Derwent Lodge Care Home
At a Glance
The information you need to decide whether this home warrants a closer look.
Nursing homes
Staff warmth score
of reviewers answered yes
Good to know
- Registered beds56
- SpecialismsCaring for adults over 65 yrs, Caring for adults under 65 yrs, Dementia
- Last inspected2023-05-10
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 take time to understand each resident's needs during those crucial early days. When someone struggles with the transition, the team shows real patience — working steadily to help them feel settled and part of the community. Some families have found particular comfort in how staff supported their loved ones through end-of-life care, with flexibility for family visits and senior staff involvement.
The eight family priority themes
- Staff warmth72
- Compassion & dignity72
- Cleanliness70
- Activities & engagement68
- Food quality68
- Healthcare70
- Management & leadership72
- Resident happiness70
What inspectors found
Inspected 2023-05-10
Is this home safe?
Is the care effective?
The Effective domain was rated Good, covering training, care planning, healthcare access, nutrition, and outcomes for residents. Derwent Lodge lists dementia as a specialism, so inspectors would have expected to see evidence of appropriate dementia training and care planning. No specific detail about training content, GP access arrangements, medication reviews, or how food quality and choice are managed is included in the published summary.Is this home caring?
The Caring domain was rated Good, which covers staff warmth, dignity, respect, and whether residents are supported to maintain their independence. For a nursing home with a dementia specialism, this domain should reflect whether staff know residents as individuals, use preferred names, and respond sensitively to distress. The published summary contains no quotes from residents or relatives and no specific inspector observations about the quality of day-to-day interactions.Is the home responsive?
The Responsive domain was rated Good, covering activities, individual engagement, responsiveness to complaints, and end-of-life care planning. For a home with 56 residents including people living with dementia, responsiveness includes whether activities are tailored to individual ability and whether residents who cannot join group sessions receive one-to-one time. No specific activities, named staff, complaint examples, or end-of-life arrangements are described in the published summary.Is the home well-led?
The Well-led domain was rated Good, covering governance, leadership culture, staff support, and how the home responds to concerns and incidents. The nominated individual listed for Derwent Lodge is Mr Antony Hall, and the home is operated by Splendid Healthcare Limited. No information is provided about the registered manager's name, how long they have been in post, staff turnover, or how the home involves residents and families in shaping care.
Source: CQC inspection report →
What the evidence base says
The home cares for adults both over and under 65, with experience supporting people living with dementia. For residents with dementia, the team focuses on building confidence through familiar routines and patient support. Staff work to help each person find their place within the home's community, understanding that this adjustment takes time and consistency. 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
Derwent Lodge holds a Good rating across all five inspection domains, which is a positive baseline, but the published summary contains very little specific detail or direct observation, so scores reflect the rating itself rather than rich supporting evidence.
Homes in South East typically score 68–82.The three-lens summary
What families tell us
Families have shared how staff take time to understand each resident's needs during those crucial early days. When someone struggles with the transition, the team shows real patience — working steadily to help them feel settled and part of the community. Some families have found particular comfort in how staff supported their loved ones through end-of-life care, with flexibility for family visits and senior staff involvement.
What inspectors have recorded
How it sits against good practice
If you're considering Derwent Lodge for someone you care about, visiting in person will help you get a feel for whether it's the right fit.
Worth a visit
Derwent Lodge, on West Street in Billingshurst, was inspected in April 2023 and rated Good across all five domains: safe, effective, caring, responsive, and well-led. The home is registered with Splendid Healthcare Limited and provides nursing care for up to 56 people, including those living with dementia and adults both over and under 65. A Good rating across every domain is a genuine positive marker and means inspectors found no significant concerns in any area of care. However, the published inspection summary is unusually brief and contains almost no specific observations, resident testimony, or direct evidence to explain how the Good ratings were reached. This means the Family Score of 72 reflects the rating itself rather than rich corroborating detail. Before visiting or making a decision, ask to speak with the manager about night staffing numbers, how often care plans are reviewed with family input, what the activities programme looks like for residents who cannot join group sessions, and how the home's dementia-specific environment supports your parent day to day.
