The Briars

33 Broadway, Sandown, PO36 9BD
Review Us
9.9 49 Reviews
  • The Briars, Sandown
The Briars is proud to be one of the longest-standing and most respected care homes on the island, rated Good overall and Outstanding in Responsive category by the CQC (April 2021).

The Briars offers high-quality residential care in a warm, welcoming environment just moments from the coast. As part of the Greensleeves Care charity, every penny is reinvested into exceptional care – not profit. Thanks to the charity’s Home for Life Commitment, no resident is ever asked to leave due to a lack of funds.

Situated in a peaceful residential area with easy access to local shops, seafront walks and community life, The Briars combines homely comfort with round-the-clock support tailored to each individual. Residents enjoy freshly prepared meals, spacious en-suite bedrooms, and a genuine sense of companionship and belonging.

To help make the transition into care easier, The Briars offers a 6-week no-obligation trial, giving families peace of mind and the chance to experience life at the home before making a long-term decision.

The Briars offers:

- A top-rated, not-for-profit care setting focused on people – not profit
- Personalised 24/7 residential care
- The Home for Life Commitment – no resident asked to leave due to funding
- A 6-week no-obligation trial stay
- Comfortable, spacious en-suite bedrooms
- A quiet location close to the beach, local shops and transport links
- Cosy lounges, attractive gardens and a sunny conservatory
- Home-cooked meals made daily on site and a varied programme of activities and outings

With a strong connection to the local community and a dedicated, friendly team, The Briars offers not just care, but a true home.

Families are invited to get in touch to learn more or arrange a visit – the team at The Briars is always ready to offer support and a warm welcome.

Care Provided

Primary Care Categories

  • Older Person Care
  • Dementia
  • Mental Health Condition
  • Physical Disability
  • Visual / Hearing Impairment

Length of Stay

  • Permanent Care
  • Respite Care

Care Types Provided

  • Residential Care
  • Dementia Residential Care
  • For a maximum of 38 Service Users

Dementia Care Types

  • Mild Dementia
  • Moderate Dementia

Other Care Provided

  • Palliative / End of Life Care
  • Day Care
  • Acquired Brain Injury (ABI)
  • Parkinson's Disease
  • Stroke

Facilities

  • Own Furniture if required
  • Pet Friendly (or by arrangement)
  • Smoking not permitted
  • Close to Local shops
  • Near Public Transport
  • Minibus or other transport
  • Lift
  • Stairlift
  • Wheelchair Access
  • Gardens
  • Phone Point in own room
  • Television point in own room

Funding & Fees

Weekly Charges per Person

  • Self-Funded Residential Care: £1269 – £1864
  • Self-Funded Residential Dementia Care: £1269 – £1864
  • RESPITE Self-Funded Residential Care: £1269 – £1864
  • RESPITE Self-Funded Residential Dementia Care: £1269 – £1864

Fees are set based on the specific care needs of each individual. Fees come with Greensleeves Care's unique Home for Life financial assurance and, as a not-for-profit home, every penny goes towards high-quality care, never shareholders. Give the home a call today for more details.

These prices are only a guideline, please contact The Briars to find out the exact price for your requirements.

Funding Types Accepted

  • Self Funding (Private)
  • Local Authority with Top Up
  • Local Authority
  • NHS Continuing Healthcare (CHC)

Good to Know

Person in charge

  • Lesley Shaw (Home Manager)

Local Authority / Social Services

Admission Criteria

  • Ages 65+

Care Home Design/Build

  • Purpose Built: No
  • Last Refurbishment: 2012

Room Information

  • Single Rooms (38)
  • Single Rooms with ensuite Wet Room (12)

Visiting

  • There are no restrictions on visiting Loved Ones. The Briars is the resident's home and therefore visitors are welcome anytime.

