The Orchard Nursing Home

129-135 Camp Road, St Albans AL1 5HL
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9.7 99 Reviews
  • The Orchard Nursing Home, St Albans
The Orchard Nursing Home is located in a quiet residential area of St Albans, with a warm family atmosphere, highly trained staff are available to get to know residents individually offering the highest standards of residential, nursing and dementia care on a permanent and short stay basis.

Staff strive for a blend of compassion and commitment, while the home has many pleasing features to add to the satisfaction of daily lifestyles, including en-suite bedrooms, activity rooms and landscaped sensory gardens.

Following a refurbishment, the nursing home has combined services, furnishings and equipment to ensure a luxurious standard of resident comfort and care in an attractive and restful environment. A bright and spacious interior includes a choice of lounge and quiet areas.
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Care Provided

Primary Care Categories

  • Older Person Care
  • Dementia
  • Physical Disability
  • Visual / Hearing Impairment
  • Younger Adults

Length of Stay

  • Permanent Care
  • Respite Care

Care Types Provided

  • Residential Care
  • Nursing Care
  • Dementia Residential Care
  • Dementia Nursing Care
  • For a maximum of 63 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)

Facilities

  • Own Furniture if required
  • Pet Friendly (or by arrangement)
  • Close to Local shops
  • Near Public Transport
  • Lift
  • Wheelchair Access
  • Gardens
  • Bar/Café
  • Phone Point in own room
  • Television point in own room
  • Residents Internet Access

Funding & Fees

Weekly Charges per Person

  • Self-Funded Residential Care: from £1728
  • Self-Funded Residential Dementia Care: from £1836
  • Self-Funded Nursing Care: from £1836
  • Self-Funded Nursing Dementia Care: from £1944
  • RESPITE Self-Funded Residential Care: from £1836
  • RESPITE Self-Funded Residential Dementia Care: from £2052
  • RESPITE Self-Funded Nursing Care: from £1944
  • RESPITE Self-Funded Nursing Dementia Care: from £2052

These prices are only a guideline, please contact The Orchard Nursing Home 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

  • Dumitru Varzaru (Home Manager)

Local Authority / Social Services

Admission Criteria

  • Ages 40+

Care Home Design/Build

  • Purpose Built: Yes
  • Last Refurbishment: 2013
  • Number of floors: 3

Room Information

  • Single Rooms (63)
  • Couples/Companion Rooms (0)
  • Single Rooms with Ensuite Wet Room (63)

Visiting

  • Visitors welcome at any time, but The Orchard Nursing Home would encourage visitors to call in advance to ensure that any specific arrangements can be met.

Parking

  • The home has its own car park for visitors.

The Orchard Nursing Home Reviews (99)

9.7

The Orchard Nursing Home has a Review Score of 9.7 (9.749) out of 10, based on 17 reviews in the last 2 years.
Over all time The Orchard Nursing Home has 99 reviews.

