Eastside Gardens care home in Wallsend has received an 'outstanding' rating from the Care Quality Commission (CQC) following its first inspection under a new registration in March 2026. The home, operated by Lifestyle Care (North East) Opco Limited, provides accommodation, nursing, and personal care, including for residents living with dementia or nursing needs.
CQC Highlights Exceptional Care and Leadership
The CQC rated the home as outstanding in the categories of caring, responsive, and well-led, while safety and effectiveness were rated as good. Inspectors found that staff 'know what care people needed' and 'are very responsive'. The report, set to be published on the CQC website, describes the home as 'well equipped to deliver high quality care' with trained staff and leaders who 'offer regular support'.
Leaders were praised for fostering an 'open culture' focused on 'driving quality and improving people's experience'. Systems and processes are in place to ensure feedback can be provided, another positive point noted by the CQC.
Alison Chilton Praises Exemplary Service
Alison Chilton, the CQC’s deputy director of adult social care in the North East, said: 'When we inspected Eastside Gardens, we found an exceptional service which was incredibly welcoming and homely, where people were cared for by highly skilled staff.'
She added: 'Care at the service was exemplary. It was clear that people were respected and valued as individuals and were directly involved in planning and reviewing their care. Staff planned person-centred activities with remarkable attention to detail around people’s needs and preferences, which improved their wellbeing. It was lovely to see how people had personalised their bedrooms, which were designed to meet their needs.'
Calm Atmosphere and Swift Improvements
The home features a neutral colour palette with accent colours throughout, contributing to a calm and relaxing atmosphere. The registered manager was responsive to any issues identified. For instance, when inconsistencies in the recording of medicines were found, leaders acted swiftly to learn lessons and implement robust checks on medication records.
Chilton concluded: 'Overall, staff and leaders should be incredibly proud of the culture they have created to ensure people get the very best care outcomes and certainly deserve the hugely positive feedback we received from people and their relatives.'
