
Darlington Court has been a great choice for them when they were no longer able to cope at homeP B(Son of Resident/Service User)



Darlington Court has been a great choice for them when they were no longer able to cope at homeP B(Son of Resident/Service User)



Darlington Court is situated in the peaceful seaside town of Littlehampton. The friendly and experienced care team provides residential, dementia and nursing care for older people on a permanent or short term basis.
The purpose-built home has a large, bright dining room, stunning lounges and smaller garden rooms, ideal for relaxing and catching up with loved ones. The beautiful and secure gardens, which include a patio and lawns, are particularly popular...
Care Provided by Darlington Court
Primary Care Categories
- Older Person Care
- Dementia
- Learning Disability / Autism
- Mental Health Condition
- Physical Disability
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 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
- Bariatric Care/Obesity
- Convalescent Care
- Acquired Brain Injury (ABI)
Facilities
- Own Furniture if required
- Close to Local shops
- Near Public Transport
- Lift
- Stairlift
- Wheelchair Access
- Gardens
- Residents Kitchenette
- Phone Point in own room
- Television point in own room
- Residents Internet Access
Funding & Fees
Weekly Charges per Person
of care and support required by each individual. Premium rooms normally require an additional charge.
Nursing fees include the Funded Nursing Contribution (FNC) if you are eligible. There are no additional fees
for respite stays.
• All care and support including a monthly review of care plans
• All meals, snacks and drinks freshly prepared every day by our chef
• Access to landscaped gardens
• Activities and lifestyle programme
• All utilities and other accommodation costs
• Housekeeping and laundry services
• WiFi internet access
appointments not covered by the NHS, toiletries, newspapers or magazines, any over the counter
medications that a GP wouldn’t normally prescribe such as paracetamol and indigestion relief, and any
other privately arranged healthcare. Should you require an escort to hospital appointments, we may apply
an agreed hourly charge for this service.
The price(s) shown are provided by the care home. Contact Darlington Court for full pricing details and T&Cs.
Contact Darlington Court 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
- Care UK
- Private Owned
Person in charge
- Constantin Matei (Manager)
Local Authority / Social Services
Admission Information
- Mixed (no single-gender units)
- Ages 55+
Care Home Design/Build
- Purpose Built: Yes
- Last Refurbishment: 2009
Room Information
- Single Rooms (46)
- Couples/Companion Rooms (5)
- Single Rooms with ensuite Wet Room (46)
Parking
- Parking on-site
Darlington Court Reviews (92)
Darlington Court has a Review Score of 9.8 (9.843) out of 10, based on 22 reviews in the last 2 years.
Over all time Darlington Court has 92 reviews.
The staff treat my Nan very well and are dedicated to the job that they do. The activities they do are excellent. If you need to know anything, a member of staff will always find time to answer any questions or worries. I and my Mum can turn up anytime and we are made to feel welcome. Nan has been happy here and feels safe. It is a lovely home.
I was there for four weeks on respite. The atmosphere was very friendly and the carers were all very kind and caring. The food was ample and well cooked and some activities were available each day.
A month after getting our family member settled and we are seeing the rewards of having them live there.
Thank you all.
The care is excellent with hourly checks and staff attend promptly when a bell is rung.
Each meal that I have seen served to my mother has been attractive and nourishing.
The care home itself is very tastefully furnished and the rooms are of nice size with a large toilet en suite.
I've been visiting since November 2015 and my partner receives excellent care here. The care is carried out efficiently, with compassion and with dignity. The room is always kept clean and tidy. The food is of a good quality, well prepared and appetisingly served with excellent choice. The staff are extremely helpful and flexible. On the rare occasion that there was any concern, it was dealt with promptly and effectively.
From day one all involved have been very helpful. They enabled my mother to enter the Care Home within a few days by helping us with transport arrangements. Name-labelling of her clothes was done for us, and her room was adjusted as she preferred it. Over the past three months, she has enjoyed taking part in activities including crafts -making Xmas-tree decorations, music, table games, and social interaction. She was particularly pleased to learn that family pets were welcome to visit, as we have a dog who is very fond of her. On Christmas Day staff assisted us in moving her into our car so that she could attend a family gathering. Any time I visit she always looks well cared for and far less anxious than when she was struggling to live on her own. It has been a huge weight off my mind to know that she is now safe and being very well looked after by very patient, friendly people.
The lower unit is for less dependent residents with upstairs for those who need more help.
I must reiterate how good and caring the staff are. I can’t thank them enough for all that they do for my mum.
Mum's general wellbeing has greatly improved since arriving at Darlington Court. The activities are excellent. The general administration of the home is particularly well run.
Very caring staff, helpful to all needs. Helped my friend recover well after a fall. Good food. Variety of activities. Good clothes labelling system. Staff always help my friend to be clean and well presented. Very helpful office staff.
After a great deal of searching and analysis in relation to CQC levels we found Darlington Court and we were warmly welcomed by the Customer Relations Manager who provided substantial time in showing us the facilities that would become our mother's home.
The treatment and care offered during those early weeks have seen a remarkable recovery in our mother's overall health and that is purely down to the care and attention she has received on moving into her new environment.
3 years ago, I spent a great deal of time and effort visiting care/nursing homes when my husband needed to be discharged from hospital in an attempt to find suitable accommodation. I was immediately impressed by the welcome, friendliness, fragrant and superb appearance of Darlington Court. My husband became a resident in early 2016 and now required end of life nursing care. His care is excellent in every sense by dedicated and professional staff. It gives me great peace of mind to know that he is safe and well cared for in a lovely environment.
Overall, we have been pleased with my mother's care since January 2018. However, food is bland, unimaginative and repetitive. My mother isn't fussy about food but has found little to excite and stimulate her appetite, there is little variety. In terms of client liaison, it would be helpful for my mother and our family to have one "named person" responsible for her care - speaking to many staff members is not always helpful. Overall though, staff have been caring and considerate, helping to settle her in.
Thank you for taking the time to give us feedback on your experience at Darlington Court and we are very glad that your mother is settled and happy with us.
We’re sorry that she finds our menu option unsuited to her tastes. We do try to provide interesting and varied choices for our residents...
My mother died at Darlington Court on 1st June 2018. The staff (all) looked after my mum so very caring until the end. She was always very content and the staff always responded accordingly. My two daughter were there every day for the week leading up to her death and the staff looked after them also. The staff in care homes don't always get recognition for their work, therefore the collection at mum's funeral of £525 has been donated to the staff.
I have been very impressed by the kind and caring staff at Darlington Court throughout my cousin's 6-month stay. They have managed her physical and mental health problems, including reassuring her when she is confused and anxious. They have kept me well-informed and been persistent in ensuring that she gets the right treatment from the NHS. She has often said how nice everyone is to her.
As LPA holder for a distant relative, my second cousin's unexpected urgent need to move from her home to a more supported environment after a hospital stay was stressful. Care UK staff worked with us and with the local hospital's Social Care team, to manage the difficult transition. Since the move, my cousin's condition has improved significantly, for which I am grateful.
My mother's a first-time user of the care system; I was incredibly concerned for her settling in but need not have worried! The manager's very approachable (as are all staff - housekeeping, carer, kitchen etc) and filled us with confidence on our preliminary visit, leaving other residential care wanting. Light, bright and airy, any resident can access and help tend the gardens. Varied entertainment every weekday; weekly hairdresser, skittles, cinema, baking - a performance by 'Elvis' one afternoon! Delicious menus with two choices offered each meal and everything cooked from scratch. Great emphasis is placed residents comfort, safety and personal care with appropriate equipment to bathe etc; keypads on doors near stairs to prevent falls; a personal file that keeps track of fluid intake, behaviour, etc to avoid confusion when asking the resident. To say Darlington Court exceeds every care and consideration I would hope for in respect of looking after mum, is very much an understatement.
From the first contact, the staff of the home acted with urgency, courtesy, care and gentleness to ensure that my parents were given the best care as soon as possible. I have been so impressed.
Their room looks like a nice hotel room, and I would not mind staying in it myself! Since my parents have been at Darlington Court, the staff have been in constant contact with me, and the service has been professional, personal and reassuring. I would not hesitate to recommend this place.
The manager and her staff look after him very well.
Got no fault with the home. The staff are very caring and polite.
Mum has Parkinsons and severe mobility issues. It took her some weeks to settle in but the staff are extremely kind and give her the time she needs in order to get moving. She is treated with dignity and her opinions are heard at the regular meetings they hold. The entertainments team are very good and hold lots of activities for the residents to get involved with. My mum enjoys these times.
Regulatory Rating
Care Quality Commission (CQC) Rating
Date: 05 January 2023Good
- CaringGood
- EffectiveGood
- ResponsiveGood
- SafeGood
- 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 (42) & Events (0)
- 29 May 2026
Care UK’s commitment to supporting residents has been nationally recognised, as the organisation took home the large care provider of the year accolade at the 2026 Care Home Awards. At...
- 29 May 2026
Residents in Care UK homes love getting out and about in nature where they can and, for one Dorset-based home, they’re celebrating World Bee Day with a buzz! Wimborne-based home,...
- 29 May 2026
Colleagues across Care UK are celebrating after being shortlisted in eleven categories at the Stars of Social Care Awards, the most the company has ever been shortlisted in at the...
There are no upcoming events for Darlington Court.
Accreditations
There are no accreditations posted yet for Darlington Court.
Meet the Team (1)