Parking

  • Like most other facilities on the Isle of Wight, The Briars Care Home does not have large parking availability. Some time ago the home took a decision, for the benefit of its resident, to convert previously allocated car parking space into a lovely communal outdoor facility for the residents to enjoy. Residents, families and visitors are unanimous in supporting this decision and the benefits of it are evident every day in the resident's wellbeing and happiness. This part of the reason the home achieved Outstanding at the last CQC inspection.


    Visitors are therefore advised to make use of the plentiful on-road car parking space that is available around the home.

Total of 49, showing 1-20
9.9

The Briars has a Review Score of 9.9 (9.946) out of 10, based on 17 reviews in the last 2 years. Over all time The Briars has 49 reviews.

Overall Experience

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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

I am so pleased with the care my mother receives at The Briars. She has been here for nearly 4 years and is part of The Briars family. I am greeted with kindness and love everytime I come to visit from all members of the wonderful staff.

Reply from Lesley Shaw, Home Manager at The Briars

Many thanks for your lovely review which I will share with the team.

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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

As a trusted friend and POA I have so much confidence in the care that The Briars is giving. To know that the care and everything given is of such a high standard enables me to know that I have made the right decision.

Reply from Lesley Shaw, Home Manager at The Briars

Many thanks for your wonderful feedback which I will share with the team.

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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

I would like to say thank you to all the staff at The Briars as my mum has settled in at ease. She has made so many improvements since her stay at the care home. The staff are very friendly and helpful and always making my mum smile. Always clean when I go to my mum's room and tidy and it always smells
fresh. I don't have any complaints, and very satisfied with the care that they are providing. Never seen my mum smile so much which makes me smile when visiting.

Reply from Lesley Shaw, Home Manager at The Briars

Many thanks for your lovely review and we are delighted your mum has settled so well.

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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

After the decision to place mum into care, any concerns we had went very quickly after she settled in within weeks. She loves it! The staff are caring and compassionate there's lots of interaction and we enjoy visiting and seeing staff and residents together.

Reply from Lesley Shaw, Home Manager at The Briars

Many thanks for your kind words and we look forward to your visits.

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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Always a warm welcome at reception when visiting my mum. Staff always attentive and friendly to relatives and residents, nothing too much trouble. Feels like a family environment. Mum feels The Briars is homely and everyone there is friendly. All her needs are met in a very professional manner and always
with a smile. Management are approachable if needed.

Reply from Lesley Shaw, Home Manager at The Briars

Many thanks for your lovely review which I will share with staff.

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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Our dear friend was a resident for just over 3 years. In this time, the standard of care was exceptional. The management and all the care staff were all very approachable and attentive. Our friend passed her last years being happy and comfortable. The Briars itself is maintained to an exceptionally
high standard of cleanliness and decoration. Good management, good staff, makes for a very pleasant environment. My sincere thanks to you all.

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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

I am very happy with the care my mum receives at The Briars Care Home. Everyone is very caring and supportive of her. Making sure that she is safe and happy. They always keep me updated on her well-being. Many thanks.

Reply from Lesley Shaw, Home Manager at The Briars

Many thanks for your review. It is a pleasure to care for your mother.

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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My dad has been at The Briars for 3 weeks now and I can’t believe the difference in him. We went from him trying to see if he could climb the fence to get out (no way was this possible) to today, exactly 3 weeks after arriving, returning to The Briars after lunch out with the family and having him tell
me he was glad to be home.
The staff at the Briars have been absolutely amazing, not only with my dad but with me too. They have made us both feel welcome and most importantly, my dad feels safe. Within days of his arrival one staff member realised my dad enjoyed a bath and if he was a little anxious a bath helped him relax. I’d never known my dad to take a bath, but here I am buying bubble bath for him!
My dad has a beautiful bright sunny room with a view over the hills, which I think he’s hardly noticed as he spends all his time in the communal area or the garden where there always seems to be something or other going on. To all the staff at The Briars, thank you.

