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Barchester Austen House Care Home

Kilnsea Drive, Lower Earley, Reading, Berkshire RG6 3UJ
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Being impressed starts with the moment you arrive in the gardensClive B(Son-in-law of Resident/Service User)
Barchester Austen House Care Home, Reading
Lovely people each and every single one of themAnnie Joan W(Resident / Service User)
Barchester Austen House Care Home, Reading
We feel all staff are working together as a team. Staff communicate well with family.K H(Daughter of Resident/Service User)
Barchester Austen House Care Home, Reading

Austen House is a purpose-built Nursing Home in Reading, set in a semi-rural location and within easy reach of Wokingham and London. The staff at Austen House are dedicated to meeting all residents’ needs.

Austen House boasts an established, well run Nursing Floor with dedicated, experienced nurses 24 hours a day.

Austen House’s specialised Memory Lane Community (for people living with dementia) was refurbished in Summer 24. The team have also been...  

Care Provided by Barchester Austen House Care Home

Primary Care Categories

  • Older Person Care
  • Dementia
  • Physical Disability
  • 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 79 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

Facilities

  • Own Furniture if required
  • Smoking not permitted
  • Close to Local shops
  • Near Public Transport
  • Minibus or other transport
  • Lift
  • Wheelchair Access
  • Gardens
  • Bar/Café
  • Phone Point in own room
  • Residents Internet Access

Funding & Fees

Weekly Charges per Person

Type of carePermanentRespite
Residential CareFrom £1,897N/A

This Weekly Fee rate is an indication only of a typical standard fee rate for a resident living in a standard, comfortable room. A final Weekly Fee rate will be confirmed once we have carried out a pre-admission needs assessment. For nursing care, Weekly Fee rate will be dependent on personal needs.

Contact Barchester Austen House 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)

Good to Know

Group / Owner

Person in charge

  • Katherine Mahoney (Registered Manager)

Local Authority / Social Services

Admission Information

  • Ages 45+

Care Home Design/Build

  • Purpose Built: Yes
  • Year Purpose Built: 1994
  • Last Refurbishment: 2024
  • Number of floors: 2

Room Information

  • Single Rooms (79)

Parking

  • Free parking on site at Austen House

Barchester Austen House Care Home Reviews (131)

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9.7

Barchester Austen House Care Home has a Review Score of 9.7 (9.666) out of 10, based on 28 reviews in the last 2 years. Over all time Barchester Austen House Care Home has 131 reviews.

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Review from Annie Joan W (Resident / Service User) published on 9 July 2018 Submitted via Postal Card
Overall Experience

I came here 3 weeks ago, quite ill with a chest infection. I've been looked after extremely well and I am quite well now. I have met lots of lovely people, very caring, very friendly. Lovely people each and every single one of them I crossed off. Everybody works together very well. One lady is very special to me. Makes me feel so welcome.

Reply from Rozina Ali, General Manager at Barchester Austen House Care Home

Dear Annie thank you very much for your lovely comments and appreciation. We try our best to offer kind care to our residents and to make them feel special. You are always welcome at Austen House.

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Review from Cheryl H (Daughter of Resident) published on 3 July 2018 Submitted via Postal Card
Overall Experience

Staff have always been so polite, nice and helpful and nothing is too much trouble. The rooms are spotless as too is every other part of the facility. Mum is very happy here.

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Review from Caroline P (Wife of Resident) published on 2 July 2018 Submitted via Postal Card
Overall Experience
The staff treat my husband who has problems around personal care with patience and dignity.
They are very friendly and greet me when I visit my husband and tell me how he has been.

The home and his room is kept clean and tidy.

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Review from Elizabeth L (Wife of Resident) published on 2 July 2018 Submitted via Postal Card
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My family and I are very pleased with the care and attention that is given to my husband. He has settled and is reasonably happy although does get his "down" time but enjoys flirting with all the nurses.

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Review from L C (Friend of Resident) published on 25 June 2018 Submitted via Postal Card
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A carer from the home attended to my friend at her granddaughter's wedding. He was extremely kind, caring and very attentive to her needs. He made the day very special for her as she could not have attended without transport and a carer. I cannot thank him enough and he mixed so well with all at the event - not easy when he knew no-one.

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Review from Maggie S (Daughter of Resident) published on 15 June 2018 Submitted via Postal Card
Overall Experience
I have been very satisfied with Austen House Care Home.
It has provided excellent care and support for my mother.
The rooms are clean, tidy and bright, with an excellent cleaning and washing service.
The staff are excellent, caring and understanding, able to respond to Mum's needs quickly.
The food is nutritious and suitable for her needs.

Overall a very good service.

