The Knolls Care Centre

Plantation Road, Leighton Buzzard LU7 3JE
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9.9 39 Reviews
  • The Knolls Care Centre, Leighton Buzzard
The Knolls is set in secluded and attractive grounds, with plenty of room to stroll or sit and enjoy the peaceful and charming surroundings, located to the north side of Leighton Buzzard.

Inside, the charm and character of the Grade II listed building has been maintained throughout, with a delightful reception area providing access to elegant Victorian surroundings, which include spacious double lounge rooms and an adjacent, timber-panelled dining room. An extensive refurbishment programme has been completed, further enhancing the environment and the facilities.

The Knolls provides 56-beds in total, all of which are en-suite, and offers the advantage of a full range of care levels within one location, enabling significant flexibility to fully meet care needs without the need for additional, or multiple moves.

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Care Provided

Primary Care Categories

  • Older Person Care
  • Dementia
  • Visual / Hearing Impairment

Length of Stay

  • Permanent Care
  • Respite Care

Care Types Provided

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

Dementia Care Types

  • Mild Dementia
  • Moderate Dementia

Other Care Provided

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

Facilities

  • Own Furniture if required
  • Pet Friendly (or by arrangement)
  • Close to Local shops
  • Minibus or other transport
  • Lift
  • Stairlift
  • Wheelchair Access
  • Gardens
  • Phone Point in own room
  • Television point in own room
  • Residents Internet Access

Funding & Fees

Weekly Charges per Person

  • Self-Funded Residential Care: £1270 – £1465
  • Self-Funded Nursing Care: £1270 – £1465

The following are excluded hairdressing, chiropody and escort to appointment services

These prices are only a guideline, please contact The Knolls Care Centre 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)

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 £254.06 per week and is usually paid directly to the care home.

Good to Know

Person in charge

  • Dawn Bishopp (Registered Home Manager)

Local Authority / Social Services

Admission Criteria

  • Ages 65+

Care Home Design/Build

  • Purpose Built: No
  • Last Refurbishment: 2012
  • Number of floors: 2

Room Information

  • Single Rooms (36)
  • Couples/Companion Rooms (10)
  • Single Rooms with ensuite Wet Room (12)
  • Couples/Companion Rooms with ensuite Wet Room (5)

Visiting

  • No visiting restrictions and visitors are welcome at all times

Parking

  • Ample parking on site

The Knolls Care Centre Reviews (39)

Total of 39, showing 1-20
9.9

The Knolls Care Centre has a Review Score of 9.9 (9.850) out of 10, based on 12 reviews in the last 2 years. Over all time The Knolls Care Centre has 39 reviews.

Overall Experience

  • 28
  • 10
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Date Published

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Review from Adrienne D (Daughter of Resident) published on 13 May 2025
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Everyone at The Knolls shows care and compassion. The atmosphere at the home is relaxed, warm and safe. The staff are all, without exception, professional and kind, they know the residents well and know how to respond to them. It is an enjoyable experience to visit my mother who has fun there and speaks
so highly of the staff.

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Review from Susan S (Daughter of Resident) published on 13 May 2025
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My father has bad dementia which makes him a difficult patient to care for. However, the staff and management at The Knolls provide excellent care with a caring, cheerful and professional approach and have supported us all very well. We are very grateful. The home is beautiful and the decor and activities
are well thought out for dementia patients. My father enjoys the food too.

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Review from Jacqui C (Daughter of Resident) published on 13 May 2025
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Mum has mixed dementia, both Vascular and Alzheimer's and is being cared for by the amazing staff at the Knolls.
We took mum to visit the Knolls and she made an instant connection with the home.
She loves the age of the building, the decor, the garden and how familiar it all feels to her even though
she has never stayed there before.
Mum has settled in really well and seems to be very content and happy.
The staff are fantastic and support Mum extremely well. They are respectful and most importantly adapt their approach to support Mums ever changing needs.
Although it was a difficult decision for us to make, we feel that moving Mum into the Knolls was the best one for her.

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Review from Sharon D (Daughter-in-law of Resident) published on 12 May 2025
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My mother-in-law initially moved to the care home for a short respite stay following a hospital discharge in February, however, she settled in so well that we made the decision for her to stay permanently - and we've never looked back.


