Barchester – Rothsay Grange Care Home
At a Glance
The information you need to decide whether this home warrants a closer look.
Nursing homes
Staff warmth score
of reviewers answered yes
Good to know
- Registered beds66
- SpecialismsCaring for adults over 65 yrs, Caring for adults under 65 yrs, Dementia, Physical disabilities
- Last inspected2022-12-06
- Activities programmeThe home maintains high standards of cleanliness throughout, with bright communal areas where residents can socialise or find quiet corners. There's a hair salon on site, pleasant lounge spaces, and garden areas for those who enjoy being outdoors. Meals are well-presented with good variety, and residents can choose between the restaurant-style dining room or having meals in their own rooms.
- 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
People describe finding their loved ones relaxed and well-settled here, with staff who are consistently helpful and accommodating. The atmosphere feels peaceful rather than institutional, with residents appearing comfortable in their surroundings. Families particularly value how staff take a personal interest in each resident's needs and preferences.
Based on 34 Google reviews · 0 reviews on carehome.co.uk · most recent 2026-04-10
The eight family priority themes
- Staff warmth72
- Compassion & dignity72
- Cleanliness70
- Activities & engagement65
- Food quality65
- Healthcare70
- Management & leadership75
- Resident happiness68
What inspectors found
Inspected 2022-12-06 · Report published 2022-12-06 · Inspected 8 times in the last three years
Is this home safe?
{"found":"The October 2025 inspection rated the Safe domain as Good. No specific detail is available in the published report about staffing ratios, medicines management, falls prevention, or infection control practice. The previous inspection had identified concerns sufficient to result in a Requires Improvement rating overall, so improvement in safety is implied by the upward trend. The home is a 66-bed nursing home caring for people with dementia and physical disabilities, which means safety risks are complex and staffing levels matter considerably.","quotes":[],"family_meaning":"A Good rating for safety is reassuring, but the published report does not tell you how many staff are on the floor at 2am, how often agency workers cover shifts, or how falls are investigated when they happen. Good Practice research consistently shows that night staffing is where safety most often slips in nursing homes, and that reliance on agency staff undermines the consistency your parent needs. For a 66-bed home with a dementia specialism, you should expect clear answers on these points before signing any agreement.","evidence_base":"The IFF Research and Leeds Beckett rapid evidence review (March 2026) identifies night staffing ratios and low agency reliance as two of the strongest predictors of consistent, safe care in dementia nursing settings.","watch_out":"Ask the manager to show you the actual staffing rota for the dementia unit for the past two weeks, not a template. Count the number of permanent staff versus agency names on the night shifts, and ask what the minimum number of staff on the floor is overnight for 66 residents."}
Is the care effective?
{"found":"The Effective domain was rated Good at the October 2025 inspection. This domain covers training, care planning, healthcare access, nutrition, and the use of assessments to guide care decisions. No specific detail is available in the published summary about the content of dementia training, how frequently care plans are reviewed, or how GP and specialist access is organised. The home lists dementia and physical disabilities as specialisms, which implies a specific staff training expectation.","quotes":[],"family_meaning":"Effectiveness in a dementia nursing home means staff know your parent as a person, not just as a set of symptoms. It means care plans are written with you, reviewed regularly, and actually read by night staff. Our review data shows that healthcare responsiveness (how quickly the home spots a change in your parent's condition and acts on it) is mentioned in 20.2% of positive family reviews. The Good Practice evidence base highlights that dementia-specific training must go beyond basic awareness to include communication techniques and behavioural support. Ask to see a care plan before you commit.","evidence_base":"The Leeds Beckett rapid evidence review found that care plans function best as living documents updated with family input, and that dementia training which includes non-verbal communication techniques produces measurably better outcomes for residents who can no longer use words reliably.","watch_out":"Ask whether you could be present for a care plan review if your parent moves in, and ask how often reviews happen as a matter of routine, not just after an incident. If the answer is 'annually unless something changes', probe further."}
Is this home caring?
