Holly Cottage

32 The Street, Hindolveston, Dereham NR20 5BU
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9.8 8 Reviews
  • Holly Cottage, Dereham
Holly Cottage is a family-owned residential care home. Both directors have over 30 years of combined experience in specialist care.

It is a home to only 12 people at a time, which benefits from a personal and homelike environment arranged and decorated in a way to reflect a homely feeling, far away from the hospital setting. These qualities increase attention to individual needs and infection control.

The main advantage of the small home is to foster stronger relationships between residents and staff, leading to a more personalised and caring experience. Everyone in the home is special, is well-known, called by name rather than by room number, and most importantly, is a big part of the Holly Cottage family.
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Care Provided

Primary Care Categories

  • Older Person Care
  • Dementia
  • Learning Disability / Autism
  • Mental Health Condition
  • Physical Disability
  • Visual / Hearing Impairment
  • Eating Disorders
  • Younger Adults

Length of Stay

  • Permanent Care
  • Respite Care

Care Types Provided

  • Residential Care
  • Dementia Residential Care
  • For a maximum of 12 Service Users

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
  • Day Care

Facilities

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

Funding & Fees

Weekly Charges per Person

  • Self-Funded Residential Care: from £1500
  • Self-Funded Residential Dementia Care: from £1700
  • RESPITE Self-Funded Residential Care: from £1750
  • RESPITE Self-Funded Residential Dementia Care: from £1950

The given prices are provided as a guide only. As Holly Cottage embrace a Person-Centred approach, the prices are tailored according to the individual’s needs.

These prices are only a guideline, please contact Holly Cottage 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)

Good to Know

Owner

  • Dons Care Ltd

Person in charge

  • Derrick Don (Manager)

Local Authority / Social Services

Admission Criteria

  • Private admisions, NHS admissions, CHC and Local authority admisisons.
  • Ages 18+

Care Home Design/Build

  • Purpose Built: Yes
  • Last Refurbishment: 2025
  • Number of floors: 2

Room Information

  • Single Rooms (12)
  • Single Rooms with Ensuite Wet Room (12)

Visiting

  • Anytime visiting policy for friends and family.

Parking

  • On-site parking available

Holly Cottage Reviews (8)

9.8

Holly Cottage has a Review Score of 9.8 (9.800) out of 10, based on 8 reviews in the last 2 years.
Over all time Holly Cottage has 8 reviews.

Overall Experience
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Total of 8, showing 1-8
Review from F C (Sister of Resident) published on 11 September 2025 Submitted via Postal Card • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Holly Cottage gives my sister a kind and stimulating environment with excellent personal care for her physical needs. She enjoys a range of different activities within Holly Cottage and on trips to local events. The director and her team give their residents and family members a warm and welcoming experience,
which has benefitted my sister over the last four years.
Reply from Ewa Don, Owner at Holly Cottage

Thank you for taking your time to write this review. We value your feedback. Your positive experience and kind words makes all team very happy and appreciated. Big thank you again.

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Review from P C (Brother of Resident) published on 2 September 2025 Submitted via Postal Card • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
We are happy that our brother's needs and being met, both medically and socially. He is happy, and the staff are all very caring.
Reply from Ewa Don, Owner at Holly Cottage

Thank you for taking the time to leave us feedback and share your experience with us.

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Review from James F (Brother of Resident) published on 21 August 2025 Submitted via Postal Card • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Wonderful care for my sister, such detailed help. Am very happy to recommend.
Reply from Ewa Don, Owner at Holly Cottage

Thank you for sharing your feedback. We are grateful for your kind words.

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Review from D G (Resident) assisted by family/friend published on 23 July 2025 Submitted via Postal Card • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Fun activities. I enjoy coffee mornings. Staff make me laugh and smile.
Reply from Ewa Don, Owner at Holly Cottage

Thank you for your feedback. We are happy to hear that you are enjoying your activities and getting along with the staff.

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Review from Philippa G (Sister of Resident) published on 22 July 2025 Submitted via Postal Card • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Impressive consistent personal care for 65 year od woman with little speech (born deaf) but intelligent and responsive. All staff pay attention to details, from changing properly fitting shoes, ensuring gluten free diet, to stimulating them to arrange activities and outings, including outdoor theatre
in July. All materials always available for family celebrations, recognised with cards. Family visits welcomed with little or no notice and the atmosphere is cheerful, bright and warm. Genuine kindness and patience over four years now.
Reply from Ewa Don, Owner at Holly Cottage

Thank you for your kind words. We couldn't achieve it without your continuous support and deep involvement. Your sister is a pure pleasure and joy to care for. We look forward to seeing you again soon.