The care she receives is truly excellent. The staff are incredibly

caring, attentive, and always listen to her individual needs. They are friendly, kind, and consistently go above and beyond to ensure she feels comfortable and valued.


Whenever we visit, we're always made to feel so welcome. There's a warm, homely atmosphere that feels more like a family than just a care facility. We're so grateful for the support and compassion the team shows every day.

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Review from Graham M (Son of Resident) published on 29 January 2025
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My father was a challenging resident at first, but as he became less anxious and confused I believe that he was as happy as it is possible to be in his situation, and The Knolls team deserves a great deal of credit for that.
Before choosing The Knolls I visited a number of care homes, but we chose
The Knolls because of the people that I met there. We are very pleased that we made that decision, so thank you.

Reply from Sabia Chogley-Patel, Business Administration Manager at The Knolls Care Centre

Thank you for your kind review, it is very much appreciated by all of us at The Knolls

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Review from Clare R (Daughter of Resident) published on 7 May 2024
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My dad lived at the Knolls for about two years after my mum could no longer care for him at home. It was a heart-wrenching decision as a family to take this step but my mum just could not manage any more. From the second we arrived we were surrounded by empathy, understanding and compassion. The whole
team of staff from the managers, the reception team, the cleaning staff, nurses and carers and the entertainment team provide an exceptional service that is more like a family than a care home. I have been blown away by the love and care they have not only given my dad but also the care for my elderly mum who visited most days. Sadly my dad recently lost his fight with Parkinson's but the staff were with us to the end. When you are going through the saddest time as a family, despite all their duties they still found time to give us a hug when we needed it. I will never forget what they have done for my mum, my dad and our family and just want to say a massive thank you to you all.

Reply from Dawn Bishopp, Registered Home Manager at The Knolls Care Centre

Thank you so much for your kind words. We will all really miss your Dad as he was a huge part of Home life. You and your mum will always be welcome to visit, and I'm sure the residents would love to see you.

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Review from S L (Son of Resident) published on 29 April 2024
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My mum has been at the Knolls now for about 16 months, she has dementia and it was an extremely difficult decision to move her from her own home and into residential care.
As a family we felt so guilty about taking her independence away, we looked at several care homes but were instantly smitten by
the caring, loving and homely feel of the Knolls.
It was a bumpy journey to start with as Mum kept wanting to go home and we as a family needed to adjust as well, the team at the Knolls were brilliant and kept reassuring Mum and us, any issues with her and we were informed straight away.
It's Mum's home now and we class the team as our family.
They organise activities which are good fun and we know that when we aren't visiting she is in safe hands.
A massive thanks to everyone.

Reply from Dawn Bishopp, Registered Home Manager at The Knolls Care Centre

We love having Mum with us and she has become part of our extended family.

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Review from Paul P (Son of Resident) published on 24 April 2024
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

I am very happy with the care provided for my mother and the support that they provide to me on this journey. I only marked down one notch on the activities because it is challenging to engage my mother in these some of the time.

Reply from Sabia Chogley-Patel, Business Administration Manager at The Knolls Care Centre

Thank you so much for your kind review, it is appreciated by all of us at The Knolls.

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Review from Christine H (Power of Attorney of Resident) published on 24 April 2024
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

I find the staff very helpful, love the fact they have lots of things going on and they really encourage the residents to participate. There is always someone on hand for the residents and their families to either help or answer any questions.

Reply from Sabia Chogley-Patel, Business Administration Manager at The Knolls Care Centre

Thank you so much for your kind review and feedback. It is much appreciated.

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Review from Deborah S (Respite Resident) published on 24 April 2024
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

This is a wonderful care home, especially for those with dementia. All the staff are warm, understanding and caring, definitely check it out if looking for support for an elderly relative. The location of this care facility is perfect with a sweeping driveway and a large garden to enjoy when the weather
is nice. Lots of activities are organised and food is very good. Nothing is too much trouble.

Reply from Sabia Chogley-Patel, Business Administration Manager at The Knolls Care Centre

Thank you very much for your kind review and feedback.

