
the personal touch of the home is very important. We feel that our mother is safeAnita R(Daughter-in-law of Resident/Service User)

Mum has benefitted from the many organised and fun activities run by compassionate and caring staff.Debbie D(Daughter of Resident/Service User)

The home is friendly and very comfortable mum is happy and has many friendsDiane E(Daughter of Resident/Service User)

the personal touch of the home is very important. We feel that our mother is safeAnita R(Daughter-in-law of Resident/Service User)

Mum has benefitted from the many organised and fun activities run by compassionate and caring staff.Debbie D(Daughter of Resident/Service User)

The home is friendly and very comfortable mum is happy and has many friendsDiane E(Daughter of Resident/Service User)

Blackthorns is a newly refurbished, 58 bedroom, residential care home in Halstead, north Essex. This spacious home provides expert care for older people, including those living with dementia. All of the bedrooms are beautifully furnished, with 22 benefitting from en-suite bathroom facilities and there is also a dedicated area for dementia care, designed to enable those they care for to maintain their independence in a safe environment.
Facilities available for the...
Care Provided by Blackthorns
Primary Care Categories
- Older Person Care
- Dementia
- Physical Disability
- Visual / Hearing Impairment
Length of Stay
- Permanent Care
- Respite Care
Care Types Provided
- Residential Care
- Dementia Residential Care
- For a maximum of 62 Service Users
Dementia Care TypesMild Dementia
Someone living with our definition of "mild dementia" might experience some or all of the following:
- Memory problems such as misplacing items and not be able to recall recent events (however, in some forms of dementia a person's memory may be unchanged)
- Difficulties thinking through problems and planning, making decisions
- Language and communication issues such as finding it difficult to recall the appropriate word in a conversation or following a conversation
- Poor orientation, getting lost in areas previously familiar to them
- Difficulty judging distances (more falls than usual)
- Changes in their normal mood including anxiety and depression
- In certain types of dementia, personality and behaviour changes may be present alongside or instead of issues with memory or concentration.
Moderate Dementia
Someone living with our definition of "moderate dementia" might experience some or all of the following:
- Worsened memory problems. Not always recognising own family members and friends. Repeating the same questions over and over again
- Worsened language and communication issues, forgetting what they are saying mid-sentence. Not being able to understand what someone else is saying
- More frequent confusion, e.g. about the time of day or where they are, including their own home
- Apathy, depression and anxiety
- Believing things that aren't true (paranoia)
- Frequent hallucinations
- Lack of emotional control, quick to anger, fearfulness, sadness
- Loss of inhibition
- Difficulties sleeping or waking during the night and behaving as though it is daytime - loss of circadian rhythm.
Advanced Dementia
Someone living with our definition of "severe dementia" might experience some or all of the following:
- Severe memory problems. Not recognising family members and friends. Not being able to recall their own name
- Severe language and communication issues, not being able to understand what someone else is saying
- Severe confusion, e.g. about the time of day or where they are, including their own home
- Apathy, depression and anxiety
- Believing things that aren't true (paranoia)
- Frequent hallucinations
- Lack of emotional control, quick to anger, fearfulness, sadness
- Loss of inhibition
- Difficulties sleeping or waking during the night and behaving as though it is daytime - loss of circadian rhythm.
Verbally or physically aggressive behaviour
If your loved one displays this type of behaviour you may need a care home that has specially trained staff. Verbal/physical aggression is often defined:
- Consistent shouting and screaming
- Verbal abuse
- Physical abuse
How we define Dementia Care Types
Mild Dementia
Someone living with our definition of "mild dementia" might experience some or all of the following:
- Memory problems such as misplacing items and not be able to recall recent events (however, in some forms of dementia a person's memory may be unchanged)
- Difficulties thinking through problems and planning, making decisions
- Language and communication issues such as finding it difficult to recall the appropriate word in a conversation or following a conversation
- Poor orientation, getting lost in areas previously familiar to them
- Difficulty judging distances (more falls than usual)
- Changes in their normal mood including anxiety and depression
- In certain types of dementia, personality and behaviour changes may be present alongside or instead of issues with memory or concentration.
Moderate Dementia
Someone living with our definition of "moderate dementia" might experience some or all of the following:
- Worsened memory problems. Not always recognising own family members and friends. Repeating the same questions over and over again
- Worsened language and communication issues, forgetting what they are saying mid-sentence. Not being able to understand what someone else is saying
- More frequent confusion, e.g. about the time of day or where they are, including their own home
- Apathy, depression and anxiety
- Believing things that aren't true (paranoia)
- Frequent hallucinations
- Lack of emotional control, quick to anger, fearfulness, sadness
- Loss of inhibition
- Difficulties sleeping or waking during the night and behaving as though it is daytime - loss of circadian rhythm.
Advanced Dementia
Someone living with our definition of "severe dementia" might experience some or all of the following:
- Severe memory problems. Not recognising family members and friends. Not being able to recall their own name
- Severe language and communication issues, not being able to understand what someone else is saying
- Severe confusion, e.g. about the time of day or where they are, including their own home
- Apathy, depression and anxiety
- Believing things that aren't true (paranoia)
- Frequent hallucinations
- Lack of emotional control, quick to anger, fearfulness, sadness
- Loss of inhibition
- Difficulties sleeping or waking during the night and behaving as though it is daytime - loss of circadian rhythm.
Verbally or physically aggressive behaviour
If your loved one displays this type of behaviour you may need a care home that has specially trained staff. Verbal/physical aggression is often defined:
- Consistent shouting and screaming
- Verbal abuse
- Physical abuse
How we define Dementia Care Types
- Mild Dementia
- Moderate Dementia
