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The Orchards

2 Forsythia Road, Ely, Cambridgeshire CB6 2FU
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The Orchards, Ely
The Orchards, Ely
The Orchards, Ely

The Orchards Care Home is a not-for-profit care home in Ely.

The home provides person-centred residential, dementia and respite care in a safe and secure environment. The Orchards has modern facilities including spacious bedrooms with ensuite facilities, cinema, salon and an array of lounges and quiet spaces.

As part of Greensleeves Care, a respected UK charity, The Orchards puts people before profit.

Located within a new residential development and beside a...  

Care Provided by The Orchards

Primary Care Categories

  • Older Person Care
  • Dementia
  • Physical Disability

Length of Stay

  • Permanent Care
  • Respite Care

Care Types Provided

  • Residential Care
  • Dementia Residential Care
  • For a maximum of 66 Service Users

Dementia Care Types

  • Mild Dementia
  • Moderate Dementia

Other Care Provided

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

Facilities

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

Funding & Fees

Weekly Charges per Person

Type of carePermanentRespite
Residential Care£1,600 - £1,750£1,600 - £1,750
Residential Dementia Care£1,750 - £1,900£1,750 - £1,900

Fees are set based on the specific care needs of each individual. Fees come with Greensleeves Care's unique Home for Life financial assurance and, as a not-for-profit home, every penny goes towards high-quality care, never shareholders. Give the home a call today for more details.

Contact The Orchards 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

  • Christine Short(General Manager)

Local Authority / Social Services

Admission Information

  • Ages 65+

Care Home Design/Build

  • Purpose Built: Yes
  • Year Purpose Built: 2019
  • Number of floors: 3

Room Information

  • Single Rooms (66)
  • Single Rooms with ensuite Wet Room (66)

The Orchards Reviews (51)

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9.8

The Orchards has a Review Score of 9.8 (9.775) out of 10, based on 29 reviews in the last 2 years. Over all time The Orchards has 51 reviews.

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Review from Jane B (Wife of Resident) published on 24 January 2022 Submitted via Website
Overall Experience

My husband first visited The Orchards for two weeks of respite care some months before becoming a resident. We were delighted with the friendliness, care and compassion that both of us received. When his dementia and increased frailty became too much for me to manage at home, he entered The Orchards as a permanent resident. I have nothing but praise for the staff who are so kind and nothing is too much trouble. They seem to enjoy working at The Orchards and appear to have very few changes. They always have time to speak to me if I wish to discuss a situation and make me feel we are managing my husband's illness together. The new building is spacious, warm and welcoming with communal lounges and quieter rooms for those who wish for privacy. My husband has settled in well and is relaxed and contented because of the loving care of the staff. I am completely satisfied with The Orchards.

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Review from Terry W (Friend of Resident) published on 24 August 2021 Submitted via Website
Overall Experience
My wife's best friend move to The Orchards two years ago. She has two sons both of whom live with their families in the U.S.A. Covid has meant that they have not seen their mum for a long time. We visited regularly until the various lockdowns and have now been able to do so again.
The first thing to say is that the frontline staff are amazing. They are relaxed and good-humoured and our friend sees them as her friends.
Secondly, The Orchards has taken great pains to set up protocols which keep the residents safe. These have been successful.
Thirdly, the care home itself is very like a top hotel. The facilities are excellent and the garden room, cinema, library and dining rooms are excellent.
Fourthly, the emergency procedures and medical care are faultless. Our friend has, unfortunately, had to have short hospital stays whilst in The Orchards. Things have been handled very efficiently with no fuss.

A care home is only as good as its staff. Excellent.

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Review from Elizabeth B (Friend of Resident) published on 23 August 2021 Submitted via Website
Overall Experience

An elderly friend of mine was living at home with carers going in and out 4 times a day, had not been out of bed since Christmas and was been given drinks out of cups with lids etc. After 10 days in Ely I went to see her yesterday and found her up in a wheelchair, dressed and spotlessly clean drinking coffee from a cup and saucer. It was wonderful to see that some of her dignity is being given back to her and to notice that everyone knew her name, all about her and was treating her with kindness and empathy.

