Staff at Eastside Gardens care home in Wallsend are celebrating after receiving an 'outstanding' rating from the Care Quality Commission (CQC) in its first inspection since a change in ownership. The home, now operated by Prestwick Care under the Malhotra Group plc, was described by the inspector as an 'exceptional service'.
From 'Requires Improvement' to 'Outstanding'
Previously rated as 'requires improvement' in 2023 under its former ownership, Eastside Gardens has undergone a complete transformation after being taken over by Prestwick Care, a leading provider with 20 locations across the North East. The home provides accommodation, nursing, and personal care, including for residents living with dementia or with nursing needs.
The CQC awarded the home 'outstanding' for being caring, responsive, and well-led, while it received 'good' ratings for safety and effectiveness.
Inspector's Praise for Staff and Leadership
The CQC report highlighted that staff 'know what care people needed' and 'are very responsive'. It noted that the home is 'well equipped to deliver high quality care', with trained staff and leaders who offer 'regular support'. Leaders were commended for fostering an 'open culture' focused on 'driving quality and improving people's experience', with systems in place to gather feedback.
Alison Chilton, 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. Care at the service was exemplary.'
CEO and Team React
Bunty Malhotra, CEO of Malhotra Group plc, which runs the home under the Prestwick Care banner, said: 'We are delighted to have been declared outstanding at our very first inspection since taking over Eastside Gardens. It is only appropriate that the staff and management receive the recognition they deserve for their dedication, hard work and commitment but, most of all, for their care.'
He added that significant investment had been made in restructuring the home, resulting in a complete transformation, and thanked the project and design team.
Person-Centred Care and Environment
The report noted that staff planned person-centred activities with remarkable attention to detail around people’s needs and preferences, improving their wellbeing. Residents had personalised their bedrooms, which were designed to meet their needs. The home featured a neutral colour palette with accent colours, contributing to a calm and relaxing atmosphere.
Chilton added: 'It was lovely to see how people had personalised their bedrooms, which were designed to meet their needs. The registered manager was responsive to any issues that had been identified. When they identified some inconsistencies in the recording of medicines, leaders acted swiftly to learn lessons and implement robust checks on medication records.'
She 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.'
