Search...

The Gardens Care Home

Pond Field Close, Salutation Road, Darlington, Durham DL3 8LH
The Gardens Care Home Logo
Jobs
The Gardens Care Home logo
The Gardens Care Home, Darlington
The Gardens Care Home, Darlington
The Gardens Care Home, Darlington

The Gardens Care Home is a single storey, well-appointed and very popular Care Home within the Coniscliffe Road area of Darlington. Set in the very peaceful Pondfield Close, they offer unparalleled Dementia, Nursing, and Residential care amidst a relaxing, leafy setting.

Residents at The Gardens Care Home enjoy first-class quality care within a homely and stimulating environment that places a real emphasis on their happiness and well-being. Staff at The...  

Care Provided by The Gardens Care Home

Primary Care Categories

  • Older Person Care
  • Dementia
  • Mental Health Condition
  • Physical Disability
  • Visual / Hearing Impairment
  • Eating Disorders
  • Alcohol / Drug Misuse

Length of Stay

  • Permanent Care
  • Respite Care

Care Types Provided

  • Residential Care
  • Nursing Care
  • Dementia Nursing Care
  • For a maximum of 56 Service Users

Dementia Care Types

  • Mild Dementia
  • Moderate Dementia
  • Advanced/Complex Dementia

Other Care Provided

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

Facilities

  • Pet Friendly (or by arrangement)
  • Smoking not permitted
  • Near Public Transport
  • Wheelchair Access
  • Ground Floor Accommodation only
  • Gardens
  • Phone Point in own room
  • Television point in own room
  • Residents Internet Access

Funding & Fees

Weekly Charges per Person

Type of carePermanentRespite
Residential Care£830 - £1,140£830 - £1,140
Nursing CareFrom £1,750£1,750 - £1,750
Nursing Dementia CareFrom £1,750£1,750 - £1,750
The Gardens Care Home is also home to The Blackwell Suite, a separate nurse-led unit specialised in caring after people with complex mental health needs, including challenging behaviours. Fees for The Blackwell Suite start at £1,750 per week.

Please note that The Gardens care home does not offer Residential Dementia care, and Nursing care is only available in The Blackwell Suite, our complex behaviours suite.

Fees at The Gardens and The Blackwell Suite include:
- Care coverage 24 hour 7 days per week, tailored to the needs of the Resident.
- All meals and drinks, including specialised diets.
- In-house laundry service.
- Bedding and towels.
- All activities organised to promote physical and mental wellbeing amongst Residents.
Additionally, Residents can request the following external services for an extra charge:
- Chiropody
- Vision and/or hearing visits
- Dedicated dentist
- Hairdressing
- Newspaper delivery

Please note that fees published are indicative only. Prices vary based on room sizes, views and ensuite facilities. Final fees to be charged are based on an assessment of the needs and preferences of every Prospective Resident at The Gardens and/or The Balckwell Suite.

Contact The Gardens Care 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)

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

Person in charge

  • Hannah McCurley (Care Home Manager)

Local Authority / Social Services

Admission Information

  • Ages 55+

Care Home Design/Build

  • Purpose Built: Yes
  • Year Purpose Built: 1974
  • Last Refurbishment: 2019
  • Number of floors: 1

Room Information

  • Single Rooms (56)
  • Single Rooms with ensuite Wet Room (2)

Visiting

  • Relatives are welcome at anytime, altough kindly ask that you aim to visit outside of protected meal times, which are 12:00-14:00 and 16:30-17:45 pm. Pet friendly home and welcome well-trained pet visitors with a little advanced notice. Prospective Residents can book a tour to be shown around, meet the team and have questions answered.

Parking

  • Visitor parking is available to the side and rear of the home.

The Gardens Care Home Reviews (34)

Submit a Review
9.0

The Gardens Care Home has a Review Score of 9.0 (9.031) out of 10, based on 9 reviews in the last 2 years. Over all time The Gardens Care Home has 34 reviews.