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Review from Anne C (Daughter of Resident) published on 2 July 2021 Submitted via Website
Overall Experience
When my mum first went into the Orchards I was singing your praises as my initial impressions were highly favourable.
However, I feel that a lot of promises were made as to the facilities on offer that have not been lived up to. Furthermore, there have been and still are a lot of issues with the home that cause me concern. I am hopeful that these issues will be resolved with the new management.

As far as actual care goes the carers themselves are lovely and treat mum with the utmost respect and kindness. I am truly grateful to them.

Reply from Kirsty Price, General Manager at The Orchards

Dear Anne, thank you for your feedback. We greatly appreciate your comments and we will take on board what you have suggested. I am glad you are happy with the suggested outcomes which we covered during our chat and look forward to making the home even better for our residents.

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Review from Janis B (Daughter of Resident) published on 24 June 2021 Submitted via Website
Overall Experience

Every time I visit my father, he tells me how happy he is to be in such a lovely, friendly place. All the carers are kind and cheerful and he values their upbeat conversation. He chooses to spend much of his time in his room which has a door directly into the garden. The room and en-suite are always beautifully clean. He is invited to all the social events and activities but has not been well enough to go to many. The maintenance team recently helped me to install a Hearing Loop that improves the TV sound through his hearing aids. I visit frequently and always feel welcome.

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Review from Mark B (Son of Resident) published on 9 June 2021 Submitted via Website
Overall Experience

My Mum took time to settle in due to her dementia, but the staff were very patient and caring from day one. She has been there eighteen months now and I couldn't be happier with the standard of care etc that she is getting.

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Review from Val B (Daughter of Resident) published on 3 June 2021 Submitted via Website
Overall Experience

My parents both went into the Orchards in March 2021. My dad was suffering from terminal cancer and my mum from dementia. Unfortunately, my dad's condition deteriorated quickly but he couldn't have been better cared for in this difficult time. He died just over 6 weeks after he arrived. The staff were great, in the final few days they held his hand day and night when we were unable to be at his bedside. Following his death they have been taking good care of my Mum, urging her to join in any activities. They supported Mum on the day of the funeral, doing her hair and makeup so she could look her best for the day. I am very pleased that we chose the Orchards and would certainly recommend them.

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Review from Elizabeth I (Wife of Resident) published on 15 March 2021 Submitted via Website
Overall Experience
My husband went to live at The Orchards on February 1st having previously spent a month there while I was ill during the autumn. He was welcomed back like an old friend, and there was even a box of chocolates and flowers in his room!
The whole admittance procedure was masterminded by the family liaison manager, who is wonderful at her job and couldn't have been more sensitive and helpful in what was a difficult transition for us both.
Since he has been at The Orchards, my husband has been cared for with great kindness, and attention to all his needs; he has settled in well to his new way of life. I feel that he has rapidly become a member of a large loving family.

The Orchards is a lovely place for him to be, and I have been met with nothing but kindness on all occasions.

Reply from Donna Mills, Interim Home Manager at The Orchards

Dear Elizabeth, thank you very much for your lovely review and kind words. We will share your nice comments with our staff.

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Review from Peter N (Son-in-law of Resident) published on 25 February 2021 Submitted via Website
Overall Experience

Last August I had to find a care home for my mother-in-law, and after a lot of searching found, The Orchards. The home is very new and has the highest standard and facilities. The standard of cleanliness is exceptional. The in-house chef prepares a wide range of freshly prepared food to meet the resident's needs. During the last months as I have got to know the staff, they have impressed me. They treat the residents with respect and care. (As a person, not just a number). When I was able to visit my mother-in-law, she was always smartly dressed and looked well cared for. They keep the relatives fully informed of the weekly activities by way of an email and a newsletter keeping you up to date with what is happening in the home. During the lockdown, I have been able to phone and enquire how she is, and nothing has been too much trouble. If they were not available, they will always call back. The manager has an open-door policy and will always speak to you. To sum it up, well done, The Orchard!

Reply from Donna Mills, Home Manager at The Orchards

Dear Peter, thank you very much for your lovely review and kind words. We will share your nice comments with our staff.

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Review from B F (Son of Resident) published on 6 November 2020 Submitted via Postal Card
Overall Experience

Although my father was only resident here for a little over a week - unfortunately, he became poorly and passed away - he truly had a wonderful few days in The Orchards. He settled in immediately, the staff were wonderful, Dad said (after a day), I should have moved here weeks ago!

