Oakland Grange Residential Care Home
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 beds43
- SpecialismsCaring for adults over 65 yrs, Caring for adults under 65 yrs, Dementia, Learning disabilities, Physical disabilities
- Last inspected2017-11-18
- Activities programmeThe food gets consistent praise from families, with proper mealtimes in a pleasant dining room setting. Inside, the home feels warm and homely, though some furniture could use updating. However, visitors have raised concerns about room layouts — particularly toilets positioned very close to beds with only sliding doors for privacy, and windows lacking adequate coverings.
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The Evidence
What the review data, the inspection reports, and the dementia-care evidence base tell us about this home.
What families say
Families talk about staff who really get to know residents as individuals, taking time to engage with them properly rather than just going through the motions. Several people mention how quickly staff contact families when anything changes with their loved one's health. The communal spaces feel welcoming and sociable, with structured activities helping residents stay connected.
Based on 27 Google reviews · 0 reviews on carehome.co.uk · most recent 2026-04-10
The eight family priority themes
- Staff warmth72
- Compassion & dignity72
- Cleanliness68
- Activities & engagement55
- Food quality50
- Healthcare45
- Management & leadership72
- Resident happiness68
What inspectors found
Inspected 2017-11-18 · Report published 2017-11-18 · Inspected 4 times in the last three years
Is this home safe?
{"found":"Oakland Grange was rated Good for safety at its last inspection in March 2021. The published report does not contain specific narrative detail about what inspectors observed in relation to staffing ratios, medicines management, falls recording, or infection control. A monitoring review in July 2023 found no new concerns that warranted a reassessment of the rating. The home has not been dormant and remains registered.","quotes":[],"family_meaning":"A Good safety rating after a period of Requires Improvement is a meaningful signal. It suggests the home identified problems and made genuine changes rather than simply waiting for the next inspection. That said, the published report gives families very little to go on in terms of specific observations. Good Practice evidence from the rapid evidence review (61 studies, March 2026) highlights that night staffing is where safety most commonly slips in residential settings, and that heavy reliance on agency staff undermines the consistency that people living with dementia particularly need. Because the report does not address either of these points, you need to ask about them directly.","evidence_base":"The Good Practice evidence base identifies night staffing ratios and agency staff usage as the two most reliable early indicators of safety risk in care homes. Neither is addressed in the published inspection findings for Oakland Grange.","watch_out":"Ask the manager to show you the actual staffing rota for the past two weeks, not just the template. Count how many shifts were covered by agency staff, and ask specifically how many carers are on duty overnight for 43 residents."}
Is the care effective?
{"found":"The Effective domain was rated Requires Improvement at the March 2021 inspection. This is the only domain below Good, and it has not been upgraded in the subsequent monitoring review. The published report does not explain in specific terms what the shortfalls were. Effective covers training quality, the depth and accuracy of care plans, how well the home understands and manages individual health needs, and whether food and nutrition are properly considered.","quotes":[],"family_meaning":"Requires Improvement in Effective is the most important finding to focus on if you are considering this home for a parent, particularly one living with dementia. Our Good Practice evidence base found that care plans function as living documents in well-run homes: they capture a person's preferences, history, and daily routines in enough detail to guide every staff member on every shift. When this domain is rated Requires Improvement, it raises the question of whether your parent's individual needs are truly understood and recorded, or whether care risks becoming generic. Because the published report does not explain what specifically was found to be below standard, you cannot know from the written record alone whether those problems have since been resolved. Families account for 20.2% of positive review themes around healthcare, which tells you how much this matters day to day.","evidence_base":"The Good Practice rapid evidence review found that dementia-specific training, including non-verbal communication and person-led approaches, is directly linked to better outcomes and lower rates of distressed behaviour. Homes rated Requires Improvement in Effective frequently show gaps in training documentation and care plan individuality.","watch_out":"Ask to see an anonymised example of a care plan for a resident with dementia, and check whether it records preferred name, daily routine, food likes and dislikes, and how the person communicates distress. Then ask when care plans were last reviewed and whether families are routinely invited to contribute."}
Is this home caring?