Overall Experience
  • 70
  • 26
  • 3
  • 0
  • 0
Date Published
  • 99
  • 2
  • 6
  • 17
  • 82
Reviewer Connection to The Orchard Nursing Home
  • 39
  • 21
  • 5
  • 5
  • 5
  • 4
  • 3
  • 3
  • 2
  • 2
  • 2
  • 2
  • 1
  • 1
  • 1
  • 1
  • 1
  • 1
Total of 99, showing 61-80
Review from Patricia K (Wife of Resident) published on 25 May 2020 Submitted via Postal Card • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
We arranged to visit The Orchard when we realised I could no longer manage the care of my husband. We were very impressed with the way we were greeted and shown around the home and with the general atmosphere. We decided immediately that this was the right place, especially as it was so close to home.
Unfortunately within a week he was taken into hospital where we were told that they could do nothing more for him.
He didn't understand why he was there, because of Alzheimer's, he didn't accept that he needed help I couldn't provide. The staff were very caring and patient with him. The staff are excellent, always friendly, and caring to patients and their families.
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Review from A T (Daughter of Resident) published on 25 March 2020 Submitted via Postal Card • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
My mother has been welcomed into The Orchard, St Albans. The staff, including administration, have been extremely supportive in this difficult time. There is a good feel to the nursing home as soon as you walk in, and I am happy with the way my mother is being cared for. Some members of the care team
have gone out of their way to make my mother feel welcome. There is a lot of kindness at The Orchard.
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Review from Jacqui H (Daughter of Resident) published on 26 February 2020 Submitted via Postal Card • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
We used The Orchard as a respite stay following a hospital stay to enable Dad to regain some strength back. The staff all bent over backwards to make sure he was looked after very well and with dignity and care. His room was spacious with his own ensuite. The food was excellent and he particularly enjoyed
the activities every day. We would have no hesitation in recommending.
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Review from T T (Daughter of Resident) published on 26 February 2020 Submitted via Postal Card • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
The team here were absolutely fantastic looking after my mum the care that they gave was amazing right up until she passed away. If anybody needs to put their parents here then do it. It was amazing, so calming, so caring.
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Review from G D (Daughter of Resident) published on 3 February 2020 Submitted via Postal Card • Report
Overall Experience 4.0 out of 5
I would like to say my mother was treated with dignity and respect while staying with you and when she passed away.
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Review from F C (Sister of Resident) published on 31 January 2020 Submitted via Postal Card • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
My sister needed nursing care because her terminal cancer meant she could no longer love with me as her needs increased. We predicted her to be there for several months, but she deteriorated very quickly. The care she received in this short time was exemplary.
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Review from M B (Son of Resident) published on 21 January 2020 Submitted via Postal Card • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
The staff were caring, friendly and very kind to my mother and visiting family members.
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Review from A H (Daughter of Resident) published on 10 December 2019 Submitted via Postal Card • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Mum stayed for two weeks after a hip replacement. It was just what was needed. The staff were really friendly, attentive and adjusted what they did to suit mums needs. Thank you.
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Review from S C (Daughter of Resident) published on 28 October 2019 Submitted via Postal Card • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
I cannot put into words the gratitude we feel towards all the lovely members of staff who cared for my mother. Their dedication, care and sensitivity allowed my mother to see out her final days with dignity and surrounded by lots of love. This wonderful nursing home also cared for us, the family, with
endless cups of tea and support which was invaluable. We have never known such loving, caring people as The Orchard staff and we will be forever thankful for that. What a blessing for us all when we chose them.
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Review from C R (Daughter of Resident) published on 4 October 2019 Submitted via Postal Card • Report
Overall Experience 4.0 out of 5
A good care home with a high ratio of staff to residents ensuring a safe, caring and nurturing environment even when dementia has made life difficult. Great rooms with good facilities. The activity schedule has also been improving recently so the residents are offered good in-home activities and lovely
trips out.
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Review from J N (Resident) published on 2 October 2019 Submitted via Postal Card • Report
Overall Experience 4.0 out of 5
Overall my experience of living at the Orchard Nursing Home has been a good and pleasant one. Of course, not all people are at their best all the time. The day staff are excellent and I admire their kindness towards those unable to talk or express what they need.
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Review from M P (Son of Resident) published on 23 September 2019 Submitted via Postal Card • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
My father was looked after with great care and consideration in his last weeks.
Thank you to all the staff at The Orchard.
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Review from N L (Son of Resident) published on 12 September 2019 Submitted via Postal Card • Report
Overall Experience 4.0 out of 5
The Orchard delivers good support for my mother who is not the easiest or most straight forward of residents! Their activities programme is truly first class and very well received. Food choice and quality has definitely improved of late. Staff very friendly.
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Review from Sarah S (Daughter of Resident) published on 3 September 2019 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Very attentive and caring home. Plenty of activities for the residents and excellent level of clinical care.
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Review from M S (Friend of Resident) published on 22 March 2019 Submitted via Postal Card • Report
Overall Experience 4.0 out of 5
This care home carried a justified high-performance rating. Friendliness of staff is abundant and they carry forward the care expected for their vulnerable clientele. Only minor observation is that the response times of the lifts is poor.
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Review from J H (Daughter of Resident) published on 21 February 2019 Submitted via Postal Card • Report
Overall Experience 4.0 out of 5
Have found all the staff very helpful and friendly and nothing was too much trouble. My mother was very settled here. We moved her to another Caring Homes home much nearer to where we live. To get to Orchard House was a 2.5 hour journey.
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Review from Kim C (Wife of Resident) published on 8 February 2019 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
The management and staff have been amazing at helping me to get my husband settled at The Orchard after a long spell in hospital. I can’t praise the care given highly enough.
Everyone is so warm and welcoming, and everyone who visits is really impressed with the friendliness, cleanliness and comfort
of the nursing home.
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Review from Helen H (Daughter of Resident) published on 18 January 2019 Submitted via Postal Card • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
The home is bright and comfortable with friendly and compassionate staff. I feel confident my Mum is receiving the best care available and considering her complex needs.
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Review from Stephanie B (Granddaughter of Resident) published on 20 November 2018 Submitted via Postal Card • Report
Overall Experience 4.0 out of 5
Made great use of the coffee bar with my nan who is in The Orchard, it was a great place to introduce her to her 4-day old great-grandson.
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Review from Natasha B (Granddaughter of Resident) published on 6 November 2018 Submitted via Postal Card • Report
Overall Experience 4.0 out of 5
The Orchard is a lovely home. A clean, modern, friendly environment with pleasant, capable staff and positive atmosphere.
The staff always take extra special care of my grandpa.
They make sure he is happy and go out of their way to find things he likes to do and eat. He enjoys their company.
Their
social media page keeps the whole family updated on fun things he gets to take part in.
I'm very glad he is here.
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Current Review Score: 9.7 (9.749)