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Review from Pauline W (Daughter of Resident) published on 8 June 2018 Submitted via Postal Card
Overall Experience

My Dad has been a resident for 8 months at Austen House. I am extremely happy and relieved that he is being looked and cared for very well. He is happy and has settled in really well. I do not live locally so its a great relief for me that his care is so good. The staff are all amazing and always have time to take my calls.

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Review from K W (Wife of Resident) published on 31 May 2018 Submitted via Postal Card
Overall Experience

I have been very pleased that my husband settled so well here and appears to be as happy as he can be. Care staff are wonderful and I am always amazed how much patience they have. Unfortunately, there are not enough of them and at times the place seems very "empty" leaving some residents "at risk" from often more challenging ones, but I continue to feel "happy" about his care.

Reply from Rozina Ali, General Manager at Barchester Austen House Care Home

Thank you very much for your review and we are so glad that your husband has settled in well here at Austen House. We also have Activities Coordinators on board who assists in care provision. We regularly review residents care needs and ensure that sufficient staff are on board at any given time. Please feel free to come and chat with me if you wish to discuss further.

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Review from Hazel P (Resident / Service User) published on 31 May 2018 Submitted via Postal Card
Overall Experience

All the carers I have come across are very good.

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Review from Trish E (Daughter of Resident) published on 25 May 2018 Submitted via Postal Card
Overall Experience
The care my mother has received has been exceptional I am happy that she is safe, well cared for and as happy as she can be given her advanced dementia.

The staff are always helpful and friendly and I hope my father will join my mother soon.

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Review from D W (Daughter of Resident) published on 18 May 2018 Submitted via Postal Card
Overall Experience
Very polite and friendly. I had my daughter with me and she was given colouring to do while I talk to dad. Would like my dad to be taken out a little more often either simply on a walk, out in the garden which he loves to help look after here or to garden centre for example. I am hoping to take him out with me next time I visit for a walk also.

Dad always seems very happy here and relaxed and very well looked after.

Reply from Rozina Ali, General Manager at Barchester Austen House Care Home

Dear relative, Thank you very much for sharing your views. We continue to thrive and achieve excellent care for all our residents. We now have an excellent activities team on board and we are taking residents out to local pubs, garden centres and for shopping, besides numerous other activities...  

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Review from Molly Anne F (Niece of Resident) published on 14 May 2018 Submitted via Postal Card
Overall Experience

When visiting, it is clean, staff are friendly and have full knowledge of Auntie. She never seems unhappy even though she needs full attention for all her needs. The home seems to have a very good safety system in place.

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Review from M B (Friend of Resident) published on 14 May 2018 Submitted via Postal Card
Overall Experience

I visit Austen House often as my friend's father resides there since last 2 years. The service has drastically improved throughout all domains. It is always a pleasure to visit the home. It is always clean, presentable, food quality is good. Staff and management are very caring and friendly.

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Review from Ernest P (Husband of Resident) published on 14 May 2018 Submitted via Postal Card
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It would be the place I would gladly go to if I had a choice.

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Review from Joy L (Wife of Resident) published on 8 May 2018 Submitted via Postal Card
Overall Experience
Although my husband has only been here for a very short time, he has been treated with kindness and care.
Obviously, it's not easy as he has Dementia and is totally deaf, which in turn makes him a bit awkward at times.
He is usually very good natured with a good sense of humour and used to like joining in all fun things which you supply. But his deafness stops most of this.

However, he seems happy and settled so thank you.

Reply from Rozina Ali, General Manager at Barchester Austen House Care Home

Thank you very much for your recent review. We always try to involve our residents to participate in activities and encourage their sensory stimulation through various ways. Team would be very encouraged to hear these lovely comments and we will endeavour to offer kind care continually to all our residents, families and the local community.

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Review from W D (Husband of Resident) published on 18 April 2018 Submitted via Postal Card
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My wife was in general pleased with her stay, especially with meals. The exception was the persistent shouting from another resident which very much disturbed her sleep and was also common in the daytime.

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Review from R K (Son of Resident) published on 23 March 2018 Submitted via Postal Card
Overall Experience

Individual quality of care is good. Any problems are addressed when brought to the staff's attention. The carers actually do seem to care, especially given they are often subjected to challenging behaviour from the residents. Regular activities, the opera singers who came in at Valentine's day were particularly appreciated.

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Review from E L (Daughter of Resident) published on 30 January 2018 Submitted via Postal Card
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My father has been a resident since November 2017. It has been a very positive experience in such a stressful situation. We had come from a very uncaring environment to one here at Austen house where I feel my dad is looked after very well. All the staff are very friendly towards both the residents and visitors/family. They have welcomed my children and get them involved in their events. I feel that maybe looking after the residents' bedrooms/belongings could be improved as lots go missing.