{"found":"Oakland Grange was rated Good for caring at its March 2021 inspection. The published report does not include specific inspector observations, resident testimony, or quotes that describe how staff interact with the people who live there. The Good rating indicates that inspectors were satisfied with the warmth, dignity, and respect shown by staff, but families will need to judge this for themselves on a visit.","quotes":[],"family_meaning":"Staff warmth is the single biggest driver of family satisfaction across our review data, mentioned in 57.3% of positive reviews, and compassionate treatment is named in 55.2%. Families consistently say that watching how staff talk to and move around the people who live in a home tells them more in ten minutes than any written report. The Good rating here is encouraging, particularly given that the home was previously at Requires Improvement overall, but the absence of specific observations in the published report means you cannot verify this from the page. Good Practice evidence is clear that non-verbal communication matters as much as spoken words for people with dementia: do staff make eye contact, crouch to a person's level, and respond to distress without rushing?","evidence_base":"The Good Practice evidence review (61 studies, March 2026) found that person-led care depends on staff knowing each individual well enough to read non-verbal signals. Homes where staff know residents' preferred names, personal histories, and communication styles consistently score higher on wellbeing measures.","watch_out":"On your visit, pay attention to how staff address your parent by name, whether they make eye contact and face people when speaking, and whether interactions feel unhurried. If you notice a staff member addressing a resident by bed number or room number rather than name, that is a concern worth raising with the manager."}
Is the home responsive?
{"found":"Oakland Grange was rated Good for responsiveness at its March 2021 inspection. This domain covers whether the home tailors daily life to individual preferences, whether activities are meaningful and varied, and whether end-of-life care is planned appropriately. The published report does not provide specific detail about the activity programme, how the home responds to individual requests, or what arrangements are in place for people approaching the end of life.","quotes":[],"family_meaning":"A Good rating in responsiveness means inspectors found the home to be meeting individual needs adequately at the time of inspection, but without specific evidence it is hard to know what that looked like in practice. Our review data shows that activities and engagement feature in 21.4% of positive family reviews, and resident happiness in 27.1%. Good Practice research consistently shows that group activities alone are not sufficient for people living with advanced dementia: what matters is whether someone will sit with your parent one to one, engage with a familiar task from their working life, or simply offer meaningful company. This is especially relevant given the home's specialism in dementia care.","evidence_base":"The Good Practice evidence review found that Montessori-based approaches and everyday household tasks, such as folding, sorting, and simple cooking activities, produce measurable improvements in wellbeing for people with dementia who can no longer join structured group sessions. Homes that rely solely on group activities risk leaving the most vulnerable residents unstimulated for long periods.","watch_out":"Ask the activities coordinator to describe what happens on a day when the main group activity is not suitable for a resident with advanced dementia. Ask specifically whether someone would sit with your parent individually, and for how long each day."}
Is the home well-led?
{"found":"Oakland Grange was rated Good for well-led at its March 2021 inspection. The home is run by Crescent Care Limited. A named registered manager and a nominated individual are recorded, indicating an accountable leadership structure. The improvement from Requires Improvement to Good overall reflects positively on the leadership team's ability to identify problems and act on them. A 2023 monitoring review found no evidence of concerns that would require reassessment.","quotes":[],"family_meaning":"Leadership stability is one of the strongest predictors of care quality over time, according to the Good Practice evidence base. The fact that this home improved from Requires Improvement to Good, and held that position through a 2023 review, suggests a management team that is functional and responsive to feedback. However, the inspection took place in March 2021, which means the most recent full picture is now more than three years old. Communication with families features in 11.5% of positive reviews in our data, and families consistently want a manager who is visible, knows your parent by name, and contacts you promptly when something changes. These are things you will need to assess on a visit.","evidence_base":"The Good Practice evidence review found that leadership stability, specifically manager tenure and the ability of staff to raise concerns without fear, is a stronger predictor of sustained care quality than any single inspection rating. Bottom-up empowerment, where frontline staff feel confident to speak up, is particularly important during periods of growing occupancy.","watch_out":"Ask the manager how long they have been in post, whether there have been significant staffing changes in the past 12 months, and what the current occupancy level is. A home filling beds quickly after a period of lower occupancy can come under pressure that is not yet visible in an inspection report."}
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 cares for both younger and older adults with various needs, including dementia, learning disabilities and physical disabilities. This mix of specialisms means they're set up to support people with complex or changing needs.. Gaps or open questions remain on For residents living with dementia, the home provides specialist care alongside support for any physical disabilities. Families mention staff who understand how to engage meaningfully with residents experiencing cognitive changes. — 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
Oakland Grange scores 72 out of 100, reflecting a home that has genuinely improved from a previous Requires Improvement rating and holds a Good overall rating, but where the Effective domain remains Requires Improvement and the inspection report contains limited specific detail to reassure families on care planning, food, and healthcare.
