Ashwood Park Residential and Nursing Home – Sanctuary Care
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 beds65
- SpecialismsCaring for adults over 65 yrs, Caring for adults under 65 yrs, Dementia
- Last inspected2022-09-24
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STAGE 4 — RESEARCHING CARE HOMES
Visit homes. Compare them side by side. Choose with confidence.
Most of us will view care homes the way we view houses, impression, atmosphere, the feeling in the corridor. We go home, try to remember what we saw, and make a permanent decision from a blurred memory.
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The Evidence
What the review data, the inspection reports, and the dementia-care evidence base tell us about this home.
What families say
When residents first arrive, staff work hard to help them settle in comfortably. Families describe feeling welcomed during those crucial early days, with the team making sure new residents quickly feel at ease in their surroundings.
The eight family priority themes
- Staff warmth72
- Compassion & dignity72
- Cleanliness70
- Activities & engagement60
- Food quality60
- Healthcare70
- Management & leadership75
- Resident happiness70
What inspectors found
Inspected 2022-09-24
Is this home safe?
Is the care effective?
The Effective domain was rated Good at the June 2022 inspection. This domain covers how well staff know and respond to each person's needs, including care planning, dementia training, nutrition, and access to healthcare. The home lists dementia as a specialism alongside nursing and rehabilitation. The published summary does not include specific examples of care plan quality, GP visit frequency, or the content of dementia training provided to staff. The improvement from Requires Improvement to Good across all domains suggests previous shortfalls in effectiveness were addressed.Is this home caring?
The Caring domain was rated Good at the June 2022 inspection. This domain covers staff warmth, dignity, respect, and how well the home supports people to maintain independence. The published summary does not include direct inspector observations of staff interactions, resident quotes, or specific examples of dignity practices such as knocking before entering rooms or using preferred names. The Good rating indicates inspectors were satisfied with the standard of care observed, but the detail that families most value is not recorded in the available text.Is the home responsive?
The Responsive domain was rated Good at the June 2022 inspection. This domain covers how well the home tailors its care and activities to individual needs, including engagement, meaningful occupation, and end-of-life care. The published summary does not include specific examples of activities offered, individual engagement for people who cannot join group sessions, or detail on how end-of-life wishes are recorded and honoured. The Good rating suggests inspectors were satisfied with the home's approach, but no supporting detail is available in the published text.Is the home well-led?
The Well-led domain was rated Good at the June 2022 inspection, improving from Requires Improvement. A named registered manager, Mrs Denise Diana Newton, and a nominated individual, Mrs Louise Palmer, were identified at the time of the inspection. The home is operated by Sanctuary Care Limited. The improvement across all five domains from the previous inspection suggests the leadership team responded effectively to earlier concerns. The published summary does not include detail on manager tenure, staff culture, governance processes, or how the home handles complaints.
Source: CQC inspection report →
What the evidence base says
The home welcomes younger adults who need care as well as older residents. They also have experience supporting people living with dementia. For residents with dementia, the staff's approach to learning individual preferences becomes even more valuable. They work to understand each person's routines and what brings them comfort. 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
Ashwood Park achieved a Good rating across all five domains at its most recent inspection, having improved from Requires Improvement. The score reflects a positive overall picture tempered by limited specific detail in the published report text, which means several important areas for families cannot be verified from inspection evidence alone.
Homes in North East typically score 68–82.The three-lens summary
What families tell us
When residents first arrive, staff work hard to help them settle in comfortably. Families describe feeling welcomed during those crucial early days, with the team making sure new residents quickly feel at ease in their surroundings.
What inspectors have recorded
Staff here seem to really notice when someone needs a bit of extra attention. Families talk about care workers stepping in during difficult moments, whether that's offering comfort when someone's distressed or organising little activities to lift their spirits.
How it sits against good practice
With some staff having worked here for decades, there's a real sense of continuity in the relationships between residents, families and carers.
Worth a visit
Ashwood Park Residential and Nursing Home, on Seaside Lane in Peterlee, was rated Good across all five inspection domains at its most recent inspection in June 2022, with the report published in September 2022. This is a meaningful improvement from its previous rating of Requires Improvement, and it covers all five areas: safety, effectiveness, caring, responsiveness, and leadership. The home supports up to 65 people, including those living with dementia, and is run by Sanctuary Care Limited with a named registered manager in post. The main limitation for families is that the published inspection summary is brief and does not include the specific observations, staff interactions, or resident and relative quotes that allow a fuller picture to be built. The improvement trend is encouraging, but the inspection is now over two years old, which means conditions may have changed. On a visit, ask to see last week's actual staffing rota (not a template) to check permanent versus agency cover overnight, speak to any residents you encounter in communal areas to gauge the atmosphere, and ask how families are kept informed when something changes in their parent's health or care.