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Review from T U (Father of Resident) published on 9 November 2017 Submitted via Postal Card
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We are very happy with Austen House. They make everyone welcome and always happy to help in any way.

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Review from Carol W (Daughter of Resident) published on 4 October 2017 Submitted via Postal Card
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My mum came here for the second time for respite care. Everyone made her feel very welcome which helped her anxiety. Four carers, in particular, were very reassuring to my mum.

Thank you.

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Regulatory Rating

Care Quality Commission (CQC) Rating

Date: 04 October 2022
Overall
Requires improvement
  • CaringGood
  • EffectiveRequires improvement
  • 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

Please contact us for latest vacancies.

News (34) & Events (3)

News
  • 20 Jul 2026

    You brought smiles and so much happiness to all our residents as they got to see and hold your beautiful birds. It was a delight meeting the Tawny owls, Barn...

  • 20 Apr 2026

    Today we enjoyed making our own pizzas with a variety of yummy toppings, pepperoni, salami mushrooms and much more. We all worked together to make some extras so we could...

  • 17 Apr 2026

    We had a wonderful afternoon taking our lovely residents to the pub for a change of scenery and great chit-chat. Everyone enjoyed some delicious cake and their favourite choice of...

Upcoming Events

Awards / Recognitions (96)

Accreditations

There are no accreditations posted yet for Barchester Austen House Care Home.

Meet the Team (19)

Katherine Mahoney
Katherine MahoneyJob Title:General ManagerJoined: 2025

Hello, I am Katherine Mahoney. I am the General Manager at Austen House. Welcome to our Carehome profile!

I have worked in Health and social care for 25 years, and was a registered manager in various care settings for 15 years. Most recently, I have been registered manager of a premium care home for the last 4 years.

I am very passionate about delivering outstanding care to our residents, empowering them to make choices and live their lives to the fullest. I believe resident wellbeing is paramount and should be at the centre of everything we do, and I enjoy making a meaningful impact on their lives.

I am very excited to be part of the team at Austen House, and look forward to continuing to make a positive impact, ensuring every resident’s journey with us is filled with dignity, respect and high quality care.

Khizra Ain
Khizra AinJob Title:Clinical Deputy ManagerJoined: 2024

Hello, my name is Khizra, and I am proud to be the Clinical Deputy Manager here at Austen House Care Home. I joined the team in 2024 as a Registered Nurse and, through dedication and commitment to providing the very best care, progressed to Senior Registered Nurse before stepping into my current role.

I began my career as a Military Nurse in Pakistan, where I served for two years before moving to the United Kingdom to continue my nursing journey. My passion has always been to ensure the highest standards of care, and I strongly believe in a person-centred approach that values the dignity, individuality, and well-being of every resident.

For me, making a positive difference in people’s lives is at the heart of everything I do, and I am dedicated to supporting both residents and colleagues here at Austen House.

Lind Immaculate
Lind ImmaculateJob Title:Home AdministratorJoined: 2015

I'm Lind, and I have been a part of the team since 2015. I am very passionate about my role at Austen House and love spending time with the residents and getting to know their relatives. During my time at Austen House, I have developed my skills and completed the Level 2 Accounting course.

I am always around to help and happy to assist wherever possible.

Ainsworth Brown
Ainsworth BrownJob Title:ChefJoined: 2015

Ainsworth started working in the hospitality industry in 2004 as a second chef at a different care home. He gained further experience as a Chef De Partie, preparing various English, Asian and French authentic dishes, before being promoted to Head Chef.

Gihan Jayasinghe
Gihan JayasingheJob Title:Head of HousekeepingJoined: 2023

Hello, I’m Gihan and I am the Head of Housekeeping.

I have been working for Barchester since 2023 and am proud to lead my team of housekeepers and laundry assistants in ensuring the home is clean and looking beautiful.

I really enjoy working at Austen House alongside our residents and my team.”

Soniya Sharma
Soniya SharmaJob Title:Head of UnitJoined: 2019

Hello, my name is Sonyia and I am a young, dedicated, committed nurse, willing to explore and develop my knowledge and skills.

I enjoy working with a variety of people and enjoy a challenge, using my initiative to solve a problem. It is important to me to ensure that within the care home, my residents are comfortable and satisfied with their surroundings and care.

Josephine Shingwele
Josephine ShingweleJob Title:Head of Unit/Care PractionerJoined: 2005

Joesphine has been employed by Barchester Austen House since/02/2023 and ever since she has been a very valued member of staff, she is reliable and flexible and her committed to her role as she helps other staff members to deliver possible person-centred care to our residents.

