellbeing outcomes for people with dementia, particularly those in later stages.","watch_out":"Ask to see the activities record or log for the past four weeks. Check whether it shows individual engagement as well as group sessions, and ask what is offered to someone who is less mobile or who finds group activities distressing."}
Is the home well-led?
{"found":"Well-led was rated Good at the December 2019 inspection, improving from the previous Requires Improvement. The home is run by Amicis Care Limited, with Ms Kelly Anne Harris named as registered manager and Mr Abdul Moiz Amjad as nominated individual. A Good Well-led rating indicates inspectors were satisfied with governance, accountability, and the overall culture of the home at the time of inspection. The July 2023 monitoring review found no evidence requiring a rating reassessment, though this was not a full inspection.","quotes":[],"family_meaning":"Leadership stability is one of the strongest predictors of sustained quality in a care home. A registered manager who is known to staff and residents, who is visible day to day, and who has been in post for a meaningful period creates the conditions for consistent, confident care. The improvement from Requires Improvement to Good in this domain is significant: it means the home identified what was wrong and fixed it. What we cannot tell you is whether the same manager is still in post, given the inspection was in December 2019. Staff turnover, management changes, and occupancy growth can all shift the culture of a home. Ask directly when you visit. Communication with families is also part of this picture: 11.5% of positive reviews in our data specifically mention good family communication, and it is worth asking how the home keeps you informed.","evidence_base":"The Leeds Beckett rapid evidence review found that leadership stability, combined with a culture where staff feel safe to raise concerns, is the most reliable predictor of quality trajectory in care homes over time.","watch_out":"Ask how long the current registered manager has been in post and whether there have been significant staffing or management changes since 2020. Then ask how the home would contact you if something changed with your parent's health or wellbeing overnight."}
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 Dalkeith provides specialist support for sensory impairments, dementia, mental health conditions, and physical disabilities. They care for adults both under and over 65.. Gaps or open questions remain on For residents living with dementia, the team's approach of really knowing each person helps create familiarity and routine. Staff take time to engage meaningfully rather than simply completing tasks. — areas worth probing directly during a visit.
The DCC Verdict
Our editorial view, built from the three lenses: what families tell us, what inspectors record, and how the home sits against good dementia-care practice.
DCC Family Score
Dalkeith has improved from Requires Improvement to Good across all five inspection domains, which is a meaningful step forward. However, the inspection was conducted in December 2019, more than five years ago, so the score reflects that positive direction of travel rather than confirmed current practice.
Homes in South West typically score 68–82.The three-lens summary
What families tell us
Visitors often mention the warm atmosphere that greets them at the door. They talk about seeing residents engaged in activities, chatting with staff, and looking content in their surroundings. It's the kind of place where staff take time to connect with families too.
What inspectors have recorded
What stands out is how well the staff know each resident — their preferences, their stories, their needs. Families describe care that feels respectful and kind, where dignity matters as much as practical support. The new ownership has brought fresh energy while maintaining these important values.
How it sits against good practice
Some residents have called Dalkeith home for decades — perhaps the strongest testament to the life they've built here.
Worth a visit
Dalkeith, at 285 Gloucester Road, Cheltenham, was rated Good across all five inspection domains at its most recent inspection in December 2019, published in January 2020. This represents a genuine improvement from its previous Requires Improvement rating, meaning inspectors found the home had addressed earlier concerns and met the standard required across safety, care, effectiveness, responsiveness, and leadership. The home supports up to 20 people and specialises in dementia, mental health conditions, physical disabilities, and sensory impairment, as well as general older adult care. The main uncertainty here is time. This inspection was carried out more than five years ago, and a review in July 2023 found no grounds to reassess the rating, but did not constitute a fresh full inspection. A lot can change in five years, including management, staffing, and the culture of a home. The published report text does not include specific observations, quotes, or detailed examples, so the Good rating tells you the direction of travel but not the texture of daily life. When you visit, ask to meet the registered manager by name, ask about staffing stability since 2020, and spend time in a communal area at a meal or activity time to form your own view.
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In Their Own Words
How Dalkeith Residential Home – CQC Rated "Good" describes itself — collected from its own website. DCC has not edited or independently verified the content in this tab.
Where genuine kindness meets decades of trusted care
Dedicated residential home Support in Cheltenham
At Dalkeith in Cheltenham, families describe something special — staff who truly know each resident, who stop to chat rather than rush past, who remember the little things that matter. This South West care home has built its reputation through years of helping people live well, including those with sensory impairments and mental health conditions.
Who they care for
Dalkeith provides specialist support for sensory impairments, dementia, mental health conditions, and physical disabilities. They care for adults both under and over 65.
For residents living with dementia, the team's approach of really knowing each person helps create familiarity and routine. Staff take time to engage meaningfully rather than simply completing tasks.
Management & ethos
What stands out is how well the staff know each resident — their preferences, their stories, their needs. Families describe care that feels respectful and kind, where dignity matters as much as practical support. The new ownership has brought fresh energy while maintaining these important values.
The home & environment
The chef here takes real pride in preparing fresh, wholesome meals, and residents seem to appreciate the care that goes into their food. Recent improvements to the decoration and repairs show ongoing investment in keeping the environment comfortable and welcoming.
“Some residents have called Dalkeith home for decades — perhaps the strongest testament to the life they've built here.”
DCC does not edit or curate content in this tab. For independently curated information, see The Evidence and DCC Verdict.
