Darwin Court Care Home - Avery Healthcare

Wissage Road, Lichfield WS13 6SP
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9.6 150 Reviews
  • Darwin Court Care Home - Avery Healthcare, Lichfield
Nestled in a serene residential area near Stowe Pool, Darwin Court offers panoramic penthouse options for those seeking assisted living in Lichfield. With dementia, nursing, respite and residential care available on the first, second and third floors, loved ones have the peace of mind that family members receive the best possible support in a breath-taking environment.

The home is in a quiet residential enclave adjacent to the scientifically significant Stowe Pool. Whether residents explore the local area or indulge in the home's facilities, dedicated Activity Co-ordinators ensure a continuous array of stimulating activities. Life at Darwin is characterised by safety, support and a lively atmosphere from the top floor to the bottom.

The spacious and calming bedrooms boast walk-in showers, flat-screen TVs and high-quality furnishings. Residents are encouraged to personalise their bedrooms with personal belongings, adding a touch of home to their private space. Communal areas within the Lichfield care home are vibrant, well-lit and airy, with quiet spots for those seeking a break from social activities. The home also features a dedicated cinema room, café and a hair salon and residents benefit from regular visits from local community groups, spanning various age groups, faiths or interests.

For a glimpse into the vibrant nursing home in Lichfield, visit the dedicated Facebook page, or contact the team or drop by for a tour of the retirement and assisted living facilities.
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Care Provided by Darwin Court Care Home - Avery Healthcare

Primary Care Categories

  • Older Person Care
  • Dementia
  • Mental Health Condition
  • 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 112 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
  • Pet Friendly (or by arrangement)
  • Close to Local shops
  • Near Public Transport
  • Minibus or other transport
  • Lift
  • Wheelchair Access
  • Gardens
  • Bar/Café
  • Residents Kitchenette
  • Phone Point in own room
  • Television point in own room
  • Residents Internet Access

Funding & Fees What's included?

Weekly Charges per Person

  • Self-Funded Residential Care: from £1500
  • Self-Funded Residential Dementia Care: from £1600
  • Self-Funded Nursing Care: from £1600
  • Self-Funded Nursing Dementia Care: from £1700
  • RESPITE Self-Funded Residential Care: from £1600
  • RESPITE Self-Funded Residential Dementia Care: from £1700
  • RESPITE Self-Funded Nursing Care: from £1800
  • RESPITE Self-Funded Nursing Dementia Care: from £1800
The price(s) shown are provided by the care home. Contact Darwin Court Care Home - Avery Healthcare for full pricing details and T&Cs.

Contact Darwin Court Care Home - Avery Healthcare 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.

Contact Darwin Court Care Home - Avery Healthcare to confirm what's included and get a personalised quote:

Good to Know

Group/Owner

Person in Charge

  • Michelle Bywater (Manager)

Local Authority / Social Services

Admission Information

  • Ages 64+

Care Home Design/Build

  • Purpose Built: Yes
  • Year Purpose Built: 2012
  • Last Refurbishment: 2015
  • Number of floors: 4

Room Information

  • Single Rooms (112)
  • Single Rooms with Ensuite Wet Room (112)

Visiting

  • Visitors are welcome anytime, the home have their own cafe with complimentary drinks and snacks

Parking

  • There is a small car park on site

Darwin Court Care Home - Avery Healthcare Reviews (150)

9.6

Darwin Court Care Home - Avery Healthcare has a Review Score of 9.6 (9.633) out of 10, based on 41 reviews in the last 2 years.
Over all time Darwin Court Care Home - Avery Healthcare has 150 reviews.

