Ferndale Court 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 beds58
- SpecialismsCaring for adults over 65 yrs, Caring for adults under 65 yrs, Dementia, Mental health conditions, Physical disabilities, Sensory impairment
- Last inspected2019-03-29
The Evidence
What the review data, the inspection reports, and the dementia-care evidence base tell us about this home.
What families say
The eight family priority themes
- Staff warmth55
- Compassion & dignity52
- Cleanliness70
- Activities & engagement55
- Food quality55
- Healthcare72
- Management & leadership72
- Resident happiness55
What inspectors found
Inspected 2019-03-29
Is this home safe?
Is the care effective?
Effective was rated Good at the December 2024 inspection. This domain covers staff training, care planning, healthcare access (including GP and specialist input), nutrition, and hydration. The home lists dementia as a specialism alongside mental health conditions, physical disabilities, and sensory impairments, which requires staff to hold a range of clinical competencies. No specific detail about training content, care plan quality, or healthcare monitoring is available in the published summary.Is this home caring?
Caring was rated Requires Improvement at the December 2024 inspection. This is the only domain that did not reach Good and is the most significant concern for families considering Ferndale Court. The Caring domain covers whether staff treat people with warmth and respect, whether dignity and privacy are maintained, and whether residents are supported to be as independent as possible. The published report summary does not specify what inspectors found to justify this rating, which makes it difficult to assess the severity or nature of the concern.Is the home responsive?
Responsive was rated Good at the December 2024 inspection. This domain covers how well the home meets individual needs, including activities, engagement, and end-of-life care. Given the range of specialisms (dementia, mental health conditions, physical disabilities, and sensory impairments), a Good Responsive rating suggests inspectors were satisfied that the home was adapting its approach to different needs. No specific detail about the activity programme, individual engagement, or end-of-life planning is available in the published summary.Is the home well-led?
Well-led was rated Good at the December 2024 inspection. The home has a named registered manager (Mrs Catrina Louise Smith) and a nominated individual in place. The improvement from an Inadequate overall rating to Requires Improvement overall, with four domains now at Good, indicates that leadership has driven meaningful change since the previous inspection. The published summary does not detail the manager's tenure, staff turnover rates, or the governance systems in place.
Source: CQC inspection report →
What the evidence base says
The home specialises in dementia care, mental health conditions, physical disabilities and sensory impairments. They care for adults across age groups, including those under 65 who need nursing support. For those living with dementia, Ferndale Court provides specialised nursing care as part of their broader support for residents with complex health needs. 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
Ferndale Court Nursing Home scores 72 out of 100, reflecting a home that has made meaningful progress from a previous Inadequate rating but where the inspection found specific concerns in the Caring domain that families need to investigate carefully before making a decision.
Homes in North West typically score 68–82.Worth a visit
Ferndale Court Nursing Home, on St. Michaels Road in Widnes, was assessed in December 2024 and the report was published in February 2025. The overall rating is Requires Improvement, but this represents genuine progress: the home was previously rated Inadequate, and four of its five domains (Safe, Effective, Responsive, and Well-led) are now rated Good. The home cares for up to 58 people, including those living with dementia, mental health conditions, physical disabilities, and sensory impairments, and has a named registered manager in post. The outstanding concern is Caring, which remains rated Requires Improvement. The published inspection summary does not spell out the specific reasons for this rating, which makes it hard to assess how serious the issues are or how much progress has been made. Before visiting, ask the manager to explain precisely what inspectors found under Caring and what the home has done since December 2024 to address it. On the visit itself, pay close attention to how staff speak to and move around the people who live there, whether interactions feel unhurried, and whether your parent would be addressed by their preferred name.
The three questions to ask when you visitSave this home. Compare it against your shortlist.
Let our analysis show you how Ferndale Court Care Home measures up against the other homes you’re considering. Free account.
In Their Own Words
How Ferndale Court Care Home describes itself — collected from its own website. DCC has not edited or independently verified the content in this tab.
Nursing care for complex needs in the heart of Widnes
Ferndale Court Nursing Home – Expert Care in Widnes
Ferndale Court Nursing Home in Widnes provides nursing care for people with a wide range of needs, from dementia and mental health conditions to physical disabilities and sensory impairments. The home welcomes both younger adults and those over 65, offering specialised support in a residential setting.
Who they care for
The home specialises in dementia care, mental health conditions, physical disabilities and sensory impairments. They care for adults across age groups, including those under 65 who need nursing support.
For those living with dementia, Ferndale Court provides specialised nursing care as part of their broader support for residents with complex health needs.
“If you're considering Ferndale Court for someone you love, arranging a visit will help you understand how they support residents with different care needs.”
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
Ferndale Court Nursing Home scores 72 out of 100, reflecting a home that has made meaningful progress from a previous Inadequate rating but where the inspection found specific concerns in the Caring domain that families need to investigate carefully before making a decision.
Homes in North West typically score 68–82.Worth a visit
Ferndale Court Nursing Home, on St. Michaels Road in Widnes, was assessed in December 2024 and the report was published in February 2025. The overall rating is Requires Improvement, but this represents genuine progress: the home was previously rated Inadequate, and four of its five domains (Safe, Effective, Responsive, and Well-led) are now rated Good. The home cares for up to 58 people, including those living with dementia, mental health conditions, physical disabilities, and sensory impairments, and has a named registered manager in post. The outstanding concern is Caring, which remains rated Requires Improvement. The published inspection summary does not spell out the specific reasons for this rating, which makes it hard to assess how serious the issues are or how much progress has been made. Before visiting, ask the manager to explain precisely what inspectors found under Caring and what the home has done since December 2024 to address it. On the visit itself, pay close attention to how staff speak to and move around the people who live there, whether interactions feel unhurried, and whether your parent would be addressed by their preferred name.
The three questions to ask when you visitSave this home. Compare it against your shortlist.
Let our analysis show you how Ferndale Court Care Home measures up against the other homes you’re considering. Free account.
In Their Own Words
How Ferndale Court Care Home describes itself — collected from its own website. DCC has not edited or independently verified the content in this tab.
Nursing care for complex needs in the heart of Widnes
Ferndale Court Nursing Home – Expert Care in Widnes
Ferndale Court Nursing Home in Widnes provides nursing care for people with a wide range of needs, from dementia and mental health conditions to physical disabilities and sensory impairments. The home welcomes both younger adults and those over 65, offering specialised support in a residential setting.
Who they care for
The home specialises in dementia care, mental health conditions, physical disabilities and sensory impairments. They care for adults across age groups, including those under 65 who need nursing support.
For those living with dementia, Ferndale Court provides specialised nursing care as part of their broader support for residents with complex health needs.
Management & ethos
Families describe mixed experiences when contacting the home. While some connect with nurses who provide reassuring updates, others report difficulty getting through by phone during busy periods.
“If you're considering Ferndale Court for someone you love, arranging a visit will help you understand how they support residents with different care needs.”
DCC does not edit or curate content in this tab. For independently curated information, see The Evidence and DCC Verdict.