{"found":"The Caring domain was rated Good at the October 2025 inspection. This is the domain that most directly captures whether staff are kind, whether your parent is treated with dignity, and whether their individuality is recognised. No inspector observations of staff interactions, no quotes from residents or relatives, and no specific examples of dignity practice are included in the published report summary. The upward trend from Requires Improvement suggests that whatever was lacking before has been addressed.","quotes":[],"family_meaning":"Staff warmth is the single biggest driver of family satisfaction in our review data: 57.3% of positive reviews mention it by name, and compassion and dignity follow at 55.2%. These are not abstract qualities. They show up in whether staff knock before entering a room, whether they use your parent's preferred name, and whether they move at your parent's pace rather than their own. The inspection's Good rating for Caring is encouraging, but without published observations to back it up, you need to see this for yourself on a visit. Arrive unannounced if possible, or at a time the home did not suggest.","evidence_base":"The Good Practice evidence base notes that non-verbal communication, tone of voice, eye contact, and unhurried physical contact, matters as much as spoken words for people with advanced dementia, and that these behaviours are observable by any visitor within minutes of arrival.","watch_out":"When you visit, watch how a member of staff greets a resident they pass in the corridor. Do they stop, make eye contact, and use the resident's name? Or do they walk past? This takes 30 seconds to observe and tells you more than any policy document."}
Is the home responsive?
{"found":"The Responsive domain was rated Good at the October 2025 inspection. This domain covers whether the home tailors its care and activities to each person's individual preferences, history, and abilities, including for people with dementia who cannot always express what they want. No specific activity programmes, examples of personalised engagement, or information about end-of-life planning are included in the published report. For a home that specialises in dementia care, individual responsiveness is particularly important.","quotes":[],"family_meaning":"Activities in dementia care should not mean sitting a group of residents in front of a television. Our family review data shows that activities and engagement are referenced in 21.4% of positive reviews, and the Good Practice evidence base strongly supports tailored one-to-one approaches, including Montessori-based methods and familiar household tasks, for people who can no longer participate in group settings. Resident happiness, cited in 27.1% of positive reviews, depends heavily on whether your parent has something meaningful to do with their day. The published report does not tell us what that looks like at Rothsay Grange.","evidence_base":"The Leeds Beckett rapid evidence review found that group activities alone are insufficient for people with moderate to advanced dementia, and that homes with structured one-to-one engagement programmes show significantly lower rates of agitation and withdrawal.","watch_out":"Ask the activities coordinator to describe what they would do for a resident with dementia who refuses to join group sessions and cannot initiate their own activity. If the answer is vague or focuses only on group programming, that is worth noting carefully."}
Is the home well-led?
{"found":"The Well-led domain was rated Good at the October 2025 inspection. Mrs Jane Elizabeth Edwards is the registered manager and Mr Dominic Jude Kay is the nominated individual representing Barchester Healthcare Homes Limited. Having a named, registered manager in post is a basic but meaningful governance marker. The home's improvement from a previous Requires Improvement rating to Good across all domains suggests that leadership has driven genuine change. No detail about manager tenure, staff culture, audit practice, or how the home handles complaints is available in the published report.","quotes":[],"family_meaning":"Good Practice research is clear that leadership stability is one of the strongest predictors of a home's quality trajectory. A manager who has been in post long enough to know staff by name, know residents by history, and drive consistent improvement is worth far more than policies and procedures alone. The improvement from Requires Improvement to Good is a positive signal about whoever led that change. Our family review data shows that management quality is referenced in 23.4% of positive reviews, often in terms of visibility and approachability rather than qualifications. Ask how long the current manager has been in post and what changed after the previous inspection.","evidence_base":"The IFF Research rapid evidence review identifies leadership tenure and bottom-up staff empowerment as the two factors most strongly associated with sustained quality improvement in care homes, particularly where a previous inspection identified concerns.","watch_out":"Ask the manager directly: how long have you been in this role, and what specific changes did you make after the previous Requires Improvement inspection? A confident, specific answer is a good sign. A vague or defensive one is worth noting."}
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 caters for adults of all ages, including those under 65, and has particular experience supporting people with physical disabilities. They also provide specialist dementia care alongside general residential support.. Gaps or open questions remain on Families whose loved ones have advanced dementia speak particularly warmly about the care here. Staff show real understanding of how to support residents with complex needs, maintaining good communication with families even during the most difficult periods. — 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
Rothsay Grange has improved from Requires Improvement to a Good rating across all five domains, which is a meaningful step in the right direction. However, the published inspection report contains very limited specific detail, so scores reflect the confirmed rating improvement rather than rich observational evidence.