Submit Review
Filter Reviews
Overall Experience
Date Published
Reviewer Connection to The Gardens Care Home
Loading...
Showing 34 reviews matching selected criteria
Review from Yvonne B (Daughter of Resident) published on 4 March 2022 Submitted via Website
Overall Experience
My Mum had the best possible loving care and attention during her time residing at The Gardens Care home. The Staff members always went the extra mile to make sure all of her needs were met. They kept me informed of any issues with her health status and made every effort to keep Mum in touch with me during the pandemic quarantine time. Mum always expressed how happy she was during her stay there. Several staff members became good friends with us over time and really felt like extended members of our family. We cannot thank them enough for all they did for Mum whilst she was in their care.

The home itself is so welcoming and really feels like a home from home with very modern rooms and lovely conservatory areas and garden areas to sit in. And is very accessible, mostly having rooms on the ground floor. I rate it 5* in every respect.

Facilities
Care / Support
Cleanliness
Treated with Dignity
Food & Drink
Staff
Activities
Management
Safety / Security
Rooms
Value for Money
Review from Sal B (Daughter of Resident) published on 21 February 2022 Submitted via Website
Overall Experience

My relative moved into The Gardens from another care home last year. It has proved to be the best thing that has happened. The staff are wonderful, friendly, keep you informed and above all, take everything in their stride, despite my relative's issues with dementia, they seem to be able to deal with anything. Highly recommended.

Facilities
Care / Support
Cleanliness
Treated with Dignity
Food & Drink
Staff
Activities
Management
Safety / Security
Rooms
Value for Money
Review from Martin L (Friend of Resident) published on 15 February 2022 Submitted via Postal Card
Overall Experience

Having waited 8-months to find a suitable care home, The Gardens was chosen to accommodate my father! Having no previous connections to care homes or knowledge, I am really happy with the choice. The place is really nice, happy and well run! The staff on the Blackwell suite are amazing! I know my father will be looked after and happy.

Facilities
Care / Support
Cleanliness
Treated with Dignity
Food & Drink
Staff
Activities
Management
Safety / Security
Rooms
Value for Money
Review from R H (Wife of Resident) published on 3 February 2022 Submitted via Postal Card
Overall Experience

My husband resides in the Blackwell suite at The Gardens care home, Darlington. This is the third home/hospital he has been in and he is very well settled, much more than other placements. The staff are excellent, very caring and attentive to the needs of residents and families. The home is very clean, the food is good, activities are well catered for and clients are encouraged to take part. I would have no concerns in recommending The suite to anyone. The staff have a difficult job but always have a smile and have an extremely helpful attitude to all. I am extremely happy with them.

Facilities
Care / Support
Cleanliness
Treated with Dignity
Food & Drink
Staff
Activities
Management
Safety / Security
Rooms
Value for Money
Review from E T (Wife of Resident) published on 2 February 2022 Submitted via Postal Card
Overall Experience

My husband has been in this care home and I cannot speak too highly of the care he has had. The staff are extremely helpful, understanding and compassionate. It is not an easy job to do but I can only speak from experience, as I can visit anytime, being his main carer (at the moment) and have always found the staff extremely good, giving really good care. We are lucky that we have found this care home and very grateful.

Facilities
Care / Support
Cleanliness
Treated with Dignity
Food & Drink
Staff
Activities
Management
Safety / Security
Rooms
Value for Money
Review from Julie M (Granddaughter of Resident) published on 21 December 2021 Submitted via Website
Overall Experience

My nana and grandad are currently in The Gardens. They are very well looked after here and the staff are fantastic. I can’t praise them highly enough, they always go above and beyond to make the residents happy. They have always done their best to keep spirits high in these awful times. The home is very clean. The food always looks very tasty. I would highly recommend the Gardens.

Facilities
Care / Support
Cleanliness
Treated with Dignity
Food & Drink
Staff
Activities
Management
Safety / Security
Rooms
Value for Money
Review from Linda W (Independent Advocate/Deputyship) published on 21 December 2021 Submitted via Website
Overall Experience

The Gardens care home is a joy to visit. The staff are always so welcoming. It is a happy home with lots of laughter. The care is of a high standard. The staff truly care for the residents. They are professional and caring and strive to provide a high quality of care. The atmosphere is warm and welcoming. They provide a variety of activities which is important to stimulate and socialise residents I would highly recommend the Gardens care home.

