The Firs Residential Home

33 West Hill, Budleigh Salterton EX9 6AE
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Top 20 carehome certificate
9.8 87 Reviews
  • The Firs Residential Home, Budleigh Salterton
Set in a peaceful location with leafy gardens and light-filled spaces, The Firs offers more than just a place to live – it’s a place to feel at ease. Residents can relax in the comfortable lounge, share time with others in the dining areas, or enjoy a quiet drink in the bar. With the scent of sea air drifting through the garden, the calm, unhurried rhythm of life here provides a true sense of retreat.

Each resident receives support tailored to their individual needs – whether for long-term care, respite stays, or recovery following a hospital visit. The care team is recognised not only for professional expertise, but also for warmth and thoughtful attention.

All bedrooms are en-suite, and there’s ample space to enjoy – from inviting communal lounges to the recently redesigned garden, featuring a pergola, greenhouse, and potting bench. The activities programme is inclusive and varied, offering something to suit every interest and energy level. Past favourites have included gala week bingo, ice cream in the sun, gardening club, creative crafts, and gentle reminiscence sessions.

Mealtimes are an occasion to enjoy, with seasonal dishes prepared by in-house chefs – nourishing, delicious, and made with care.

To learn more or arrange a visit to The Firs, please get in touch.
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Care Provided by The Firs Residential Home

Primary Care Categories

  • Older Person Care
  • Dementia
  • Physical Disability

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
  • Advanced/Complex Dementia

Other Care Provided

  • Parkinson's Disease
  • Stroke
  • Palliative / End of Life Care
  • Convalescent Care
  • Day Care

Facilities

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

Funding & Fees What's included?

Weekly Charges per Person

  • Self-Funded Residential Care: from £1400
  • Self-Funded Residential Dementia Care: from £1400
  • RESPITE Self-Funded Residential Care: from £1400
  • RESPITE Self-Funded Residential Dementia Care: from £1400
The price(s) shown are provided by the care home. Contact The Firs Residential Home for full pricing details and T&Cs.

Contact The Firs Residential Home 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)

Contact The Firs Residential Home to confirm what's included and get a personalised quote:

Good to Know

Group/Owner

Person in Charge

  • Emma Breslan (Registered Manager)

Local Authority / Social Services

Admission Information

  • Mixed with both male-only and female-only unit(s)
  • Ages 65+

Care Home Design/Build

  • Purpose Built: No
  • Last Refurbishment: 2023
  • Number of floors: 2

Room Information

  • Single Rooms (38)
  • Couples/Companion Rooms (0)
  • Single Rooms with Ensuite Wet Room (38)

Visiting

  • No restriction on visiting times

Parking

  • Private parking on site available

The Firs Residential Home Reviews (87)

9.8

The Firs Residential Home has a Review Score of 9.8 (9.840) out of 10, based on 25 reviews in the last 2 years.
Over all time The Firs Residential Home has 87 reviews.