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Review from Julia B (Daughter of Resident) published on 24 April 2024
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Dad was looked after very well at the home. Staff were kind and attentive and everyone knew his name from day 1.
His room was very clean and tidy and cleaned every day I think.
Food was varied and plentiful.
Due to a difficult short term service user activities were not able to happen for a cople
of days and that was a pity as Dad does get bored easily and needs help to keep his mind and body active.

Reply from Sabia Chogley-Patel, Business Administration Manager at The Knolls Care Centre

Thank you very much for your kind review and feedback. We are currently looking at addressing additional activities for residents within the home and we are recruiting for two more positions.

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Review from Diane G (Daughter of Resident) published on 9 November 2023
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

I cannot fault the care my father received at The Knolls in the few short weeks he was there. The friendliness and compassion both he and myself were shown during his short stay was wonderful and helped me to know that I'd made the right choice for him for the last few weeks of his life.

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Review from P R (Respite Resident) published on 1 August 2023
Submitted via Postal Card • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 3.0 out of 5

Call bells are often left out of reach in the daytime. When they are okay, use of them day/night the bells are switched off and the person goes away! Agency staff are better. Eventually, someone will answer and provide what I wanted. The food here is very poor and if I was here full time I would be
very unhappy as meals should be looked forward to and not prove disappointing. The laundry service is good.

Reply from Sabia Chogley-Patel, Business Administration Manager at The Knolls Care Centre

We take resident feedback very seriously and we have looked into the areas you have mentioned. We can advise that your call bell is usually next to you you in bed or by your chair, you are mobile and able to reach your call bell. Call bells can only be turned off from the resident’s bedroom once responded to by staff.
We have provided you with daily meals of your choice to accommodate your specific food preferences, management have witnessed your requests being fulfilled by the kitchen. If we have not been able to meet your request, you have been asked to choose a replacement meal.
You have declined to mention the support provided by staff such as taking packages to the Post Office and picking up shopping for you. Your use of language to staff has been unkind at times but despite this staff have tried to support you as best as possible with dignity and respect.
You were offered another placement by your social worker which you declined.

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Review from Sarah M (Daughter of Resident) published on 27 June 2023
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Although my dad was only resident for a short period of time, he received excellent care from the staff who took the time to get to know him and treated him with great respect. Family members were welcomed when they visited, regardless of the time of day and communication with staff about dad was always
open and sensitive. They were very proactive when moving dad to palliative care and involved us in all stages of his care. I would definitely recommend The Knolls Care Centre and am very grateful to them for looking after dad so well for the last few weeks of his life.

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Review from J B (Daughter of Resident) published on 27 June 2023
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

All the staff are friendly and very caring. My father has been a resident of The Knolls Care Centre for just over a year and has Alzheimer’s, vascular dementia and impaired sight. I have always been very happy with his care. All the staff know his name and speak to him, using his name, every time they
go by. They quickly knew his likes and dislikes and his ‘ways’ of behaving.
They make me feel welcome every time I visit and will phone if there is something I need to know about or wish to make me aware of anything medical. My father is able to contact me (through the receptionist) if he feels he wants to talk to me. They do not mind my asking questions- nothing is too much trouble.
Thank you to everyone for looking after him and keeping him safe.

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Review from Caroline A (Daughter of Resident) published on 14 November 2022
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My father was transferred to the Knolls at the end of his life, aged 96. The care he received up to his death was so compassionate. The staff are caring, thoughtful, considerate and attentive, nothing was too much trouble, spending time talking to my Dad and sharing stories, brightening up his day,
treating him with respect at all times. When I visited, whatever time of day, I was always made so welcome (always offered a cup of tea) and my Dad was always comfortable, warm and cared for, he always looked peaceful. He said that the staff were the best he had encountered (he had been in two previous care arrangements and hospital in his final year). The management of The Knolls is first-rate, working closely with the nurses and GP to ensure the medical intervention was appropriate, moving my Dad to palliative care, communicating with me sensitively and honestly and proactively getting the NHS Fast-Track Pathway in place. I can't praise the care highly enough.