Other Care Provided
- Palliative / End of Life Care
- Convalescent Care
Facilities
- Own Furniture if required
- Pet Friendly (or by arrangement)
- Close to Local shops
- Near Public Transport
- Lift
- Wheelchair Access
- Gardens
- Bar/Café
- Residents Kitchenette
- Television point in own room
- Residents Internet Access
Funding & Fees
Weekly Charges per Person
The price(s) shown are provided by the care home. Contact Blackthorns for full pricing details and T&Cs.
Contact Blackthorns to confirm what's included and get a personalised quote:
Funding Types Accepted
- Self-Funding (Private)
- Local Authority with Top-up
- Local Authority
- NHS Continuing Healthcare (CHC)
Good to Know
Group / Owner
- Runwood Homes Ltd
- Private Owned
Person in charge
- Hazel Dockrell(Home Manager)
Local Authority / Social Services
Admission Information
- Ages 65+
Care Home Design/Build
- Purpose Built: Yes
- Last Refurbishment: 2020
- Number of floors: 1
Room Information
- Single Rooms (56)
- Couples/Companion Rooms (3)
- Single Rooms with ensuite Wet Room (1)
Visiting
- Upon arriving at the home, please press the buzzer on the intercom. A member of staff will greet you shortly. The home kindly request that you sign the guestbook upon both arrival and departure. This helps maintain an accurate record of who is in the building. In the event of an emergency, please follow the designated safety protocols provided. Your cooperation ensures everyone's safety.
Parking
- The home includes dedicated parking spaces.
Blackthorns Reviews (97)
Blackthorns has a Review Score of 9.7 (9.658) out of 10, based on 25 reviews in the last 2 years.
Over all time Blackthorns has 97 reviews.
The care home manager and all her staff went the extra mile to settle my mum into a warm and comfortable environment. She has been very well cared for and definitely well-fed. Thank you, Blackthorns. My 97-year-old mother is totally compos mentis but has struggled with the ratio of dementia to non-dementia residents (very few) which has meant that she stays in her room most of the time. The staff do their best to give Mum some conversation time but obviously, they have their daily duties to undertake.
Kind regards,
Jo
All the staff have been friendly and efficient. A big thank you to them all!
Thank you for your kind words. We're happy to hear that we were able to make your aunt comfortable during her stay. I will pass your comments on to the rest of the Blackthorns team.
Kind regards,
Jo
I am very pleased with the home. My husband is looked after very well and I could not wish for a better place.
Thank you so much for your review and for your ongoing support. It is a pleasure to care for your husband. Kind regards.
My sister and I dropped my mum off to you ten days ago. We were impressed immediately with the cleanliness of the care home. The staff were friendly and helpful and always informative when I phoned up to see how Mum was doing. We will definitely keep Blackthorns on top of the list for future respite stays or even for a more permanent stay.
Thank you for the wonderful review. We are so pleased to hear that you were happy with the level of care delivered to your mum during her stay at Blackthorns care home. I will be sure to pass on your lovely comments to the rest of the team. Kind regards.
My husband came to Blackthorns from the hospital as he was not fit enough to come home with carers, he was unable to stand. During his stay there he was only taken out of his room twice. There never seemed enough staff on and many were young, inexperienced or agency. Sometimes he would have to wait more than an hour to go to the toilet. I felt duty-bound to go to him every lunchtime to help him with his lunch and make sure he was put to bed for an afternoon sleep. I then used to go to see him at teatime to make sure he was getting up. When I spoke to the manager about anything she would write in her book and invariably she did nothing about it. One day she called me to the office with her deputy, she looked me straight in the face and told me I was the problem with my husband. I was heartbroken. I do not cry but when I got home I dissolved into floods of tears. The next morning I went in the home at about 11am, my husband was in the dining room, head on the table asleep, and left there.
Thank you for your feedback. We appreciate you taking the time to pass on your concerns, and we are sorry to learn that your experience at Blackthorns was not up to the standard expected.
We do endeavour to ensure that our staffing levels meet the needs of the residents and that additional...
I would recommend Blackthorns to anyone looking for a home to care and support a relative who have unfortunately reached a time in their life where they need that extra help and find living at home difficult to continue with.
Hello, we are so thankful to read your recommendation for Blackthorns. It is lovely to read your kind words on the safe, warm and welcoming environment that we have created here at Blackthorns, and one which your mum has experienced during her respite care with us. Thanks again for your brilliant review. Kind regards.
My first impressions of Blackthorn's Care Home is of a caring, friendly, clean and professionally run establishment. The staff are all friendly and willing to talk generally and specifically about any matter one raises. They are prepared to mark special occasions for individual residents and make them and their visitors feel they are part of the bigger family.
Thank you so much for your kind words, John. We are very grateful for your comments expressing how satisfied you are with the quality of care given by the team, and the home's welcoming atmosphere. We hope you have a fantastic day. Kind regards,
Personally, I have found the staff very engaging and helpful, particularly the manager who always is very welcoming.
Hello Andrew, we are so thankful to read your recommendation for Blackthorns. It is lovely to read your kind words for our staff, on the safe, welcoming environment and your father's love for the food. Thanks again for your brilliant review. Kind regards, Jo.
My wife was brought to Blackthorns after a fairly long stay in the hospital. I visited her every day she was residing in Blackthorns and found that the care she was receiving from the staff was excellent, especially on the day of her discharge from the hospital when the designated transport failed to arrive.
Hi James, thank you for your kind words. It was an absolute pleasure to care for your wife and will certainly pass on your feedback to the rest of the team. Kind regards. Jo.
I have been going up there for 15 years, and I find it a good place to be. All I know is she likes it there, Mum always has done, and it makes me happy.
Thank you so much for your review, and for your ongoing support. It is a pleasure to care for your mother. Kind regards, Jo.
