
Staff are caring, patient, kind, they tick all the boxes!S C(Daughter of Resident/Service User)

I am extremely happy with the care my mother receives at Birch AbbeyRita J(Daughter of Resident/Service User)


Staff are caring, patient, kind, they tick all the boxes!S C(Daughter of Resident/Service User)

I am extremely happy with the care my mother receives at Birch AbbeyRita J(Daughter of Resident/Service User)


Birch Abbey is a warm and inviting care home that is part of the Dovehaven family, providing exceptional care in a comfortable and nurturing environment.
Situated in the seaside town of Southport, Birch Abbey offers a range of tailored care services, including residential, dementia, and respite care. The dedicated team ensures that every resident feels valued, supported, and part of the Dovehaven community.
The home features spacious and beautifully designed living areas,...
Care Provided by Birch Abbey
Primary Care Categories
- Older Person Care
- Dementia
- Mental Health Condition
- Physical Disability
Length of Stay
- Permanent Care
- Respite Care
Care Types Provided
- Nursing Care
- Dementia Residential Care
- Dementia Nursing Care
- For a maximum of 60 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
- Advanced/Complex Dementia
Other Care Provided
- Parkinson's Disease
- Stroke
- Palliative / End of Life Care
- Convalescent Care
- Day Care
Facilities
- Own Furniture if required
- Smoking not permitted
- Close to Local shops
- Near Public Transport
- Lift
- Wheelchair Access
- Gardens
- Bar/Café
- Residents Kitchenette
- Phone Point in own room
- Television point in own room
- Residents Internet Access
Funding & Fees
Weekly Charges per Person
Please note that fees are starting from prices. The team at Birch Abbey will be happy to provide full guidance on individual care needs, room choice, and funding options, ensuring families receive clear and tailored information to support their decision-making.
The price(s) shown are provided by the care home. Contact Birch Abbey for full pricing details and T&Cs.
Contact Birch Abbey 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)
Support you may be entitled to
- If you chose a care home based in England, you may be eligible for NHS Funded Nursing Care (FNC), which helps cover the cost of nursing. This is worth £267.68 per week and is usually paid directly to the care home.
Good to Know
Group / Owner
- Dovehaven
- Private Owned
Person in charge
- Rachel Smalley (Home Manager)
Local Authority / Social Services
Admission Information
- Mixed (no single-gender units)
- Ages 50+
Care Home Design/Build
- Purpose Built: Yes
- Last Refurbishment: 2013
Room Information
- Single Rooms (60)
Visiting
- At Dovehaven, families and friends are always welcome, and the team actively encourage regular visits as part of their person-centred approach to care. The team works closely with loved ones to ensure they remain involved and informed, supporting strong and meaningful relationships with residents.
Parking
- Birch Abbey has a small private car park, however parking is freely available on the residential road outside of the home.
Birch Abbey Reviews (41)
Birch Abbey has a Review Score of 9.4 (9.428) out of 10, based on 16 reviews in the last 2 years.
Over all time Birch Abbey has 41 reviews.
Birch Abbey has been home to my partner for one and a half years. It has been a difficult time for him during the pandemic. He has been cared for by very caring staff. I have found sometimes there have not been many staff around, but this was due to Covid and many people off sick. Things have now improved, and I have no doubt Birch Abbey is the right place for him, safe and run by a very reliable and friendly team.
Thank you very much for your review of Birch Abbey. You are correct, the pandemic presented difficulties for residents, staff and families. Staffing has become more of an issue as the pandemic progressed, but the way we cared for residents had to change as soon as all risks were identified....
Staff caring.
Thank you for writing this review. I am pleased you are seeing an improvement with the new management in place.
Be great to see more entertainment and more family events.
Thank you for taking the time to write this review. I am pleased that your Nan enjoys her time within the home. The Home Manager is working hard to enrich the lives of all the residents within the home. She is also working with recruitment to attract an activity coordinator.
Excellent care home clean and friendly, warm and welcoming staff from the management team to the carers. Everybody was very accommodating to visitors and the residents couldn’t be better cared for. All in all from the facilities to the care our family couldn’t happier with the service we as a family and our parent is receiving.
Thank you for taking the time to write this very positive review. I have passed your comments on to the staff team. I am pleased to hear that you and your family have been made to feel welcome and that the home is meeting your needs
What can I say the interim manager has done amazing things at this home since taking over ... staff morale has been boosted meaning the home is filled with laughter having such a positive impact on my friend who lives at Birch Abby. All the residents are looked after like they are the staff's own family. We are kept updated with things that are going on within the home and changes that the manager and the staff are doing to make sure my friend and the other residents are living their best life in such difficult circumstances amazing Manager and team.
What a wonderful 5* review! The Manager and her team will be 'over the moon' that you have recognised their hard work and dedication to all of the residents in the home. Kind regards
My wife has been in Birch Abbey 2 yrs and 3 months. The manager and staff have been excellent.
Thank you for your glowing review, we really appreciate your kind words. Myself and the team at Birch Abbey cherish our residents and strive to make our home a happy environment.
I knew our dad was and still is contented as he crosses his legs! It has and will always give me peace and harmony that our dad's needs are met to the highest standards. Thank you all!
Thank you for your glowing review, we really appreciate your kind words. Myself and the team at Birch Abbey cherish our residents and strive to make our home a happy environment.
My husband's social worker wanted me to visit you and my first impression was very good! I was so pleased for him to move there! Everyone has been so kind to our family and I feel at peace that he is being well looked after and he is happy. I know he is! Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