Reply from Lesley Shaw, Home Manager at The Briars

Many thanks for your wonderful review and kind words. Dad has certainly settled well and it's a pleasure to care for him and see him getting so much enjoyment out of each and every day.

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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My mother came to live at The Briars last year. It is wonderful to see how settled she is, and I'm really happy with the care she is receiving. The Briars has friendly, caring & committed carers team. The communication is good when ever needed her needs will increase as her Alzheimer's progresses. But
its good that she has been able to tell me she is happy, everyone is very kind & caring, she has friends. We know she is in the right place.

Reply from Lesley Shaw, Home Manager at The Briars

Many thanks for your excellent review. Your mum has settled in very well and is a pleasure to care for her. It's lovely to hear her chatting to her friends and enjoying the activities.

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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 4.0 out of 5

Outstanding care delivered in a friendly and caring environment. Staff are eager to help and facilitate family needs.

Reply from Lesley Shaw, Home Manager at The Briars

Many thanks for your kind words which I will share with the staff.

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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

I remain very happy with the care that The Briars team gave to my wife for the last three years and more latterly me since last December. I particularly appreciate the care the staff have given me since I moved in and the kind attention they give me each day. I would not really ask for anything more
and certainly have nothing to complain about.

Reply from Lesley Shaw, Home Manager at The Briars

Many thanks for your excellent review and it is a pleasure to care for both of you.

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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

In the last 3 months, it has been such a piece of mind knowing that mum is safe and well cared for. All the staff seem to genuinely love their jobs and mum loves them all. Whenever I call to see how mum is doing, whoever answers the phone can give me an instant update on what sort of day she is having
without having to go and find out. I had reservations about mum going into a home but she is safe, well cared for and stimulated. I wish we had done it sooner. Thank you everyone.

Reply from Lesley Shaw, Home Manager at The Briars

Many thanks for your kind words. Your mum is a pleasure to care for and it's wonderful to see how happy and busy she is each day.

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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

What I can say that represents how myself and husband feel about the staff at the Briars.
You have shown so much warmth, care and love to our dad.
To one stay member in particular, we want you to know how fond Dad was of you! You are amazing.
Thank you for being there for us today, you are also
amazing. As all the staff.
All of you have made Dad's last year and last days happy.
Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

Reply from Lesley Shaw, Home Manager at The Briars

Thank you for your kind words. Your dad was a pleasure to care for and we are proud to have made the last year of his life as happy and comfortable as possible.

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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

A lovely, caring and friendly home. Mum settled very quickly and the care Mum receives is excellent. All the staff are friendly and attentive. Mum is happy and always kept "busy" with a nice range of activities. As family, myself and my sister are made to feel welcome each time we visit. Thank you everyone!

Reply from Lesley Shaw, Home Manager at The Briars

Many thanks for your kind comments. Your mum is a pleasure to care for and has quickly become a much-loved member of The Briars family.

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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

The experience I have at all times visiting is always good. The staff are all amazing and very patient with all the residents. All your staff treat every resident as an individual with their needs. I know every time I visit my sister she is very well looked after. The Briars is an amazing place and
I would recommend it to anyone. There is so much interaction with all the residents from the carers.

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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

We visit as much as we can, as we live on the mainland and cannot visit as often as we would like. The staff are always very helpful, especially when the situation can be difficult when we visit and also keep us fully informed of any issues with either my father-in-law or his wife, both of whom are
now permanent residents. I have always been able to talk to the management as needed and they have advised us on any queries that we have had, including finance. Both of our parents seem to be happy and settled, although communication with either of them is now quite difficult. I would like to thank everyone at Briars for the care and attention that I can see they give to all their residents in these difficult circumstances.

Reply from Lesley Shaw, Home Manager at The Briars

Many thanks for your kind words and it is a pleasure to care for both your father-in-law and his lovely wife.