Overall Experience
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Date Published
  • 150
  • 11
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  • 41
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Reviewer Connection to Darwin Court Care Home - Avery Healthcare
  • 48
  • 24
  • 13
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  • 7
  • 4
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  • 3
  • 3
  • 3
  • 3
  • 3
  • 2
  • 2
  • 1
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Total of 150, showing 101-120
Review from A R (Son of Resident) published on 24 March 2020 Submitted via Postal Card • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
The staff at Darwin Court Care Home, from the manager, clinical lead, team leader and other carers, have been really good in understanding our father's needs and helping him to settle into living permanently at the care home.
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Review from D P (Resident) published on 17 February 2020 Submitted via Postal Card • Report
Overall Experience 3.0 out of 5
Overall met with extreme kindness and care.
Reply from Sarah Rudge, Customer Service Manager at Darwin Court Care Home - Avery HealthcareThank you for your review. We are so happy that you are treated with kindness and feel cared for.
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Review from S G (Daughter of Resident) published on 23 January 2020 Submitted via Postal Card • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
My mother was very happy while living at Darwin Court. Initially, she requested a respite place following hip surgery, but after a few days she asked to become a resident. She based her decision on the responsiveness and kindness of the carers, the comfortable surroundings and because, in her words,
she 'felt safe' there.
Reply from Sarah Rudge, Customer Service Manager at Darwin Court Care Home - Avery HealthcareThank you Susan, everyone at Darwin Court are so pleased that you and your Mum were so happy with the care and support you received.
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Review from Maureen O (Daughter of Resident) published on 9 December 2019 Submitted via Postal Card • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
My mother was welcomed to Darwin Court on the 11th of June. Her room is very comfortable, spacious, light and airy and has all the facilities one would expect of a good hotel.
The general surroundings are excellent, from the dining room, longes and Bistro (which is a real asset) and the whole ambience
is lovely.
We have always found the staff to be very kind, caring, friendly and always willing to take the time to talk about any concerns or problems, making us feel that nothing is too much trouble.
Everyone has a smile and friendly greeting and we are very impressed with Darwin Court and would highly recommend it.
Reply from Sarah Rudge, Customer Service Manager at Darwin Court Care Home - Avery HealthcareThank you Maureen for your kind words. We are so glad you are happy with your mothers room and the facilities at Darwin Court.
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Review from V H (Wife of Resident) published on 26 September 2019 Submitted via Postal Card • Report
Overall Experience 4.0 out of 5
When I came in with my husband he was in a bad way. Underweight, unshaven and extremely aggressive. With the wonderful care of the staff in his unit, he is now sitting with me in the café having a cup of tea and a biscuit, totally relaxed. I never thought I would ever see this, consequently, I am relaxed
and unstressed. I have one issue and that his unit is undecorated in comparison to the rest of the home. It is in a bit of a state, having said that, it is functional.
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Review from James S (Resident) published on 16 June 2019 Submitted via Postal Card • Report
Overall Experience 4.0 out of 5
I have covered the whole of my spell here at Darwin.
After being very ill one Sunday/Monday in April, I requested to be returned to Darwin, because facilities were handier and I know I had helping hands.
I have given food and drink a good but on occasions, it leaves a bit to be desired.
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Review from Jane I (Respite Resident) published on 25 February 2019 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 3.0 out of 5
I was in the home for a week for respite care. I suffer from multiple sclerosis and am in a wheelchair. The care staff were lovely. The bathroom was a little awkward for access in my wheelchair - there wasn't room to close the bathroom door. It was ok. However, the meals served were very poor. Meals
were always lukewarm and unappetising eg chips were limp and cold. All the residents I spoke to were not happy with the food quality but we're resigned to it. Apparently, some have complained but say that nothing ever changed. I wasn't expecting haute cuisine but I would describe the food as bad hospital food. Luckily I was only there for a week.
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Review from Elinor C (Wife of Resident) published on 4 February 2019 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
My husband was admitted on 18th December 2018 suffering from Dementia and inoperable pancreatic cancer as he required 24-hour palliative nursing care which I was no longer able to provide for him. He had wonderful care for the six days he was there which I sincerely do not think could have been bettered
anywhere.
All of the staff were very empathetic but I must highlight the nursing team who gave him a very high standard of nursing care and were genuinely upset if they felt he was uncomfortable at any time.
He passed away eight days later but it is a source of great solace to me and the family to know that he had the best possible care and the staff did their utmost to keep him pain-free until the end.
They made a spacious well-appointed room for my sole use for the last three days so that I was able to be with him at his passing which was so very important to me.
I would not hesitate to recommend this care facility to anyone.
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Review from Hazel M (Wife of Resident) published on 5 December 2018 Submitted via Postal Card • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
I would give it 10 out of 10. It is a very friendly home. Everyone is so caring and my husband is very happy here. All of our family feel the same.