Reply from Donna McCormick, Home Manager at The Orchards

Thank you for your lovely review. We will share your kind comments with our staff at The Orchards.

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Review from Lorna B (Granddaughter of Resident) published on 8 June 2020 Submitted via Website
Overall Experience

The Orchards Ely is a lovely home, staff are all so welcoming and caring towards the residents and visitors. The care my Grandad receives is amazing they couldn’t have cared for him better. They have many areas in the home that you can go sit in a tea room, cinema room, hairdressers, bar room, a garden room and lovely outside areas to sit in. Great activities are offered too. The home is kept really clean and tidy. Thank you for all you do. I highly recommend to anyone that is looking for a care home.

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Regulatory Rating

Care Quality Commission (CQC) Rating

Date: 15 August 2025
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

Please contact us for latest vacancies.

News (8) & Events (0)

News
  • 12 Jun 2026

    We're proud to share that Greensleeves Care has been named among the Sunday Times Top 100 Apprenticeship Employers 2026. With more than 60 colleagues currently undertaking apprenticeships across our homes,...

  • 02 Mar 2026

    Greensleeves Care has once again been recognised in the carehome.co.uk Top 20 Large Care Home Groups in England for 2026 – a remarkable milestone and the organisation’s ninth consecutive year...

  • 04 Dec 2025

    The Orchards Care Home, a Greensleeves Care home in Ely, has become the first residential and dementia care home in the area to achieve the prestigious Gold Standards Framework (GSF)...

Upcoming Events

There are no upcoming events for The Orchards.

Awards / Recognitions (11)

  • 30 Jan 2026Recipient: Greensleeves Care
  • 31 Jan 2025Recipient: Greensleeves Care
  • 31 Jan 2024Recipient: Greensleeves Care

Accreditations

There are no accreditations posted yet for The Orchards.

Meet the Team (9)

Alastair Rayner
Alastair RaynerJob Title:General ManagerJoined: 2026

Alastair’s career began in the British Armed Forces (1988–1992), followed by a role in quality assurance (1992–1997), before dedicating 14 years (1997–2011) to caring for his wife and bringing up his children. This life experience continues to shape his values with empathy, dignity, and respect at the heart of everything he does.

Since moving into care as a profession in 2011, Alastair has progressed from Healthcare Assistant to General Manager, gaining hands-on experience at every level. Most recently, he led Kingfisher House Care Home in Newmarket, where he built a stable, supportive team and enhanced daily life for residents as well as securing seventy 5-star reviews on carehome.co.uk, elevating the home to a phenomenal 9.9 score and placing it as the No.1 care home in West Suffolk.

Prior to this, Alastair achieved an Outstanding CQC rating at St Peter’s House in Bury St Edmunds (2017–2020) and successfully improved standards at Norwood House in Saxmundham, Suffolk (2020–2022).

Ivan Heviamoovima
Ivan HeviamoovimaJob Title:Care and Compliance ManagerJoined: 2022

I enjoy getting to know the residents and I enjoy that I can speak to several residents in French.

Knowing that you are making a difference in a person's daily life is always rewarding.

Lisa Brooks
Lisa BrooksJob Title:Healthcare assistantJoined: 2019

We have a good team working together to care for the residents.

Barbara Shaw
Barbara ShawJob Title:Healthcare assistantJoined: 2021

A good place to work

Michelle Crick
Michelle CrickJob Title:Healthcare assistantJoined: 2021
I enjoy looking after people.
I like to make sure their needs are met.

I am devoted to my job.

Krisha Jaya
Krisha JayaJob Title:Healthcare assistantJoined: 2022

I like caring for people

Tony Brooks
Tony BrooksJob Title:Maintenance ManagerJoined: 2022

I work in a family-style environment, also the job role covered my skills in compliance and maintenance.

Victoria Wood
Victoria WoodJob Title:Activities AssistantJoined: 2021

I love working at The Orchards because of the great team that I am part of.

My background in teaching was with Health and Social Care so this seemed a natural progression.

I enjoy the varied nature of each day of working with the wonderful residents.

I enjoy being active and involved in their everyday lives.

Erin Huggins
Erin HugginsJob Title:Activities AssistantJoined: 2021

I enjoy working at The Orchards because it is a great space to learn new things.

It is interesting to hear about our lovely resident's life stories and not to mention how good the team here is.

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