Tyne Grange care home in Newcastle has achieved an impressive milestone, receiving its second ‘Outstanding’ overall rating following its latest Care Quality Commission (CQC) assessment.
The home received ‘Outstanding’ ratings in both the ‘Caring’, scoring a sensational 95% and well as in the ‘Well-led’ category.
The report praised the home’s dedicated team for enabling people with highly complex needs to achieve life-changing outcomes.
Exceptional feedback from residents and families
Inspectors noted that people, relatives, and colleagues gave “exceptionally positive feedback” about the service, describing Tyne Grange as an excellent place to live where the team was “kind, compassionate and caring.”
One person told inspectors:
“It is like my only family. I want to stay here. It has changed my life being here…It is more like a fun care home.”
Home Manager Katherine Swainston expressed her pride and gratitude for the team’s achievement:
“I am absolutely delighted that Tyne Grange has been recognised as Outstanding for a second time. Every day, my team goes above and beyond to make sure people feel safe, valued, and supported to live meaningful lives.
“What makes me most proud are the individual stories of our residents, who achieve things they never thought possible. Tyne Grange truly feels like a family, and this rating is a wonderful acknowledgement of the positive difference our colleagues make for the people who live here.”
Strong leadership and a culture of continuous improvement
The CQC highlighted the home’s strong leadership, describing the Home Manager as leading “by example” and fostering a culture of continuous learning and improvement.
Colleagues spoke fondly about their work, with one calling Tyne Grange “the best place I have ever worked.” This shared commitment has helped create an environment where both residents and staff thrive together.
Empowering people to regain independence
Inspectors celebrated the home’s focus on enabling residents to regain independence and rebuild essential life skills.
Many people supported at Tyne Grange have successfully moved into independent accommodation or returned home to their families following rehabilitation.
The report also commended Tyne Grange’s strong community connections, from hosting therapy dog cafés and arts and crafts groups to partnering with Northumbria University for student nurse placements.
Karen’s story: “The first place that feels like home”
One resident, Karen, has experienced remarkable progress since moving to Tyne Grange. After a spinal cord injury in 2014 left her with quadriplegia, along with a personality disorder and emotional dysregulation, Karen struggled to find the right support in other services.
At Tyne Grange, she has found stability, purpose, and a sense of belonging — describing the home as a place that “feels like home.”
With the support of the multi-disciplinary team, Karen has made extraordinary physical progress, moving from needing a hoist to using a stand aid and now walking short distances with a frame. Her goal is to one day walk across the Millennium Bridge in Gateshead.
Through regular Occupational Therapy sessions, Karen has built confidence, developed independent living skills, and learned new ways to manage her emotions. She enjoys baking, gardening, arts and crafts, and collecting teddy bears and dolls — even working with a local charity shop to grow her collection.
Karen also serves as Tyne Grange’s Service User Ambassador, representing her peers in Exemplar Health Care’s national Service User Council, which helps shape services across more than fifty care homes.
Karen says:
“I’ve lived in numerous care homes, but I didn’t really settle in any of them. Tyne Grange is the first place that feels like home.
"Since moving here, I’ve taken my first steps since my accident.
"One of my favourite things about living here is that I choose what I want to do.
"I love living here! I wouldn’t want to live anywhere else.”
A purpose-built home with a personal touch
Tyne Grange has 20 bedrooms with ensuite wet rooms, arranged across two units to provide a small group living model. This approach allows for highly personalised support and a calm, homely atmosphere.
The home features welcoming communal spaces, including dining and living areas, an activities hub, a therapy treatment room, and a large accessible garden for residents to enjoy.
Continuing excellence at Tyne Grange
Tyne Grange’s second ‘Outstanding’ rating is a testament to the unwavering dedication of its team and the positive, person-centred culture they’ve built.
The home continues to set the standard for complex care, proving that with the right support, people can achieve incredible outcomes and live fulfilling, independent lives.
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