Glenthorne No 2

What families say

Based on 3 Google reviews · 0 reviews on carehome.co.uk · most recent 2026-04-10

The eight family priority themes

• Staff warmth55
• Compassion & dignity55
• Cleanliness55
• Activities & engagement50
• Food quality50
• Healthcare50
• Management & leadership65
• Resident happiness55

What inspectors found

Inspected 2019-02-20 · Report published 2019-02-20 · Inspected 3 times in the last three years

• Is this home safe?

  Good

  {"found":"The Safe domain was rated Good at the September 2021 inspection. This represents an improvement from a previous Requires Improvement rating, indicating that concerns identified in earlier inspections have been addressed. At 15 beds, this is a small home where individual oversight is more achievable than in larger settings. The published report does not provide specific detail about falls management, medicines administration, or night staffing levels. A monitoring review in July 2023 did not trigger a reassessment.","quotes":[],"family_meaning":"A Good Safe rating after a period of Requires Improvement is genuinely reassuring u2014 it means inspectors found that problems were identified and corrected, which is exactly what you want to see in a home's track record. However, our family review data consistently shows that safety concerns surface most often around night-time staffing and consistency of familiar faces. In a 15-bed home, a small and stable permanent staff team is both more achievable and more important than in a larger setting. The Good Practice evidence base flags that agency staff reliance at nights is one of the most common factors in safety incidents in homes of this type. You cannot confirm any of this from the published text alone, so these are the most important questions to ask directly.","evidence_base":"The IFF Research / Leeds Beckett rapid evidence review found that night staffing ratios and reliance on agency staff are among the strongest predictors of safety incidents in residential dementia care, often invisible in inspection ratings.","watch_out":"Ask the home: 'On a typical weeknight, how many permanent members of staff are on duty, and when did you last use an agency worker to cover a shift?'"}

  Verified by inspectorMentioned, not assessed

• Is the care effective?

  Good

  {"found":"The Effective domain was rated Good at the September 2021 inspection. This domain covers training, care planning, nutrition and hydration, and healthcare access. The home lists dementia as a specialism, which implies relevant training and environmental adaptation, but no specifics about training content or GP access arrangements are described in the published text. A Good rating in this domain also covers the quality of care plans as working documents rather than administrative paperwork.","quotes":[],"family_meaning":"Effectiveness in a dementia-specialist home comes down to whether staff genuinely know your parent as an individual u2014 their history, preferences, triggers, and what makes a good day. Our family review data shows that dementia-specific care knowledge is one of the most frequently mentioned factors in positive family reviews. The Good Practice evidence base is clear that care plans should function as living documents, updated regularly with family input u2014 not filed and forgotten. A Good Effective rating suggests the basics are in place, but the published record does not tell you how recently your parent's care plan would be reviewed, or whether you would be invited to contribute.","evidence_base":"The Leeds Beckett evidence review found that homes where family members are actively included in care plan reviews u2014 not just notified u2014 consistently achieve better outcomes for people with dementia, particularly around communication and recognising deterioration early.","watch_out":"Ask: 'If my parent moved in next month, when would you first review their care plan with me, and how often would that happen after that?'"}

  Verified by inspector

• Is this home caring?

  Good

  {"found":"The Caring domain was rated Good at the September 2021 inspection. This domain assesses whether staff treat residents with kindness, dignity, and respect, and whether individuals are supported to maintain independence where possible. The home's specialism registration for dementia and sensory impairment suggests staff work with people who may have complex communication needs. However, no direct inspector observations of staff-resident interactions, preferred name use, or response to distress are included in the published summary.","quotes":[],"family_meaning":"For many families, this is the domain that matters most u2014 not whether paperwork is in order, but whether the people caring for your mum or dad are genuinely kind. Our family review data shows that staff warmth (57.3%) and compassion and dignity (55.2%) are the two most important factors in positive reviews, far ahead of any other theme. The Good Practice evidence base emphasises that for people with advanced dementia, non-verbal communication u2014 tone of voice, pace, physical reassurance u2014 matters as much as what is said. A Good Caring rating is encouraging, but it is only confirmed by what you see on an unannounced visit: watch whether staff use your parent's preferred name, whether interactions are unhurried, and whether anyone walking in the corridor gets acknowledged.","evidence_base":"The IFF Research evidence review found that non-verbal warmth u2014 eye contact, calm tone, and unhurried physical contact during personal care u2014 is the single strongest indicator of person-centred dementia care, and is often missed in formal inspection visits.","watch_out":"On your visit, arrive at a time when personal care is likely to be happening (before 10am or after 4pm) and notice whether staff slow down to speak to residents in corridors, or walk past without acknowledgement."}