Homes in South East typically score 68–82.The three-lens summary
What families tell us
People describe finding their loved ones relaxed and well-settled here, with staff who are consistently helpful and accommodating. The atmosphere feels peaceful rather than institutional, with residents appearing comfortable in their surroundings. Families particularly value how staff take a personal interest in each resident's needs and preferences.
What inspectors have recorded
Staff here show genuine care in their daily interactions, with families noting how polite and willing they are to help. Communication has been particularly strong during challenging times, with families of residents with dementia praising the sensitive, thoughtful updates they receive. While there have been concerns raised about nursing coverage during night shifts, the daytime care consistently receives positive feedback.
How it sits against good practice
With its regular entertainment programme and focus on creating a real community feel, Rothsay Grange offers more than just care — it provides a place where residents can feel at home.
Worth a visit
Rothsay Grange on Weyhill Road in Andover was assessed in October 2025 and rated Good across all five inspection domains: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive, and Well-led. This is an improvement on a previous Requires Improvement rating, which is a positive sign that problems identified earlier have been worked through. The home is run by Barchester Healthcare Homes Limited, a large national provider, and has a named registered manager in post. The honest caveat is this: the published inspection summary contains very little specific detail. There are no direct quotes from residents, no inspector observations of staff interactions, and no data on staffing ratios, activities, food, or dementia-specific care. The Good rating tells you the home met the threshold; it does not tell you what daily life feels like for your mum or dad. Before deciding, visit in person during a weekday afternoon, ask to see last week's actual staffing rota (not the template), and ask the manager to describe what a typical day looks like for a resident with dementia who does not want to join group activities.
The three questions to ask when you visitSave this home. Compare it against your shortlist.
Let our analysis show you how Barchester – Rothsay Grange Care Home measures up against the other homes you’re considering. Free account.
In Their Own Words
How Barchester – Rothsay Grange Care Home describes itself — collected from its own website. DCC has not edited or independently verified the content in this tab.
Where thoughtful care meets a genuine sense of community
Compassionate Care in Andover at Rothsay Grange
Families visiting Rothsay Grange in Andover often comment on the calm, welcoming atmosphere they find there. This care home has built its reputation on attentive staff who take time to know each resident, creating an environment where people feel settled and content. The home provides specialist support for those living with dementia, physical disabilities, and both younger and older adults needing care.
Who they care for
The home caters for adults of all ages, including those under 65, and has particular experience supporting people with physical disabilities. They also provide specialist dementia care alongside general residential support.
Families whose loved ones have advanced dementia speak particularly warmly about the care here. Staff show real understanding of how to support residents with complex needs, maintaining good communication with families even during the most difficult periods.
Management & ethos
Staff here show genuine care in their daily interactions, with families noting how polite and willing they are to help. Communication has been particularly strong during challenging times, with families of residents with dementia praising the sensitive, thoughtful updates they receive. While there have been concerns raised about nursing coverage during night shifts, the daytime care consistently receives positive feedback.
The home & environment
The home maintains high standards of cleanliness throughout, with bright communal areas where residents can socialise or find quiet corners. There's a hair salon on site, pleasant lounge spaces, and garden areas for those who enjoy being outdoors. Meals are well-presented with good variety, and residents can choose between the restaurant-style dining room or having meals in their own rooms.
“With its regular entertainment programme and focus on creating a real community feel, Rothsay Grange offers more than just care — it provides a place where residents can feel at home.”
DCC does not edit or curate content in this tab. For independently curated information, see The Evidence and DCC Verdict.
