Alexandra House Care Home | Runwood Homes Senior Living
At a Glance
The information you need to decide whether this home warrants a closer look.
Nursing homes, Rehabilitation (illness/injury)
Staff warmth score
of reviewers answered yes
Good to know
- Registered beds106
- SpecialismsCaring for adults over 65 yrs, Caring for adults under 65 yrs, Dementia, Physical disabilities, Sensory impairment
- Last inspected2023-07-15
The Evidence
What the review data, the inspection reports, and the dementia-care evidence base tell us about this home.
What families say
Families have shared how staff supported them through difficult times, particularly when their loved ones were approaching the end of their lives. The care team's compassion during these moments has brought comfort to relatives facing bereavement.
The eight family priority themes
- Staff warmth72
- Compassion & dignity72
- Cleanliness70
- Activities & engagement65
- Food quality60
- Healthcare70
- Management & leadership75
- Resident happiness70
What inspectors found
Inspected 2023-07-15
Is this home safe?
Is the care effective?
The home received a Good rating for Effective at the June 2023 inspection. The published text does not include specific details about care plan quality, GP access arrangements, dementia training content, or how food quality and dietary needs are managed. Alexandra House provides nursing care and rehabilitation as well as long-term dementia care, which requires a broad range of clinical competencies across the staff team. No specific concerns were identified in the published findings.Is this home caring?
Alexandra House was rated Good for Caring at the June 2023 inspection. The published text does not include inspector observations of staff interactions, quotes from residents or relatives about dignity and respect, or specific examples of person-centred practice. Caring for people with dementia, physical disabilities, and sensory impairment requires staff to adapt their communication and pace for each individual. No concerns were noted in the published findings.Is the home responsive?
The home was rated Good for Responsive at the June 2023 inspection. The published text does not include details about the activities programme, how the home supports people who cannot join group activities, or how individual preferences and life histories inform daily care. Alexandra House supports people with a wide range of needs, including dementia and rehabilitation, which requires a flexible and individualised approach to engagement. No specific concerns were identified.Is the home well-led?
Alexandra House received a Good rating for Well-led at the June 2023 inspection, having previously been rated Requires Improvement. Dr Gavin O'Hare-Connolly is named as the Nominated Individual for the provider, Runwood Homes Limited. The published text does not include detail about the registered manager's tenure, staff culture, governance systems, or how the home handles complaints and learns from incidents. The improvement in rating suggests leadership changes or interventions have had a positive effect.
Source: CQC inspection report →
What the evidence base says
The home provides specialist care for residents with dementia, physical disabilities and sensory impairments. They also support adults under 65 who need residential care. As a specialist dementia service, Alexandra House caters to residents at different stages of their dementia journey. The team works with families to understand each person's unique needs and preferences. All areas worth probing directly during a visit.
The DCC Verdict
Our editorial view, built from the three lenses: what families tell us, what inspectors record, and how the home sits against good dementia-care practice.
DCC Family Score
Alexandra House – Harlow scores 73 out of 100, reflecting a home that has made genuine progress from a previous Requires Improvement rating to a Good across all five domains. Scores are held back by limited specific detail in the published inspection text, which means several areas cannot be fully verified without a direct visit.
Homes in East typically score 68–82.The three-lens summary
What families tell us
Families have shared how staff supported them through difficult times, particularly when their loved ones were approaching the end of their lives. The care team's compassion during these moments has brought comfort to relatives facing bereavement.
What inspectors have recorded
Some families praise the dedication of individual staff members who've shown particular commitment during complex medical situations. However, other accounts suggest staffing levels and care standards can vary, which is worth exploring when you visit.
How it sits against good practice
Every care home has its own character and approach — visiting Alexandra House will help you understand if it feels right for your family.
Worth a visit
Alexandra House in Harlow was rated Good at its most recent inspection in June 2023, with Good awarded in every domain: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive, and Well-led. This is a meaningful improvement from a previous Requires Improvement rating, suggesting the management team has worked to address earlier concerns. The home is run by Runwood Homes Limited and cares for up to 106 people, including those living with dementia, physical disabilities, and sensory impairment, as well as people receiving nursing care or rehabilitation. The main uncertainty here is that the published inspection text contains very limited specific detail. Inspectors confirmed the Good ratings, but the report as published does not include the direct observations, quotes, or specific examples that would allow a fuller picture of day-to-day life. This means you should treat the Good rating as a positive starting point, not a complete picture. On your visit, pay close attention to how staff interact with residents in corridors and communal areas, ask to see last week's actual staffing rota, and find out what night staffing looks like on the dementia unit. The step up from Requires Improvement is encouraging, but verifying the detail yourself remains important.