The three questions to ask when you visitSave this home. Compare it against your shortlist.
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In Their Own Words
How Ashwood Park Residential and Nursing Home – Sanctuary Care describes itself — collected from its own website. DCC has not edited or independently verified the content in this tab.
Where staff really get to know each resident's little preferences
Compassionate Care in Peterlee at Ashwood Park Residential and Nursing Home
Families visiting Ashwood Park in Peterlee often mention how staff take time to learn what makes their relatives smile. Whether it's remembering someone loves having their nails done or knowing just how they like their morning routine, the care feels genuinely personal. The home provides residential and nursing care for adults of all ages, including those living with dementia.
Who they care for
The home welcomes younger adults who need care as well as older residents. They also have experience supporting people living with dementia.
For residents with dementia, the staff's approach to learning individual preferences becomes even more valuable. They work to understand each person's routines and what brings them comfort.
“With some staff having worked here for decades, there's a real sense of continuity in the relationships between residents, families and carers.”
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
Ashwood Park achieved a Good rating across all five domains at its most recent inspection, having improved from Requires Improvement. The score reflects a positive overall picture tempered by limited specific detail in the published report text, which means several important areas for families cannot be verified from inspection evidence alone.
Homes in North East typically score 68–82.The three-lens summary
What families tell us
When residents first arrive, staff work hard to help them settle in comfortably. Families describe feeling welcomed during those crucial early days, with the team making sure new residents quickly feel at ease in their surroundings.
What inspectors have recorded
Staff here seem to really notice when someone needs a bit of extra attention. Families talk about care workers stepping in during difficult moments, whether that's offering comfort when someone's distressed or organising little activities to lift their spirits.
How it sits against good practice
With some staff having worked here for decades, there's a real sense of continuity in the relationships between residents, families and carers.
Worth a visit
Ashwood Park Residential and Nursing Home, on Seaside Lane in Peterlee, was rated Good across all five inspection domains at its most recent inspection in June 2022, with the report published in September 2022. This is a meaningful improvement from its previous rating of Requires Improvement, and it covers all five areas: safety, effectiveness, caring, responsiveness, and leadership. The home supports up to 65 people, including those living with dementia, and is run by Sanctuary Care Limited with a named registered manager in post. The main limitation for families is that the published inspection summary is brief and does not include the specific observations, staff interactions, or resident and relative quotes that allow a fuller picture to be built. The improvement trend is encouraging, but the inspection is now over two years old, which means conditions may have changed. On a visit, ask to see last week's actual staffing rota (not a template) to check permanent versus agency cover overnight, speak to any residents you encounter in communal areas to gauge the atmosphere, and ask how families are kept informed when something changes in their parent's health or care.
The three questions to ask when you visitSave this home. Compare it against your shortlist.
Let our analysis show you how Ashwood Park Residential and Nursing Home – Sanctuary Care measures up against the other homes you’re considering. Free account.
In Their Own Words
How Ashwood Park Residential and Nursing Home – Sanctuary Care describes itself — collected from its own website. DCC has not edited or independently verified the content in this tab.
Where staff really get to know each resident's little preferences
Compassionate Care in Peterlee at Ashwood Park Residential and Nursing Home
Families visiting Ashwood Park in Peterlee often mention how staff take time to learn what makes their relatives smile. Whether it's remembering someone loves having their nails done or knowing just how they like their morning routine, the care feels genuinely personal. The home provides residential and nursing care for adults of all ages, including those living with dementia.
Who they care for
The home welcomes younger adults who need care as well as older residents. They also have experience supporting people living with dementia.
For residents with dementia, the staff's approach to learning individual preferences becomes even more valuable. They work to understand each person's routines and what brings them comfort.
Management & ethos
Staff here seem to really notice when someone needs a bit of extra attention. Families talk about care workers stepping in during difficult moments, whether that's offering comfort when someone's distressed or organising little activities to lift their spirits.
The home & environment
The kitchen team puts real thought into meals here — several families mention their relatives actually looking forward to mealtimes. There's also a garden where residents can enjoy fresh air when the weather's nice.
“With some staff having worked here for decades, there's a real sense of continuity in the relationships between residents, families and carers.”
DCC does not edit or curate content in this tab. For independently curated information, see The Evidence and DCC Verdict.