My wife is attended to by staff with both respect and kindness. Whenever I have needed assistance, the staff have dealt with the situation quickly and efficiently.
I will share this review with the staff. Thanks again for this lovely review.
I spent a long time thinking about why I should not mark excellent in all the boxes but to be honest the home is so well run, I cannot find any fault. All the residents have their own rooms and no member of staff can enter without knocking and being invited in. When I go all the staff are friendly and there is a feeling of being part of one big happy family. Where my girlfriend was before in sheltered housing there was a toxic atmosphere and she became very depressed, buts since she has been in this home I have seen a big change in her as she is now more outgoing and wants to help in any way that she can and that is because the staff makes her feel she is part of something and that she belongs there.
Good afternoon, we are so grateful that you send your full approval in Blackthorns and how satisfied you are your girlfriend is with the transition to our care. We always treat our residents with the best care and kindness, and will always respect their right to privacy and engage with residents in our activities and kitchenettes. Thanks again for the wonderful review.
Thank you.
Best wishes.
The home is always clean and smells fresh.
Mum eats well and tells me the food is really good here.
We always feel welcome to visit.
Hello Teri, we are so thankful to read your full recommendation for Blackthorns. We are honoured to read your kind words for our staff, the cleanliness of the environment, and your mother's love for the food. Thanks again for your brilliant review.
She has been a resident at Blackthorns for eleven and a half years. During that time, we saw many changes in staff and management. We have always been very satisfied with the care and consideration given to her, and staff have always been extremely helpful to us. The home has recently been renovated throughout, and the accommodation provided is extremely clean. Care throughout the pandemic, although tedious to visitors and residents, has resulted in the home being kept clean of infection. They have been excellent in helping us cope with her recent death.
Dear David, thank you so much for your kind words. It has been our privilege and honour to care for and look after your Mum during her years in Blackthorns. We always strive to give excellent quality of care to all people who choose to live in our home. We are happy your experience with us was positive and authentic. Thanks once again.
Everything was amazing from start to finish!
The staff are so caring and professional… the care was 5 star throughout.
This was my mum's first visit to a care home and she has told me that she is looking forward to going back “ for another holiday!”.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the members of staff involved in running such a fantastic establishment.
it has been our pleasure caring for your Mother! We are looking forward to welcoming her again in our home. Many thanks for your lovely review, Teresa, Home Manager
I was concerned that mum would struggle to be in this environment for the first time but she is enjoying herself. Mum has been participating in the activities and engaging with more people than she does at home. Food and drink are good and cleanliness is first class. All the staff I've met and spoken to on the phone are lovely.
My dad was in Blackthorns a few years ago and the improvement since then is quite remarkable.
Thank you so much for the kind words you wrote about us at Blackthorns! It is our pleasure and our honour to care for your Mother and to provide the very best in meeting her needs and wishes. Thank you once again! Kind regards, Teresa, Home Manager
My father has been at Blackthorns since June 2019 and the whole family have been made very welcome every time we visit. He always looks happy and well-fed and the staff are always helpful. The home manager is wonderful at communicating with relatives and has a host of festive activities planned which all the family may participate in. Thank you to all the fabulous staff for your care and love throughout these difficult times.
Many thanks for your kind words. It is our privilege to look after your Father in providing the best care and support to meet his daily needs ad wishes. Thanks once again, Teresa, Home Manager.
My aunt is happy there and always praises the menu.
Dear Trudi, thanks for your kind words. It is our pleasure to look after your Aunt and to provide the best care to meet her daily needs and wishes. Thank you once again! Teresa, Home Manager
The whole atmosphere felt nicer and it was a pleasure to be there. In the past, I could not wait to leave.
We are so grateful for the kind words you wrote. Blackthorns is definitely a different Home where care and attention to details are at the core of our work ethics. The staff team has worked tirelessly to put into effect the beautiful changes you saw on your last visit. We are delighted you had a...
Regulatory Rating
Care Quality Commission (CQC) Rating
Date: 28 February 2024Requires improvement
- CaringGood
- EffectiveGood
- ResponsiveRequires improvement
- SafeRequires improvement
- Well-ledRequires improvement
Inspection ratings
We rate most services according to how safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led they are, using four levels:
- Outstanding - The service is performing exceptionally well.
- Good - The service is performing well and meeting our expectations.
- Requires Improvement - The service isn't performing as well as it should and we have told the service how it must improve.
- Inadequate - The service is performing badly and we've taken action against the person or organisation that runs it.
- Not rated - we have not yet rated this area of the service, this is normally because the assessments we have carried out have been focused on other key questions.
Bed Vacancies
Please contact us for latest vacancies.
News (12) & Events (0)
- 25 Feb 2026
Blackthorns Care Home, part of the Runwood Homes Group, was filled with laughter, warmth and the delicious smell of freshly made pancakes as residents and staff came together to celebrate...
- 28 Jan 2026
Blackthorns Care Home, part of the Runwood Homes Group, has proudly launched its very own in-house post office, creating a meaningful and practical new feature that allows residents to post...
- 02 Jan 2026
Blackthorns Care Home, part of the Runwood Homes Group, welcomed residents and their loved ones on 20 December 2025 for a special Christmas meal, bringing families together to celebrate the...
There are no upcoming events for Blackthorns.
Awards / Recognitions (11)
- 01 Apr 2026Recipient: Blackthorns
- 30 Jan 2026Recipient: Runwood Homes Ltd
- 31 Jan 2025Recipient: Runwood Homes Ltd
Meet the Team (4)