Thank you for your glowing review. We really appreciate your kind words. Myself and the team at Birch Abbey cherish our residents and strive to make our home a happy environment.
I am extremely happy with the care my mother receives at Birch Abbey. The caregivers are thoughtful, kind and supportive with my mum and our family. When mum came to Birch Abbey, she didn't want to be in a care home, so she was angry and argumentative with the staff. Now, mum is happy, calm and loving towards the staff and us. I would like to thank all the staff at Birch Abbey.
Thank you for your glowing review, we really appreciate your kind words. Myself and the team at Birch Abbey cherish our residents and strive to make our home a happy environment.
My number 1 priority was safety and that requisite has exceeded my expectations. The staff are excellent and we have a good relationship with them.
In every organisation, things could be better and I would say that activities need to improve - having said that, a new lady has been appointed and I've met her on several occasions and to say that she is excellent would be an understatement. I can't wait to see what she puts in place after lockdown.
The manager is excellent. A great decision we made.
Thank you for taking the time to write such a wonderful review, myself and the team at Birch Abbey really appreciate your kind words.
The actual building/cafe/rooms are clean and cheerful and well looked after and very hygienic. Not remotely depressing. My mum's clothes always look clean on.
This standard of care is achieved and maintained by their astute, dedicated, compassionate manager who is always on the ball.
Thank you for taking the time to write such a wonderful review, myself and the team at Birch Abbey really appreciate your kind words.
I'd always been wary of having my dad in a care home, but the staff at Birch Abbey were incredible. My dad was extremely well looked after, and it was clear that all the staff there genuinely cares about the residents. Towards the end, when dad spent time in hospital, it was a relief when they sent him back to the care home because we knew the care he would receive there far exceeded the care he was receiving in hospital. Birch Abbey became a home from home for the whole family.
Thank you for your kind words, we really appreciate your positive feedback.
The effort and time they put in to all the residents is beautiful to see and makes me confident the right decision was made for the care of Nana.
Thank you for your kind words, we really appreciate your positive feedback.
Thank you to everyone and stay safe.
Thank you for your very kind comments, we at Birch Abbey really appreciate your feedback.
1) The physical environment is outstanding. Mum's room is beautiful and spotlessly clean. Outdoor space is immaculate, with a garden with chickens.
2) Food is excellent and plentiful. Mum put on the weight she had previously lost and quickly had colour in her cheeks.
3) We are assured that her medical needs are always met by the fantastic nurses within the home.
4) Staff throughout are consistent and familiar to Mum. They never walk past without saying “Hello”.
You’re all amazing, thanks to all the team.
Thank you for your kind words, we at Birch Abbey really appreciate it.
Prior to living here, our Mum lived at a couple of other homes. Therefore, we have a good understanding of what a good care home looks like. Our Mum has complex needs, which the staff at the home have always done their utmost to meet. The staff are approachable and friendly, nothing is too much trouble, I never feel uncomfortable to raise a concern. I feel safe in the knowledge that our Mum is very well cared for by the hard working staff and most importantly, safe, this gives us peace of mind. As a family member I feel that we are always made to feel welcome.
Thank You for your kind words, we at Birch Abbey really appreciate it.
My dad was cared for at Birch Abbey for the final 14 months of his life. He was very happy here. The staff knew him well and were very kind to him, and knew how to make him laugh. They took care to arrange activities that he would enjoy and they became an extended family for my mum. We cannot thank them enough for the kindness and compassion that was shown to him. Very highly recommended.
Thank you for your kind words, it means so much to us. We cherished your father and all the special moments we had together.
Our sister-in-law has been a resident at Birch Abbey for ten months. She has complex medical needs and requires 24-hour nursing. Birch Abbey care for my sister-in-law and her medical needs with the highest standard of care. The manager is approachable and will always engage in a talk with us to put us at our ease. The Assistant Manager is also a very caring and approachable member of staff. My sister-in-law is very settled and happy at Birch Abbey.
Thank you so much for your kind words, we really appreciate it.
They have and always will have my respect.
Thank you all.
Thank you for your lovely review, we really appreciate your kind words.
My dad has lived here for 14 months and his care has been second to none, after significant issues at home.
Thank you for such a lovely review, we really appreciate your kind words.
Regulatory Rating
Care Quality Commission (CQC) Rating
Date: 17 May 2024Requires improvement
- CaringRequires improvement
- EffectiveRequires improvement
- ResponsiveGood
- 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 (0) & Events (0)
There are no news items for Birch Abbey.
There are no upcoming events for Birch Abbey.
Accreditations
There are no accreditations posted yet for Birch Abbey.
Meet the Team (1)

Rachel Smalley leads the team at Birch Abbey, ensuring our commitment to providing the very best dementia care Southport has to offer. For Rachel and the team, the health, well-being, and happiness of our residents is always the number one priority.
"What makes Birch Abbey special is our genuine understanding of dementia and how we can create an environment where people feel safe, valued, and truly at home. Every person has their own story, and it's our privilege to honour that whilst providing the expert care they need."
Rachel ensures that our purpose-built design and person-centred approach work together to create the best possible life for every resident.
Information on this page is displayed without responsibility for its accuracy on the part of carehome.co.uk. Please contact Birch Abbey to verify any information. View our terms and conditions. Birch Abbey has an Enhanced Service -more info.