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Review from Joan B (Sister-in-law of Resident) published on 22 July 2025 Submitted via Postal Card • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
My sister-in-law is absolutely thriving after 3 years at Holly Cottage. The excellent care and supportive community allows her to enjoy her life to the fullest. The owner has a trusting, warm and life giving relationship with my sister-in-law whom I've known for 28 years and see her once or twice a
year. Her friendships with the other reisents are previous to her and add to the quality of her life.
Reply from Ewa Don, Owner at Holly Cottage

I can't express my gratitude for your kind words. Your thoughts and experience with Holly Cottage are very important to us. Thank you very much for your lovely feedback.

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Review from Libbie G (Sister of Resident) published on 22 July 2025 Submitted via Postal Card • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
What a pleasure to be able to give Holly Cottage an awesome review. Our younger sister has been a resident there for 3 years and is positively thriving in the stimulating, caring environment. She is active, engaged, and so well cared for by superb staff. She has many needs with both physical and mental
limitations, but her care is well customised. She beams with happiness whenever she returns there after a day with us.
Reply from Ewa Don, Owner at Holly Cottage

Thank you very much for your lovely review. We are thrilled with your support for your sister despite the ocean keeping you apart.

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Review from J T (Niece of Resident) published on 24 June 2025 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
I was hesitant to explore residential homes for my Uncle, however all of my concerns disappeared when meeting Holly Cottage staff and residents. They have become an extension of our family and I could not be happier with the care that my Uncle receives. Staff take the time to truly get to know residents
in order to support them holistically. Management go above and beyond to ensure all needs are met, keep me up to date but I feel 100% confident that any issues are dealt with promptly and they are fantastic advocates for their residents.
Reply from Ewa Don, Owner at Holly Cottage

Thank you so much for taking the time to review our service; we really appreciate it! It's our absolute pleasure to look after your uncle. We value your feedback and will be sharing it with our team. I wish your family many happy years with us in Holly Cottage.

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Current Review Score: 9.8 (9.800)

Overview of Review Score

The Review Score of 9.8 (9.800) out of 10 for Holly Cottage is based on a) the Average Rating and b) the number of positive Reviews.

  1. The Average Rating is 5.0 out of 5 from 8 Reviews in the last 24 months.
  2. The score for the number of positive Reviews is 4.8 out of 5 from 8 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 5.000 for Holly Cottage is calculated as follows: ( (95 Excellents x 5) ) ÷ 95 Ratings = 5
  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 4.8 Points relating to the number of positive Reviews for Holly Cottage is based on 8 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 = 3.8
    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 12 registered maximum number of service users is 2.4, which has been reached with 8 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: 12 Sep 2024

Overall Requires improvement

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

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Awards / Recognitions (0)

Meet the Team (1)

Ewa

Ewa Don

Job Title: Director Joined: 2011

I am an easy-going and honest person, but I will fight till the end to protect the vulnerable and advocate for them if needed. I love spending time with my Residents, who make me happy and keep me going.


I worked in care since 2011, and I adore it. It is a great privilege to be able to have a positive impact on others' lives.


The privilege is also coming with a high responsibility, that's why I am not only experienced but also well-educated to succeed in my role. I completed a Master’s Degree in Business and Management of European Companies. NVQ in Health and Social Care, Management for Health and Social Care, Accounting, Lean Organisation Management Techniques, Customer Service, Business and Administration, English, Maths and IT. In the meantime, I have become a train-the-trainer for many subjects, like Moving and Handling, Infection Control, Food Hygiene, etc. In 2022, I gained a professional Teaching Qualification, allowing me to deliver any training from the field I am familiar with.

Frequently Asked Questions about Holly Cottage

What types of Care is Holly Cottage registered for?

Older Person Care, Dementia, Learning Disability / Autism, Mental Health Condition, Physical Disability, Visual / Hearing Impairment, Eating Disorders & Younger Adults are the registered (by the Care Quality Commission) categories of Care.

How many Rooms does Holly Cottage have?

There are 12 Single Rooms.

What are the Facilities & Services at Holly Cottage?

Own Furniture if required, Pet Friendly (or by arrangement), Near Public Transport, Minibus or other transport, Wheelchair Access, Gardens, Residents Kitchenette, Phone Point in own room, Television point in own room & Residents Internet Access are some of the Facilities & Services.

How far is Holly Cottage to the centre of Dereham?

10.4 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 Holly Cottage to verify any information. View our terms and conditions. Holly Cottage has an Enhanced Service - more info.