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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My brother had a fall and was dealt with quickly and has been in hospital. I went to see him today and found him looking quite well at the home, very clean and presentable which he always is when I visit. He is very happy at The Briars and finds that they are always there for him even for a chat which
seems to put him at ease as he gets confused easily, especially since being in hospital.

Reply from Lesley Shaw, Home Manager at The Briars

Many thanks for your kind words and your brother is a pleasure to care for.

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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 4.0 out of 5

I visit my mum at least twice a week generally and have been for a few years now. The care staff are always polite and helpful and I am confident she is well cared for. I do have concerns over upper management, (not with the assistant manager). Very little contact, poor communication skills. Also, lately,
I feel there could be improvements with the activities - basically - more of them, as was once the case, prior to the pandemic. I have noticed that most of the residents respond to music/singing, for example, which was once a more regular activity. Maybe more one-to-one chats/reading where possible. Volunteers?

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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My mother has now lived at The Briars for over five years, and I have been extremely happy with the general standard of care provided at most times. The care staff are usually outstanding and provide "kind" care for residents who can have very difficult needs. I would like to thank all the wonderful
staff at The Briars for their care of my mother and their ongoing support of me when I visit.

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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

It was highly recommended for my Dad to go to the Briars care home. He has settled down really well. I am extremely impressed with the level of communication I receive from the staff at The Briars. I know I can phone/email for an update at any time. It is always lovely to see photos of Dad enjoying
and taking part in activities. I am happy that Dad's needs are being met and that he is safe.

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Current Review Score: 9.9 (9.946)

Overview of Review Score

The Review Score of 9.9 (9.946) out of 10 for The Briars is based on a) the Average Rating and b) the number of positive Reviews.

  • a) The Average Rating is 4.9 out of 5 from 17 Reviews in the last 24 months.

  • b) The score for the number of positive Reviews is 5.0 out of 5 from 17 positive Reviews in the last 24 months.

Detailed Breakdown of Review Score

The maximum Review Score for a Care Home is 10, which is made up from the Average Rating of Reviews (maximum of 5 points) and the Number of Reviews (maximum of 5 points) in the last 24 months:

  • a) 5 Points are available for the Average Rating from all Reviews in the last 24 months.

    The Average Rating of 4.946 for The Briars is calculated as follows: ( (191 Excellents x 5) + (11 Goods x 4) ) ÷ 202 Ratings = 4.946

  • b) 5 Points are available for the number of Positive Reviews in the last 24 months. A Positive Review is defined as any Review with an 'Overall Experience' of '4' or '5' (out of a max rating '5').

    The 5 Points relating to the number of positive Reviews for The Briars is based on 17 positive Reviews in the last 24 months and is calculated as per below:

    The 5 points available are broken down as follows:

    • i) 4 points are available for the first 10 Positive Reviews in the last 24 months; 3 points for the first Positive Review, and then 0.125 Points for each of the next four Positive Reviews and then 0.1 Points for the next five Positive Reviews. (1st = 3.000, 2nd = 0.125, 3rd = 0.125, 4th = 0.125, 5th = 0.125, 6th = 0.100, 7th = 0.100, 8th = 0.100, 9th = 0.100, 10th = 0.100) 3 + 0.125 + 0.125 + 0.125 + 0.125 + 0.1 + 0.1 + 0.1 + 0.1 + 0.1 = 4

    • ii) 1 point is available for the number of Positive Reviews reaching 20% of the registered maximum number of service users in the last 24 months. If this number is partially reached, then that proportion of 1 point is given. eg a Care Home registered for a maximum of 50 service users has to reach 10 Positive Reviews to receive 1 point, if it has 7 reviews it will receive 0.7 points. 20% of the 38 registered maximum number of service users is 7.6, which has been reached with 17 Positive reviews. Points = 1

  • When a Review is submitted by someone who has previously submitted a Review, only the latest Review will count towards the Review Score.

  • If a Care Home does not have a review in the last 24 months, then it will not have a Review Score.