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In Their Own Words
How Alexandra House Care Home | Runwood Homes Senior Living describes itself — collected from its own website. DCC has not edited or independently verified the content in this tab.
Specialist dementia and disability care in modern Harlow setting
Compassionate Care in Harlow at Alexandra House – Harlow
Alexandra House in Harlow offers residential care for people with complex needs, including dementia, physical disabilities and sensory impairments. The home welcomes both younger adults and those over 65, providing specialist support in a purpose-built environment with gardens and communal spaces.
Who they care for
The home provides specialist care for residents with dementia, physical disabilities and sensory impairments. They also support adults under 65 who need residential care.
As a specialist dementia service, Alexandra House caters to residents at different stages of their dementia journey. The team works with families to understand each person's unique needs and preferences.
“Every care home has its own character and approach — visiting Alexandra House will help you understand if it feels right for your family.”
DCC does not edit or curate content in this tab. For independently curated information, see The Evidence and DCC Verdict.
The DCC Verdict
Our editorial view, built from the three lenses: what families tell us, what inspectors record, and how the home sits against good dementia-care practice.
DCC Family Score
Alexandra House – Harlow scores 73 out of 100, reflecting a home that has made genuine progress from a previous Requires Improvement rating to a Good across all five domains. Scores are held back by limited specific detail in the published inspection text, which means several areas cannot be fully verified without a direct visit.
Homes in East typically score 68–82.The three-lens summary
What families tell us
Families have shared how staff supported them through difficult times, particularly when their loved ones were approaching the end of their lives. The care team's compassion during these moments has brought comfort to relatives facing bereavement.
What inspectors have recorded
Some families praise the dedication of individual staff members who've shown particular commitment during complex medical situations. However, other accounts suggest staffing levels and care standards can vary, which is worth exploring when you visit.
How it sits against good practice
Every care home has its own character and approach — visiting Alexandra House will help you understand if it feels right for your family.
Worth a visit
Alexandra House in Harlow was rated Good at its most recent inspection in June 2023, with Good awarded in every domain: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive, and Well-led. This is a meaningful improvement from a previous Requires Improvement rating, suggesting the management team has worked to address earlier concerns. The home is run by Runwood Homes Limited and cares for up to 106 people, including those living with dementia, physical disabilities, and sensory impairment, as well as people receiving nursing care or rehabilitation. The main uncertainty here is that the published inspection text contains very limited specific detail. Inspectors confirmed the Good ratings, but the report as published does not include the direct observations, quotes, or specific examples that would allow a fuller picture of day-to-day life. This means you should treat the Good rating as a positive starting point, not a complete picture. On your visit, pay close attention to how staff interact with residents in corridors and communal areas, ask to see last week's actual staffing rota, and find out what night staffing looks like on the dementia unit. The step up from Requires Improvement is encouraging, but verifying the detail yourself remains important.
The three questions to ask when you visitSave this home. Compare it against your shortlist.
Let our analysis show you how Alexandra House Care Home | Runwood Homes Senior Living measures up against the other homes you’re considering. Free account.
In Their Own Words
How Alexandra House Care Home | Runwood Homes Senior Living describes itself — collected from its own website. DCC has not edited or independently verified the content in this tab.
Specialist dementia and disability care in modern Harlow setting
Compassionate Care in Harlow at Alexandra House – Harlow
Alexandra House in Harlow offers residential care for people with complex needs, including dementia, physical disabilities and sensory impairments. The home welcomes both younger adults and those over 65, providing specialist support in a purpose-built environment with gardens and communal spaces.
Who they care for
The home provides specialist care for residents with dementia, physical disabilities and sensory impairments. They also support adults under 65 who need residential care.
As a specialist dementia service, Alexandra House caters to residents at different stages of their dementia journey. The team works with families to understand each person's unique needs and preferences.
Management & ethos
Some families praise the dedication of individual staff members who've shown particular commitment during complex medical situations. However, other accounts suggest staffing levels and care standards can vary, which is worth exploring when you visit.
The home & environment
The modern building includes gardens for residents to enjoy fresh air and outdoor moments. There's a library for quieter activities, and the home organizes various activities throughout the week.
“Every care home has its own character and approach — visiting Alexandra House will help you understand if it feels right for your family.”
DCC does not edit or curate content in this tab. For independently curated information, see The Evidence and DCC Verdict.