Overall Experience
  • 71
  • 16
  • 0
  • 0
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Date Published
  • 87
  • 15
  • 18
  • 25
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Reviewer Connection to The Firs Residential Home
  • 37
  • 15
  • 7
  • 6
  • 4
  • 4
  • 2
  • 2
  • 1
  • 1
  • 1
  • 1
  • 1
  • 1
  • 1
  • 1
  • 1
  • 1
Total of 87, showing 61-80
Review from Robert R (Son of Resident) published on 18 June 2021 Submitted via Postal Card • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Both management and staff have a positive and caring attitude. The atmosphere was bright and cheerful, and great efforts were made to entertain the residents and to make them happy. My father stated regularly the care he received was excellent, the management and staff were also kind and caring in their
dealings with myself and my sister.
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Review from William M (Brother of Resident) published on 7 June 2021 Submitted via Postal Card • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
My sister's care has been exceptional over the last five years at The Firs Residential Home. The staff and management have worked really hard especially in these difficult times (Covid 19) they have kept us well informed and kept us up to date on my sister's welfare. They are lovely caring staff and
need to be congratulated. Thank you all.
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Review from Claire P (Granddaughter of Resident) published on 21 May 2021 Submitted via Postal Card • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Finding The Firs has been an absolute Godsend. They have really helped my gran, and she is always doing arts and crafts and other activities. It is always lovely to see the picture of the diverse activities that they do, and my gran is always praising the staff that look after her.
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Review from Susan D (Daughter of Resident) published on 11 May 2021 Submitted via Postal Card • Report
Overall Experience 4.0 out of 5
I found the staff and management very caring and understanding, as we are in such difficult times at the moment. My mum was always clean and nicely dressed when I visited. They seemed to be well organised. I am unable to mark many of the ratings as only went to a visiting room.
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Review from R P (Grandson of Resident) published on 6 May 2021 Submitted via Postal Card • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
The staff of the care home have been excellent in welcoming my grandmother. I am extremely impressed with the activities team, my gran has been doing new crafts which she would never have tried and really enjoying them. She has a new lease of life.
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Review from Lysianne C (Daughter of Resident) published on 6 May 2021 Submitted via Postal Card • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
The Firs is a lovely residential home. The staff are attentive and very caring. They have lovely bright and cheerful rooms and have plenty of activities. Mum had dementia and was brilliantly cares for, and all her care needs were met. The home is well kept and very clean. Overall an excellent home.
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Review from Sandy H (Sister-in-law of Resident) published on 5 May 2021 Submitted via Postal Card • Report
Overall Experience 4.0 out of 5
The kindness and care shown by the staff to residents and visitors is second to none. The staff are led by an excellent manager who listens and acts whenever necessary. The residents are given lots of activities to encourage them to mix and enjoys spending time together as well as encouraging their
cognitive skills. The improvement is my sister-in-law's mental state and well being has improves so much in the time she has been a resident at The Firs. I am impressed with the whole care and responsibility given to Covid protection.
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Review from Suzanne P (Daughter of Resident) published on 19 March 2021 Submitted via Postal Card • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
This review was done from lockdown when my mother's previous care home closed. I did chose her room, then visiting stopped. Once mother was through the doors of The Firs, the loved staff quickly got used to her "way". I have nothing but praise. They listen to any concerns, keeping me informed of her
comfort and health. I felt comfort in contacting them at any time. Sadly mother recently passed away. It was heartbreaking for the staff and to lose her so close to the lifting of some restrictions. Mother was not an "activities" person, preferring her own company; this was respected. However, she enjoyed the company of staff, and they came up trumps. Because I could not see her inside, my review relates to the three visits I had, but what I do know is the manager, carers and support staff welcomed her into their "family", and I was never excluded from decisions. She loved her food, wine and chocolates. It was hard for me to let go, but The Firs turned out to be the best decision I made, and I thank them all from my heart.
Reply from Nicola Shayler, Manager at The Firs Residential HomeThank you so much for the wonderful review.
Your mum was an absolute treasure to look after.
We were so lucky to have known her.
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Review from Vanda D (Daughter of Resident) published on 24 September 2020 Submitted via Postal Card • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
We were so lucky to find The First. Mum has dementia and went downhill rapidly in lockdown. No one would help and she was at risk. The First took her in to look after her as soon as she had a Covid test. She has been well cared for and after a rocky start she has settled well. The staff are amazing