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Review from P A (Daughter of Resident) published on 14 November 2018 Submitted via Postal Card • Report
Overall Experience 4.0 out of 5
My mother stayed in Darwin Court for 2 weeks for respite care. She found the staff extremely nice and caring and accommodating. Facilities are comfortable and spacious and activities well chosen and run. On the negative side, she found the food surprisingly disappointing, poorly cooked on occasion and
lacking imagination. This needs improvement.
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Review from S M (Daughter of Resident) published on 14 November 2018 Submitted via Postal Card • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
All the staff are friendly and helpful, even those that no longer care for mum.
Overall, the food is fine, however the evening meal is not to the same standard as lunchtime. May I suggest that tomatoes or spaghetti on toast is not suitable.
Mum is blind but the staff are good at cutting up her food
and provide a "bumper" on the plate to assist.
The new themed days in the coffee lobby work well.
Our thanks to the manager who has a fine eye for detail and whose door is always open.
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Review from Melvyn H (Son of Resident) published on 1 November 2018 Submitted via Postal Card • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Excellent care and the staff always willing to go the extra mile.
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Review from S N (Respite Resident) published on 23 October 2018 Submitted via Postal Card • Report
Overall Experience 4.0 out of 5
The staff are great on Spires and have been doing their best to accommodate my disabilities. I would advise better mental health training and a look at making the room wheelchair friendly with a larger toilet and shower room.
Although I think residents' meeting once a month would be good, so as to
find out how to get them more interactive with each other and the activities they would like, maybe even getting other units to join in especially with sing songs.
Overall my stay so far is very good.
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Review from Vi (Daughter of Resident) published on 11 October 2018 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 4.0 out of 5
A super facility, excellent events and activities coordination there is always lots going on.
The majority of staff are permanent rather than agency which assists in the continuity of care received by the residents.
Care staff are always friendly and couldn’t do more to help. They are always respectful
and kind to the residents. The staff never stop and there has been a decline in the number of registered nurses on duty across the home...this has not been rectified in the past few months
Hopefully, the new management will be stronger, robust and more intrusive into staff performance standards than previous management; that was weak and rarely seen.
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Review from Andrew W (Son of Resident) published on 25 September 2018 Submitted via Postal Card • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Warm welcome on arriving at Darwin Court. The rooms are very homely decorated. The staff are very friendly and soon get to know who you are visiting and get to know the residents. Very caring approach shown. Lovely lounge to sit in whilst visiting could just do with a few more activities
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Review from M T (Brother of Resident) published on 12 July 2018 Submitted via Postal Card • Report
Overall Experience 3.0 out of 5
In the circumstances, I think the staff do a good job. I am not very happy that the residents can access other people's rooms since things go missing and they are often wearing each other's clothes.
But overall, my sister seems quite happy, although she does have her moments.
The kitchen isn't kept
very tidy and we are not offered a drink, although we are allowed to make a drink for my sister.
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Review from Carol R (Daughter of Resident) published on 27 June 2018 Submitted via Postal Card • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
It is such a relief and a pleasure to see how settled mum is in Darwin Court. She often remarks how comfortable it is and how kind and caring all the staff are. In fact, she says that she can't find fault with anything or anyone. The staff are also very caring towards the relatives of the residents,
helping them to deal with emotional situations. I am so relieved that mum is being looked after so well and is also happy to be there. It has definitely taken away a lot of our anxiety about her as she is getting older and frailer.
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Review from M G (Brother of Resident) published on 27 June 2018 Submitted via Postal Card • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Every time we come Darwin Court is always nice and clean and tidy. Staff go out of their way to help residents and visitors.
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Review from Liz P (Friend of Resident) published on 20 April 2018 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 1.0 out of 5
I have visited a lot of care homes and have to this say this is a fine example of all that glitters is not Gold. My friend was admitted to the dementia unit and received a very poor level of care. The staff levels are very low and are mainly made up of very young inexperienced carers. The residents
on dementia unit do not get the much-advertised activities and the care is not proactive but reactive. Handovers are not completed so staff are often unable to answer simple questions from incidents or requests from previous shifts. Small details which mean a lot to individual residents are not spotted. Despite having a lovely roof garden not much is made of it especially for dementia patients in the winter months. Often residents are left sleeping in the day room and not enough attempts are made to help and assist residents into bed. Don't let the fancy furniture and freshly painted walls in reception think twice before putting your loved one here.
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Review from Tess S (Daughter of Resident) published on 15 April 2018 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Darwin Court has been exceptional in providing a secure haven where our parents' needs have been met.