Facilities
Care / Support
Cleanliness
Treated with Dignity
Food & Drink
Staff
Activities
Management
Safety / Security
Rooms
Value for Money
Review from Andrew H (Nephew of Resident) published on 21 December 2021 Submitted via Website
Overall Experience

I visited my Aunt in the home. The staff were very helpful and accommodating. It was upsetting seeing my aunt in the home. The staff made my aunt feel welcome and extended the family. Nothing is too much to ask, very helpful in both our needs and my aunt's. One member of staff, especially, goes the extra mile and personally texts us with the latest info about my aunt as I am not able to visit my aunt, due to work. Thank you very much.

Facilities
Care / Support
Cleanliness
Treated with Dignity
Food & Drink
Staff
Activities
No Rating
Management
Safety / Security
Rooms
Value for Money
No Rating
Review from E K (Friend of Resident) published on 21 December 2021 Submitted via Website
Overall Experience

The staff are always friendly and helpful when I call. They constantly keep me up to date with my aunt's care. If she is not well they will call me and tell me what they are doing to help her and whether they have arranged for a visit by the matron, doctor or dentist. The staff are well trained to identify any issues and on a couple of occasions, they have been swift to call an ambulance for her when needed. The staff are very respectful to my aunt and take the time to listen to her. The care home has a daily programme of activities to keep the residents entertained and active.

Facilities
Care / Support
Cleanliness
Treated with Dignity
Food & Drink
Staff
Activities
Management
Safety / Security
Rooms
Value for Money
Review from John J (Son of Resident) published on 7 December 2021 Submitted via Postal Card
Overall Experience

I've always seen great care and support from all the staff and management. Very friendly atmosphere. The staff and management keep me informed of all treatments and needs required. I would strongly recommend The Gardens care home to all my friends and family.

Reply from Marie Nicholson, Registered Manager at The Gardens Care Home

Thank you for your kind words, it's a pleasure to care for your mum. It's wonderful to hear how happy you are with the service. Thank you.

Facilities
Care / Support
Cleanliness
Treated with Dignity
Food & Drink
Staff
Activities
Management
Safety / Security
Rooms
Value for Money
Review from Eleanor N (Daughter of Resident) published on 17 August 2021 Submitted via Website
Overall Experience

My father has only been in this care home for nearly 4 weeks and he is so happy there! He came out of hospital and then went there for 24-hour care. I worried that on my first visit to him, that he would be adamant that he wanted to come home! I was so happy that he has settled so quickly into his spacious room and was being attended to well by the staff. He lived on his own for many years and it’s lovely to see that they have managed to integrate him well with the other residents and he is taking part in activities. I am informed every time that he is prescribed a new medicine and given a well-being check. I have to give special mention to one member of staff, in particular, who has definitely got my dad's health and well being at heart. On my last visit, he actually said to me “I’m staying here”! He must have thought that I was taking him back home. I could not have had a better reassurance that he was happy there and I went away buzzing! Well done to The Gardens and thank you.

Reply from Marie Nicholson, Registered Manager at The Gardens Care Home

Thank you for your kind words. It is such a pleasure to look after your father, as he has settled into the Gardens family wonderfully.

Facilities
Care / Support
Cleanliness
Treated with Dignity
Food & Drink
Staff
Activities
Management
Safety / Security
Rooms
Value for Money
Review from Nichola F (Daughter of Resident) published on 25 June 2021 Submitted via Website
Overall Experience

My mum was in The Gardens for about 4 months and I think she was as happy as she could be there. However, to have a phone call to tell me that my mum had died in such an uncaring, brisk way, unacceptable. After travelling 250 miles to get to Darlington, to then have my mum's thing passed out the front door with no words of comfort or sympathy is totally unacceptable. To then have to ask for my mum's jewellery, totally unacceptable. My mum may have been well looked after but my lasting impression of the place my mum spent her final days in, will be one of coldness and total disinterest. Thank goodness my dad died at the Memorial Hospital. The staff there were amazingly kind and caring and I will never, ever forget that. The questions underneath are very difficult to answer as neither I or my sister managed to get into the home to physically see my mum because of Covid so my review is based on what I saw through a window and the conversations I had with my mum through a window.