The three questions to ask when you visitSave this home. Compare it against your shortlist.
Let our analysis show you how Derwent Lodge Care Home measures up against the other homes you’re considering. Free account.
In Their Own Words
How Derwent Lodge Care Home describes itself — collected from its own website. DCC has not edited or independently verified the content in this tab.
Supporting residents through dementia transitions with patient, structured care
Compassionate Care in Billingshurst at Derwent Lodge
When someone you love needs dementia care, finding the right support matters deeply. Derwent Lodge in Billingshurst provides residential care for adults over and under 65, with particular experience in helping people adjust to life with dementia. The home works to build residents' confidence through consistent routines and gentle encouragement.
Who they care for
The home cares for adults both over and under 65, with experience supporting people living with dementia.
For residents with dementia, the team focuses on building confidence through familiar routines and patient support. Staff work to help each person find their place within the home's community, understanding that this adjustment takes time and consistency.
“If you're considering Derwent Lodge for someone you care about, visiting in person will help you get a feel for whether it's the right fit.”
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
Derwent Lodge holds a Good rating across all five inspection domains, which is a positive baseline, but the published summary contains very little specific detail or direct observation, so scores reflect the rating itself rather than rich supporting evidence.
Homes in South East typically score 68–82.The three-lens summary
What families tell us
Families have shared how staff take time to understand each resident's needs during those crucial early days. When someone struggles with the transition, the team shows real patience — working steadily to help them feel settled and part of the community. Some families have found particular comfort in how staff supported their loved ones through end-of-life care, with flexibility for family visits and senior staff involvement.
What inspectors have recorded
How it sits against good practice
If you're considering Derwent Lodge for someone you care about, visiting in person will help you get a feel for whether it's the right fit.
Worth a visit
Derwent Lodge, on West Street in Billingshurst, was inspected in April 2023 and rated Good across all five domains: safe, effective, caring, responsive, and well-led. The home is registered with Splendid Healthcare Limited and provides nursing care for up to 56 people, including those living with dementia and adults both over and under 65. A Good rating across every domain is a genuine positive marker and means inspectors found no significant concerns in any area of care. However, the published inspection summary is unusually brief and contains almost no specific observations, resident testimony, or direct evidence to explain how the Good ratings were reached. This means the Family Score of 72 reflects the rating itself rather than rich corroborating detail. Before visiting or making a decision, ask to speak with the manager about night staffing numbers, how often care plans are reviewed with family input, what the activities programme looks like for residents who cannot join group sessions, and how the home's dementia-specific environment supports your parent day to day.
The three questions to ask when you visitSave this home. Compare it against your shortlist.
Let our analysis show you how Derwent Lodge Care Home measures up against the other homes you’re considering. Free account.
In Their Own Words
How Derwent Lodge Care Home describes itself — collected from its own website. DCC has not edited or independently verified the content in this tab.
Supporting residents through dementia transitions with patient, structured care
Compassionate Care in Billingshurst at Derwent Lodge
When someone you love needs dementia care, finding the right support matters deeply. Derwent Lodge in Billingshurst provides residential care for adults over and under 65, with particular experience in helping people adjust to life with dementia. The home works to build residents' confidence through consistent routines and gentle encouragement.
Who they care for
The home cares for adults both over and under 65, with experience supporting people living with dementia.
For residents with dementia, the team focuses on building confidence through familiar routines and patient support. Staff work to help each person find their place within the home's community, understanding that this adjustment takes time and consistency.
The home & environment
The home brings people together for meals in the dining room and organises activities throughout the day. These routines help create structure and opportunities for residents to connect with each other.
“If you're considering Derwent Lodge for someone you care about, visiting in person will help you get a feel for whether it's the right fit.”
DCC does not edit or curate content in this tab. For independently curated information, see The Evidence and DCC Verdict.