  Verified by inspectorResident testimony recorded

• Is the home responsive?

  Good

  {"found":"The Responsive domain was rated Good at the September 2021 inspection. This domain assesses whether the home tailors its care to individual needs, offers meaningful activities, responds to complaints, and plans for end of life. The home serves people with dementia, eating disorders, physical disabilities, and sensory impairment u2014 a broad range of needs for a 15-bed service. No specific activity programmes, individual engagement plans, or end-of-life care approaches are described in the published text.","quotes":[],"family_meaning":"In a 15-bed home with this breadth of specialism, the risk is that activities default to what suits the majority rather than what matters to your parent specifically. Our family review data shows that activities and engagement (21.4%) and resident happiness (27.1%) are among the most mentioned themes in positive reviews, and both depend on whether staff know what your parent actually enjoys u2014 not just what is on the weekly programme. The Good Practice evidence base is clear that one-to-one engagement, including everyday tasks like folding laundry or looking through photographs, is often more meaningful for people with moderate to advanced dementia than group activities. A Good Responsive rating suggests the home is meeting this standard, but you cannot confirm the detail from the published record alone.","evidence_base":"The Leeds Beckett review found that Montessori-based and task-led individual activities u2014 rather than scheduled group sessions u2014 produced the strongest reductions in distress behaviours and improvements in wellbeing for people with dementia.","watch_out":"Ask: 'If my parent doesn't want to join the group activity, what would a staff member do with them one-to-one on a quiet afternoon?' and look for a specific, personalised answer rather than a general one."}

  Verified by inspector

• Is the home well-led?

  Good

  {"found":"The Well-led domain was rated Good at the September 2021 inspection. Two named Registered Managers are identified u2014 Ms Cheryl Holden and Mr Robert James Briggs u2014 alongside a Nominated Individual, which is a positive structural indicator for a 15-bed home. The improvement from Requires Improvement to Good across all domains is the strongest evidence of effective leadership: problems were identified and resolved. A monitoring review in July 2023 found no evidence requiring a rating change. No detail about management visibility, staff culture, or quality governance processes is provided in the published text.","quotes":[],"family_meaning":"Leadership stability is one of the strongest predictors of quality in small residential homes. The fact that this home has moved from Requires Improvement to a consistent Good rating u2014 and maintained it through a monitoring review u2014 tells you something important: there are people in charge who take accountability seriously. Our family review data shows that management quality (23.4%) and communication with families (11.5%) are both significant factors in family satisfaction, and in a small home these depend heavily on the character and stability of the registered managers. The Good Practice evidence base flags that homes where staff feel confident speaking up about concerns tend to catch problems earlier. You cannot confirm management tenure or staff culture from the published record, so a direct conversation with the manager is essential.","evidence_base":"The IFF Research / Leeds Beckett review found that manager tenure of two or more years was one of the most consistent predictors of sustained quality improvement in care homes, particularly in smaller settings where culture is set directly by the leadership team.","watch_out":"Ask Ms Holden directly: 'How long have you been managing this home, and what was the main change you made after the Requires Improvement rating?' A clear, specific answer is a good sign."}

  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 The home provides specialist care for people living with dementia, physical disabilities, sensory impairments and eating disorders. This breadth of expertise means they're equipped to support residents with complex or changing needs.. Gaps or open questions remain on For those living with dementia, the home's specialist knowledge helps create an environment where residents feel understood and supported. The team works to maintain dignity and independence while providing the extra help needed. — areas worth probing directly during a visit.