Reply from Sabia Chogley-Patel, Business Administration Manager at The Knolls Care Centre

Many thanks for your kind review, these are appreciated by us all at The Knolls.

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Review from Michael K (Husband of Resident) published on 28 June 2022
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

As my wife received respite care on several occasions in the past it was easy to select The Knolls for a permanent arrangement when I became unable to care for her at home due to an extended hospital stay and convalescence. Any anxiety about her care was removed by the Manager's confident promise that
my wife would receive the care she required. As my wife suffers from advanced dementia and cannot communicate her preferences or wishes it was necessary that I and our family members are active in observing she receives the best attention she deserves. This is why I can acknowledge the excellent care given by all members of staff.

Reply from Sabia Chogley-Patel, Business Administration Manager at The Knolls Care Centre

Thank you very much for your kind review, it is much appreciated by the whole team at The Knolls.

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Review from M P (Wife of Resident) published on 27 June 2022
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

I found the atmosphere of The Knolls Care Centre very warm and inviting. My husband was welcomed back with members of staff recognising him from a previous short stay some time ago. As this was only the second time we had used respite care it was reassuring to know he had a very happy experience.

Reply from Sabia Chogley-Patel, Business Administration Manager at The Knolls Care Centre

Thank you very much for your kind review, it is much appreciated by us all at The Knolls.

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Review from Lisa S (Mother of Resident) published on 25 April 2022
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

I am the main carer of my disabled daughter. We needed emergency respite as we had been let down by another care home. My daughter arrived with me at The Knolls Care Centre. They were so friendly and understanding and nothing was too much trouble. My daughter had a great 2-weeks there and she was very
happy. She enjoyed the care and the staff had been wonderful. My daughter is happily going to have some more respite there in the near future.

Reply from Sabia Chogley-Patel, Business Administration Manager at The Knolls Care Centre

Thank you so much for your lovely review. We look forward to having your daughter with us again at The Knolls.

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Review from J T (Son of Resident) published on 15 March 2022
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

I am so happy my mum is here as she is happy and glad. I am so happy with the service at the Knolls care home in Leighton Buzzard. Everyone is so amazing, awesome, kind and good at their jobs. Two ladies, in particular, are the best nurses.

Reply from Sabia Chogley-Patel, Business Administration Manager at The Knolls Care Centre

Thank you very much for your kind review. We are so pleased that mum is happy with us at The Knolls, her smile always brightens up our day.

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Current Review Score: 9.9 (9.850)

Overview of Review Score

The Review Score of 9.9 (9.850) out of 10 for The Knolls Care Centre 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 12 Reviews in the last 24 months.

  • b) The score for the number of positive Reviews is 5.0 out of 5 from 12 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 4.850 for The Knolls Care Centre is calculated as follows: ( (119 Excellents x 5) + (21 Goods x 4) ) ÷ 140 Ratings = 4.85

  • 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 Knolls Care Centre is based on 12 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 56 registered maximum number of service users is 11.2, which has been reached with 12 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: 30 May 2019

Overall
Good

  • Caring

    Good

  • Effective

    Good

  • Responsive

    Good

  • Safe

    Good

  • Well-led

    Requires improvement

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 (2)

Meet the Team (3)

Dawn

Dawn Bishopp

Job Title: Registered Home Manager

Registered Home Manager

George

George Butnaru

Job Title: Deputy Manager

Sabia

Sabia Chogley-Patel

Job Title: Business Administration Manager

Business Administration Manager

Frequently Asked Questions about The Knolls Care Centre

What types of Care is The Knolls Care Centre registered for?

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

How many Rooms does The Knolls Care Centre have?

There are 36 Single Rooms and 10 Couples/Companion Rooms.

What are the Facilities & Services at The Knolls Care Centre?

Own Furniture if required, Pet Friendly (or by arrangement), Close to Local shops, Minibus or other transport, Lift, Stairlift, Wheelchair Access, Gardens, Phone Point in own room, Television point in own room & Residents Internet Access are some of the Facilities & Services.

How far is The Knolls Care Centre to the centre of Leighton Buzzard?

1.3 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 Knolls Care Centre to verify any information. View our terms and conditions. The Knolls Care Centre has an Enhanced Service - more info.