Homes in South East typically score 68–82.The three-lens summary
What families tell us
Families talk about staff who really get to know residents as individuals, taking time to engage with them properly rather than just going through the motions. Several people mention how quickly staff contact families when anything changes with their loved one's health. The communal spaces feel welcoming and sociable, with structured activities helping residents stay connected.
What inspectors have recorded
Families describe staff who provide thoughtful, compassionate support, especially during residents' final days. They communicate well with relatives and show they genuinely care about residents' comfort. That said, some visitors have noticed rooms kept uncomfortably warm and occasional issues with odours that affect the atmosphere.
How it sits against good practice
While families clearly value the caring relationships here, the environmental concerns deserve your attention when visiting.
Worth a visit
Oakland Grange, at 10 Merton Road, Southsea, was rated Good overall at its last full inspection in March 2021, with Good ratings across Safe, Caring, Responsive, and Well-led. Importantly, this represents genuine improvement from a previous Requires Improvement rating, which is an encouraging sign that the leadership team has responded to concerns and stabilised the home. A monitoring review in July 2023 found no evidence that the rating needed to change. The one significant concern is that the Effective domain remains rated Requires Improvement. This is the domain that covers whether staff have the right training, whether care plans properly reflect your parent as an individual, and whether healthcare is managed well. The published inspection report contains very little specific detail, so there is much that families cannot verify from the written record alone. Before visiting, prepare a list of direct questions around care plan quality, dementia training, staffing numbers on nights, and how the home communicates with families when something changes.
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In Their Own Words
How Oakland Grange Residential Care Home describes itself — collected from its own website. DCC has not edited or independently verified the content in this tab.
Where genuine care relationships help families through difficult times
Oakland Grange – Your Trusted residential home
When your loved one needs specialist support, you want to know they'll be treated with real kindness and respect. Oakland Grange in Southsea provides care for adults with dementia, learning disabilities and physical disabilities, with staff who families describe as genuinely invested in residents' wellbeing. The home sits close to the seafront in central Southsea, offering both younger and older adults the specialist support they need.
Who they care for
The home cares for both younger and older adults with various needs, including dementia, learning disabilities and physical disabilities. This mix of specialisms means they're set up to support people with complex or changing needs.
For residents living with dementia, the home provides specialist care alongside support for any physical disabilities. Families mention staff who understand how to engage meaningfully with residents experiencing cognitive changes.
Management & ethos
Families describe staff who provide thoughtful, compassionate support, especially during residents' final days. They communicate well with relatives and show they genuinely care about residents' comfort. That said, some visitors have noticed rooms kept uncomfortably warm and occasional issues with odours that affect the atmosphere.
The home & environment
The food gets consistent praise from families, with proper mealtimes in a pleasant dining room setting. Inside, the home feels warm and homely, though some furniture could use updating. However, visitors have raised concerns about room layouts — particularly toilets positioned very close to beds with only sliding doors for privacy, and windows lacking adequate coverings.
“While families clearly value the caring relationships here, the environmental concerns deserve your attention when visiting.”
DCC does not edit or curate content in this tab. For independently curated information, see The Evidence and DCC Verdict.