and I haven't had any problems. Nothing is too much trouble.
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Review from Sarah L (Daughter of Resident) published on 10 September 2020 Submitted via Postal Card • Report
Overall Experience 4.0 out of 5
I can't comment on all areas as Mum has moved in during Covid so I have only seen her room, but the care that staff have taken to settle Mum and make her feel at home has been exceptional. Whilst we can't have 'normal' visits in the current situation, they have done their utmost to accommodate us.
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Review from L L (Daughter of Resident) published on 3 September 2020 Submitted via Postal Card • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
My lovely mum went to The Firs days before lockdown. Due to Covid-19, she was welcomed by all the staff and the manager. Their care, engagement and passion has seen my mums mental health improve, she is physically better and encouraged to be part of 'The Firs family'. They allow her to adopt a routine
that suits her personality and life choice but ensure she socialises and engages. The manager and her dedicated team have far exceeded expectations at this very difficult time in our lives.
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Review from Anna L (Daughter of Resident) published on 28 August 2020 Submitted via Postal Card • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Lovely, friendly and caring staff - who genuinely want Mum to settle down and be happy in her new home. Very friendly to us as her family too. A home is only as good as the staff team, and this is a great team.
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Review from Peter H (Son of Resident) published on 25 December 2019 Submitted via Postal Card • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
The Firs is a relaxed and efficient care home, all the staff are really friendly and the care is very good. My father's health has been very up and down but the staff have kept me well informed of any changes and do not hesitate to call the doctor if needed. My dad is very happy there, and I thought
he wouldn't like it at first, I was very wrong.
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Review from Neil E (Son of Resident) published on 11 December 2019 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Mum was always treated with a great deal of compassion and kindness during two and a half years at The Firs. She was always gently encouraged to take part in the various activities on offer and enjoyed them greatly. Staff were very attentive to her needs and quickly spotted if she was in difficulty,
either physically or emotionally. They always kept family informed and we felt fully involved in decisions affecting her care. In the past 12 months, there have been considerable staffing changes, bringing with it a perhaps inevitable lack of continuity. However, a new manager has now started with whom I have had many dealings in recent months, as Mum's health has deteriorated and her needs have become increasingly complex. The manager has been excellent in all regards, demonstrating a deep understanding of the high standard of care that people living with dementia deserve and ensuring that Mum's high-quality care was maintained throughout.
Reply from Liana Birkett, Director at The Firs Residential HomeThank you so much for reviewing our service. We are so glad you are happy with mum’s care. We will pass on your kind words to the team. Thanks again.
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Review from J B (Daughter of Resident) published on 4 December 2019 Submitted via Postal Card • Report
Overall Experience 4.0 out of 5
In the last few months, the home is settling down after the change of management which has taken a while to get to grips with the problems which had developed. They still have a staffing problem so some staff are still feeling the pressure in their job.
On the whole, we are satisfied with the service
we receive. Mum is happy there, she seems to get plenty of attention and looked after by the staff.
She does not have problems and is not afraid to talk to the manager.
Reply from Liana Birkett, Director at The Firs Residential HomeThank you for the review and for your support through this period of transition. We have great faith in the new manager who is making some great improvements. We have also made great progress with staffing and we are now fully staffed. It is great to hear that your mother is happy at The Firs.
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Review from Vicky T (Granddaughter of Resident) published on 17 October 2019 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
My grandpa was diagnosed over a decade ago with vascular dementia. My mum single-handedly cared for my grandpa until June where she could no longer mentally care for him. The Firs was recommended to me by a friend. It was perfect - a gated dementia care home. Very clean and friendly. Management and
staff have changed since my grandpa's admission in June and in my opinion for the better. New manageress has a strong passionate care focus. Spend many hours revising and creating my grandpas care plan. They run weekly outings for the residents If they wish to participate. But have daily indoor activities. My grandpa's health did deteriorate and his health needs became complex very quickly. Management amended care plan quickly and efficiently, Coming to meetings with doctors etc. His care was beyond anything my family expected. He entered palliative care in August. The staff gave my family help, guidance and support during this difficult time. Could not recommend enough.
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Review from S E (Nephew of Resident) published on 18 December 2018 Submitted via Postal Card • Report
Overall Experience 4.0 out of 5
Very pleased with the progress my very elderly aunt is making under their care.