Prathistha Karhi
Prathistha KarhiJob Title:Registered NurseJoined: 2021

Hello, my name is Prathistha and I have joined the nursing team at Austen House, I moved from the Nepal to qualify as a nurse and really enjoying getting to know and caring for our residents

Karen Lay
Karen LayJob Title:Laundry AssistantJoined: 1998

Karen has worked with us for over 20 years! She is a Laundry Assistant within Austen House.

Domestic Team
Domestic Team Job Title:Hostess TeamJoined: 2016

Hello! Meet some of our hostesses who are very passionate about the art of hosting and creating unforgettable experiences at Austen House.

Sunita Biyani
Sunita BiyaniJob Title:Activities AssistantJoined: 2008

I joined the team at Austen House in 2008 and passionate about fulfilling residents lives by getting to know each individual on a personal level and supporting them to continue enjoying their hobbies, I hold this very close to my heart

Jo Austin
Jo AustinJob Title:Hairdresser

Jo is our home hairdresser at Austen House, appointments with her are available two days a week and she is very flexible over what time residents would like, we all love a pamper and she also visits residents in their rooms if they prefer!

Charlotte Stevens
Charlotte StevensJob Title:Activities LeadJoined: 2026
Hiya, I’m Charlie Stevens, the new activities lead. I’m always there for our residents, offering support, a listening ear, and personalised encouragement whenever needed. I have a creative spirit and thrive on designing engaging activities and games that connect our residents, making meaningful bonds and community in fun, inclusive ways. I personalise activities for everyone—including one-to-one sessions—whether organising reminiscence sessions or spontaneous creative workshops and trips tailored to everyone’s interests, constantly planning exciting things to inspire joy and well-being.

Sent from my iPhone

Abdullah Mohsin
Abdullah MohsinJob Title:Administrative AssistantJoined: 2025

Hi, I am Abdullah Mohsin. I joined Barchester Healthcare in October 2025 and work as an Administrative Assistant at Austen House, where I support the day-to-day administration of the home and help ensure everything runs smoothly for residents, families, and staff.

I enjoy being part of a supportive team and contributing to a welcoming and well-organised environment for everyone at the home.

Loredana Bocioaca
Loredana BocioacaJob Title:Senior Registered NurseJoined: 2024

My name is Loredana, a registered nurse, originating from Romania, and I joined Barchester in September 2024.

I have been very happy working at Austen House as a senior nurse since March 2025.

My responsibilities include leading nursing teams, ensuring high-quality, evidence-based patient care, and mentoring junior staff.

I am recommending Austen House as a beautiful home, with lovely residents and trained and kind staff looking after them.

Nisha Gurung
Nisha GurungJob Title:Senior Registered NurseJoined: 2024

My name is Nisha, and I am a passionate and hardworking nurse who is committed to continuously developing my knowledge and clinical skills. I take pride in providing high-quality care and always strive to improve my professional practice.

Providing compassionate care is very important to me. I always aim to ensure that residents feel safe, respected, and comfortable, and that they are happy with both their care and their living environment within the care home.

Janet Frimpong
Janet FrimpongJob Title:Healthcare AssistantJoined: 2023

My name is Janet, and I joined Austen House in 2023 as a Healthcare Assistant. I am passionate about providing compassionate and supportive care to residents. With a caring nature and strong teamwork skills, I enjoy contributing to high-quality care and supporting the well-being of the people I look after.

Clara Da Silva
Clara Da SilvaJob Title:Housekeeping AssistantJoined: 2021

My name is Clara, and I joined Austen House in 2021 as a Housekeeping Assistant. I take pride in helping to keep the home clean, comfortable, and welcoming for residents, visitors, and staff.

I understand how important a clean and well-organised environment is for the health, comfort, and well-being of residents. I am happy to support residents and colleagues whenever needed, and I enjoy contributing to a positive and caring atmosphere at Austen House.

Assan Ibrahim
Assan IbrahimJob Title:Healthcare AssistantJoined: 2025

I'm Assan Ibrahim. I'm from West Africa, Sierra Leone, a small but beautiful country. I'm a budding Lawyer by profession, having just finished my Law degree at the University of Makeni before moving to the UK. Over the years, I have worked, and I have earned my experience by communicating, caring and interacting with individuals with whom I found pleasure. Working with Barchester is my first job in the UK, and the staff at Austen House are top-notch. From the Manager right down to the least, they're all amazing to work with. Working here has given me more exposure, and there is more to life in all areas... I love Barchester, and I'm pleased to be working in Austen House Care Home.

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