As Home Manager, the most important part of my role is making sure residents receive safe, compassionate, high-quality care in a home where they feel comfortable, respected and valued.
Before joining the team at Darlington Court, I was a home manager for another large organisation. While there, I was able to help achieve a number of positive outcomes, including improving standards and developing a strong team. Joining Care UK felt like the right next step for me, as it is an established home with a strong team that genuinely makes a positive difference to residents and their families.
I believe that a good home manager should be approachable, resilient, organised and genuinely caring. I think you also need to be a good listener and to remember that residents are at the heart of everything we do.
I’m really proud of what we all do here, and it is always rewarding to see residents well cared for and happy, and to see colleagues work well together. Knowing that we have such a beneficial impact on people’s daily lives is something I value greatly, so when I was recognised as a Queen’s Nurse for my contribution to care, it meant so much to me.
For me, the best part of the day is spending time speaking with residents, their relatives and colleagues. I enjoy being visible and involved because it helps me understand what’s going on and learn what support people need so we can keep on improving.
Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with my family and travelling. I also value personal development and learning new things that help me grow both personally and professionally.
Information on this page is displayed without responsibility for its accuracy on the part of carehome.co.uk. Please contact Darlington Court to verify any information. View our terms and conditions. Darlington Court has an Enhanced Service -more info.