She is well, happy and relaxed. There is a lovely atmosphere in the home.

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Review from Elaine W (Daughter of Resident) published on 11 October 2018 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 4.0 out of 5
I am pleased with the facility and level of care. Concerned that a lot of money is spent on changes and facelifts and furniture which may not be necessary and it all comes from the cost of residential placement.
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Review from Bridget B (Daughter of Resident) published on 11 October 2018 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
The care, staff and atmosphere at The Firs are just what are needed to reassure me that mum is being well looked after in a safe environment. In the search for the right place, I visited many other local facilities and The Firs is among the best.
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Review from Robert W (Son of Resident) published on 10 October 2018 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
We chose this care home 5 years ago as a suitable place for mum who suffers from dementia. We had visited several other care homes and came to the conclusion that The Firs was a friendly, caring, professionally run and well-maintained establishment. We still maintain that our decision was the best one
we could have made and are confident that mum has received the best possible attention during her residency and seems to be perfectly happy and content there.
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Current Review Score: 9.8 (9.840)

Overview of Review Score

The Review Score of 9.8 (9.840) out of 10 for The Firs Residential Home is based on a) the Average Rating and b) the number of positive Reviews.

  1. The Average Rating is 4.8 out of 5 from 25 Reviews in the last 24 months.
  2. The score for the number of positive Reviews is 5.0 out of 5 from 25 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:

  1. 5 Points are available for the Average Rating from all Reviews in the last 24 months. The Average Rating of 4.840 for The Firs Residential Home is calculated as follows: ( (253 Excellents x 5) + (46 Goods x 4) + (1 Satisfactorys x 3) ) ÷ 300 Ratings = 4.84
  2. 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 Firs Residential Home is based on 25 positive Reviews in the last 24 months and is calculated as per below:

    The 5 points available are broken down as follows:

    1. 4 points are available for the first 20 Positive Reviews in the last 24 months; 3 points for the first Positive Review, 0.125 Points for each of the next four Positive Reviews, 0.05 Points for the next five Positive Reviews, and finally 0.025 Points for the next ten Positive Reviews. (1st = 3.000, 2nd = 0.125, 3rd = 0.125, 4th = 0.125, 5th = 0.125, 6th = 0.050, 7th = 0.050, 8th = 0.050, 9th = 0.050, 10th = 0.050, 11th = 0.025, 12th = 0.025, 13th = 0.025, 14th = 0.025, 15th = 0.025, 16th = 0.025, 17th = 0.025, 18th = 0.025, 19th = 0.025, 20th = 0.025) 3 + 0.125 + 0.125 + 0.125 + 0.125 + 0.05 + 0.05 + 0.05 + 0.05 + 0.05 + 0.025 + 0.025 + 0.025 + 0.025 + 0.025 + 0.025 + 0.025 + 0.025 + 0.025 + 0.025 = 4
    2. 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 25 Positive reviews. Points = 1
  3. When a Review is submitted by someone who has previously submitted a Review, only the latest Review will count towards the Review Score.
  4. 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: 20 Dec 2022

Overall Good

  • Caring Good
  • Effective Good
  • Responsive Good
  • Safe Good
  • Well-led Good
Care Quality Commission is responsible for the registration and inspection of social care services in England. View Latest Report

Bed Vacancies

Please contact us for latest vacancies.

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Awards / Recognitions (8)

Meet the Team (1)

Emma

Emma Breslan

Job Title: Registered Manager Joined: 2026

Emma is a highly experienced care professional with over 25 years in the care industry.


She has recently worked as a turnaround manager. She has achieved Outstanding ratings in previous care homes and was proud to be recognised in the Top 20 Care Homes in the UK awards. Known for her pure dedication to providing the highest possible standard of care, Emma has successfully managed and inspired some of the most effective and compassionate teams in the sector.


Emma lives locally in Lympstone village in Devon and comes from a proud military family background — her husband served 28 years in the Devon & Dorset regiment, and she has two sons, both serving in the Army. Her daughter and grandchildren live locally in Exmouth. In her spare time, she enjoys spending quality time with her grandchildren and making the most of family life.

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