We had the unusual circumstance of both parents as residents and this enabled Mum to be with Dad for his last days. They are very good at keeping relatives informed of the slightest development.

They very kindly let me stay in a room equal to any hotel for Dad's last eight days, also looking after my needs and running upstairs to get me when Dads condition was deteriorating even further at his end of life, not forgetting my Mum's needs who was with me at this critical time. While staying at the home it was obvious the staff have a very good therapeutic relationship with the residents and do go the extra mile in their care and support. The home works very closely with the relatives in providing care for the residents, and my sisters and I where asked to provide input into the care plans, and very much appreciated the staff's advice and support for Dad's end of life care.
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Current Review Score: 9.6 (9.633)

Overview of Review Score

The Review Score of 9.6 (9.633) out of 10 for Darwin Court Care Home - Avery Healthcare is based on a) the Average Rating and b) the number of positive Reviews.

  1. The Average Rating is 4.6 out of 5 from 41 Reviews in the last 24 months.
  2. The score for the number of positive Reviews is 5.0 out of 5 from 38 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 4.633 for Darwin Court Care Home - Avery Healthcare is calculated as follows: ( (364 Excellents x 5) + (91 Goods x 4) + (12 Satisfactorys x 3) + (9 Poors x 2) + (9 Very Poors x 1) ) ÷ 485 Ratings = 4.633
  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 Darwin Court Care Home - Avery Healthcare is based on 38 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 20 Positive Reviews in the last 24 months; 3 points for the first Positive Review, 0.125 Points for each of the next four Positive Reviews, 0.05 Points for the next five Positive Reviews, and finally 0.025 Points for the next ten Positive Reviews. (1st = 3.000, 2nd = 0.125, 3rd = 0.125, 4th = 0.125, 5th = 0.125, 6th = 0.050, 7th = 0.050, 8th = 0.050, 9th = 0.050, 10th = 0.050, 11th = 0.025, 12th = 0.025, 13th = 0.025, 14th = 0.025, 15th = 0.025, 16th = 0.025, 17th = 0.025, 18th = 0.025, 19th = 0.025, 20th = 0.025) 3 + 0.125 + 0.125 + 0.125 + 0.125 + 0.05 + 0.05 + 0.05 + 0.05 + 0.05 + 0.025 + 0.025 + 0.025 + 0.025 + 0.025 + 0.025 + 0.025 + 0.025 + 0.025 + 0.025 = 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 112 registered maximum number of service users is 22.4, which has been reached with 38 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: 14 Sep 2019

Overall Good

  • Caring Good
  • Effective Good
  • Responsive Good
  • Safe Requires improvement
  • 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 (2)

Kerry-Ann

Kerry-Ann Derry

Job Title: Home Administrator Joined: 2019

I joined the Avery Healthcare Family in 2019 having spent my whole working life in the care sector, from a retirement village to care homes.


Before joining Avery, I was an Administrator Assistant for another care provider.


After leaving school I went to college to complete my Level 2 and Level 3 in Health and Social care.


I would consider myself as kind, caring, hard worker and empathetic. In my spare time, I like to spend time with my family, read and go for walks.


I am very proud to be part of the Darwin court family.

Michelle

Michelle Bywater

Job Title: Home Manager Joined: 2025

Michelle has been a registered general Nurse for 24 years and worked in care homes for 22 of these. She has a passion to deliver good quality care for all of those who live at Darwin Court.
As Michelle says 'I believe a care home should be warm, welcoming and fun, not just for the residents but for the staff and visitors alike'.

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