Hi, I’m Alex Ile, and I’m currently the Deputy Manager at Runwood Homes, having rejoined the team in July 2024. I truly enjoy the caring side of my job, especially meeting new people, working with different organisations, and tackling the day-to-day challenges that come with it. As a registered nurse, this role is a great opportunity to continue making a positive impact on people’s lives.
I’m all about bringing joy to the workplace—I love making people laugh and being jolly, often cracking jokes at my own expense! Outside of work, I’m a fan of going to the gym to stay active, and I have a keen interest in computers and watching documentaries. Life is all about balance, and I like to keep things both fun and focused.

My name is Kinga Polak-Choat, and I am the Home Administrator at Runwood, where I started in August 2024. Although I am new to this role, every day brings something different. I have the opportunity to meet new people regularly and continuously learn and grow in this position.
I hold a master's degree in management and marketing, which has helped me transition into this role. Before joining Runwood, I spent 9 years working as a bookkeeper, collaborating with various businesses across different sectors. This experience has shaped my approach to organisation and problem-solving in my current role.
Outside of work, I’m known as the "food monster" at home, as I love to cook and eat! I enjoy spending time with my friends and family and taking walks with my dog. When I find the time, I also make it a point to attend body combat classes to stay active.

Hi, I’m Andras, the Head Chef at Runwood Homes since September 2023. I have a passion for cooking and baking, and I truly enjoy creating delicious meals for our residents. One of the highlights of my day is interacting with residents during meal times, as it brings a personal touch to what I do.
I’m proud to share that I won the Chef of the Year 2023 award, a milestone that reflects my dedication to my craft.
Outside of the kitchen, I love playing football, going fishing, and savouring a good cup of coffee—because life is always better with coffee!

Hi, I’m Teri, and I’m proud to be a Housekeeper at Blackthorns. I joined Runwood in 2021, and in 2023, I stepped into my current role. I’m passionate about maintaining the highest standards of cleanliness and take great pride in ensuring our home is welcoming and comfortable for everyone.
Building meaningful relationships with residents and their families is one of the most rewarding parts of my work. I love contributing to a positive environment where everyone feels cared for and valued.
Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with my house rabbit, Barnabi, who always keeps life interesting! I’m also a fan of holidays and cherish opportunities to relax and explore new places.
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