Overview of Review Score

The Review Score of 9.7 (9.749) out of 10 for The Orchard Nursing Home is based on a) the Average Rating and b) the number of positive Reviews.

  1. The Average Rating is 4.7 out of 5 from 17 Reviews in the last 24 months.
  2. The score for the number of positive Reviews is 5.0 out of 5 from 17 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:

  1. 5 Points are available for the Average Rating from all Reviews in the last 24 months. The Average Rating of 4.749 for The Orchard Nursing Home is calculated as follows: ( (155 Excellents x 5) + (40 Goods x 4) + (3 Satisfactorys x 3) + (1 Very Poors x 1) ) ÷ 199 Ratings = 4.749
  2. 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 Orchard Nursing Home is based on 17 positive Reviews in the last 24 months and is calculated as per below:

    The 5 points available are broken down as follows:

    1. 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
    2. 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 63 registered maximum number of service users is 12.6, which has been reached with 17 Positive reviews. Points = 1
  3. When a Review is submitted by someone who has previously submitted a Review, only the latest Review will count towards the Review Score.
  4. 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: 1 Aug 2019

Overall Good

  • Caring Good
  • Effective Good
  • Responsive Good
  • Safe Good
  • Well-led Good
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.

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Awards / Recognitions (12)

Meet the Team (3)

Dumitru

Dumitru Varzaru

Job Title: Home Manager

As the Home Manager, I believe that our residents should be treated with the highest quality of care possible and I have the responsibility to ensure the safety and well-being of our residents. I lead by example and involve myself in the day-to-day life of the home as well as making The Orchard a happy and enjoyable place in which to live and work.

Tubi

Tubi Malawo

Job Title: Deputy Manager

Our carers and nurses are highly skilled, with qualifications to manage all types of care, including residential, nursing and dementia. Within each team, we’re able to offer specialist care for complex conditions.


I bring a wealth of clinical expertise and compassionate leadership, supporting high-quality care and ensuring residents at The Orchard feel safe, respected and well looked after every day.

Natalie

Natalie Collard

Job Title: Customer Relationship Manager

I support families from the first enquiry, offering guidance, reassurance and a warm welcome to help make choosing care at The Orchard feel easier and informed.

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