Reply from Michelle Faragher, Head of Operations at The Gardens Care Home

Thank you for your review Nichola. I'm sorry to hear that you had a less than satisfactory experience at one of our homes. I will personally contact you within the next 24 hours to discuss the concerns you have raised.

Facilities
Care / Support
Cleanliness
Treated with Dignity
Food & Drink
Staff
Activities
No Rating
Management
Safety / Security
Rooms
Value for Money
No Rating
Review from Helen M (Daughter of Resident) published on 30 December 2019 Submitted via Website
Overall Experience
Mum was allocated a bed at The Gardens for her final week. Although The Gardens is not a nursing home, it offers respite care and had a bed available.

We knew mum didn’t have long to live and the speed at how quickly she had deteriorated from cancer distressed her yet she visibly relaxed from the minute she arrived in the bright, cheery room. She was placed on half-hourly observation from the beginning. The staff were super with her, and their sense of humour was really appreciated by mum and by us. Mum was a private, quiet lady, but they did their best to maintain her dignity right to the end. My brother and I spent a week by Mum’s bedside, and even though they were very busy, they went out of their way to support us too with a chat and many cups of tea. Two particular care workers were a real source of strength for Mum (and us) in her final hours.

Reply from Ian Proudfoot, Operations Manager at The Gardens Care Home

Ascot Care would like to thank you for your kind words following your recent positive experience at our Gardens Care Home.

Facilities
Care / Support
Cleanliness
Treated with Dignity
Food & Drink
Staff
Activities
No Rating
Management
Safety / Security
Rooms
Value for Money
No Rating
Review from Caroline B (Daughter of Resident) published on 4 September 2019 Submitted via Website
Overall Experience
My father was a resident at the Gardens for a short time.
He spent his last weeks in comfort and tranquillity, listening to his favourite classical music on the radio.
Every member of the team was lovely with him, nothing was too much trouble.

My family will be eternally grateful for the care and respect we were shown.

Reply from Marie Nicholson, Registered Manager at The Gardens Care Home

Thank you for your kind words. It is so important for us to hear that we are supporting people at such difficult times. It was an absolute pleasure to look at your father, who was such a lovely person even though we only knew him for a short while.

Facilities
Care / Support
Cleanliness
Treated with Dignity
Food & Drink
Staff
Activities
No Rating
Management
Safety / Security
Rooms
Value for Money

Regulatory Rating

Care Quality Commission (CQC) Rating

Date: 12 November 2024
Overall
Requires improvement
  • CaringGood
  • EffectiveGood
  • ResponsiveGood
  • SafeRequires improvement
  • Well-ledRequires improvement
Care Quality Commission is responsible for the registration and inspection of social care services in England.View Latest Report

Bed Vacancies

Bed Vacancies

Posted: 27 July 2026

For more information on the specific beds available, please contact the care home directly.

News (0) & Events (0)

News

There are no news items for The Gardens Care Home.

Upcoming Events

There are no upcoming events for The Gardens Care Home.

Awards / Recognitions (0)

There are currently no awards/recognitions posted yet for The Gardens Care Home.

Accreditations

There are no accreditations posted yet for The Gardens Care Home.

Meet the Team (2)

Hannah McCurley
Hannah McCurleyJob Title:Care Home ManagerJoined: 2025

Hannah joined Ascot care in 2025, as Care Home Manager for The Gardens care home and The Blackwell Suite, our nurse-led unit specialised in complex behaviours.

Kirsty Artle
Kirsty ArtleJob Title:Deputy ManagerJoined: 2013

Kirsty joined Ascot Care in 2013 as a Care Assistant at The Gardens. Since then, she has been promoted to Team Leader in 2014, Senior Carer in 2017, and Deputy Manager in early 2025.

She has an NVQ Level 3 in Health and Social Care, and a CACHE Diploma Level 3.

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