Regulatory Rating

Care Quality Commission (CQC) Rating

Date: 19 Mar 2020

Overall
Good

  • Caring

    Good
  • Effective

    Good
  • Responsive

    Outstanding
  • Safe

    Good
  • Well-led

    Good

Care Quality Commission is responsible for the registration and inspection of social care services in England.

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Bed Vacancies

Please Contact Us for Latest Vacancies

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Awards / Recognitions (18)

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Meet the Team (7)

Lesley

Lesley Shaw

Job Title: Home Manager

Joined: 2019

Hello, my name is Lesley Shaw and I am proud to be the manager of The Briars.


We are based in the seaside town of Sandown on the Isle of Wight. The Briars is a specialised dementia home where the residents always come first. Our aim is to provide high quality care, in a safe and friendly environment, which respects the rights, dignity and privacy for all who live here.


Being a specialised dementia home my staff are highly qualified and dedicated ensuring everyone can live their life to the fullest. It is a privilege to be part of the team. I am a qualified, experienced manager, I believe in openness and transparency and always have time for a cup of tea and a chat. At The Briars we have strong links to our local community and always welcome new friends.

Kim

Kim Mears

Job Title: Family Liaison Manager

Joined: 2018

My role at The Briars is to offer support and advice to families who are looking for care for their loved ones. There is no greater reward for me than helping people on this journey into finding the right home. Away from work, I love to spend time with my family and friends.

Cath

Cath

Job Title: Care Supervisor

Joined: 2015

I have worked in care for 30 years in a variety of settings and positions. I joined the team at the Briars in December 2015. Supporting and caring for residents living with dementia is an integral part of my role that I find full-filling and each day brings new experiences.

Chloe

Chloe

Job Title: Senior Carer

Joined: 2015

I joined The Briars 5 years ago as a Care Assistant and have now progressed to a Senior Carer. My residents here are very important to me and I will always take time out of my shift to chat to them and check they are doing OK. Outside of work, I love spending time with my family and paddleboarding, weather permitting.

Carol

Carol

Job Title: Administrator

Joined: 2017

I feel very privileged to work at The Briars, the staff and residents are what make the home such a nice place to be. I enjoy my job knowing that the job I do makes a difference to the team and residents. Out of work, I enjoy spending time with my family and walking my three terrier style dogs.

Ava-Marie

Ava-Marie

Job Title: Head Chef

Joined: 2016

I have worked in the catering sector of residential care for just over 10 years. I have previously worked as a Cook in holiday camps and public houses. I enjoy spending time with the residents and finding out about their likes and dislikes in terms of food. In my private time, I enjoy kayaking, swimming and spending time with my family.

Tony

Tony

Job Title: Head of Maintenance

Joined: 2012

I enjoy my role as no two days are the same, for example, one day I could be changing fire doors, the next making a wooden birthday cake! In my spare time, I like to go kayaking with my sons and dog in tow! We enjoy exploring the Isle of Wight with plenty of walks and trips to the beach.

Frequently Asked Questions about The Briars

What types of Care is The Briars registered for?

Older Person Care, Dementia, Mental Health Condition, Physical Disability & Visual / Hearing Impairment are the registered (by the Care Quality Commission) categories of Care.

How many Rooms does The Briars have?

There are 38 Single Rooms.

What are the Facilities & Services at The Briars?

Own Furniture if required, Pet Friendly (or by arrangement), Smoking not permitted, Close to Local shops, Near Public Transport, Minibus or other transport, Lift, Stairlift, Wheelchair Access, Gardens, Phone Point in own room & Television point in own room are some of the Facilities & Services.

How far is The Briars to the centre of Sandown?

0.2 mile(s) as the crow flies, distance by road may be significantly further.

Information on this page is displayed without responsibility for its accuracy on the part of carehome.co.uk. Please contact The Briars to verify any information. View our terms and conditions. The Briars has an Enhanced Service - more info.