Dementia Care Home

OSJCT Marden Court

Quarr Barton, Calne, Wiltshire, SN11 0EE

Residential homes

At a Glance

The information you need to decide whether this home warrants a closer look.

DCC Family Score
74/ 100
Weighted from family reviews
Dementia SpecialismConfirmed

Residential homes

Families Rate The Staff72 / 100

Staff warmth score

“Well Looked After”70%

of reviewers answered yes

Good to know

  • Registered beds28
  • SpecialismsCaring for adults over 65 yrs, Caring for adults under 65 yrs, Dementia, Mental health conditions
  • Last inspected2019-06-21

Save OSJCT Marden Court to your shortlist

Keep a running list, add visit notes, and compare homes side-by-side. Free account — it takes a minute.

The Evidence

What the review data, the inspection reports, and the dementia-care evidence base tell us about this home.

Section 01

What families say

Visitors frequently mention how friendly and dedicated the staff are, taking time to really get to know each resident. The home has a pleasant, welcoming atmosphere that helps people feel at ease. Many families notice their relatives seem genuinely happy and well-settled in their new surroundings.

The eight family priority themes

  • Staff warmth72
  • Compassion & dignity72
  • Cleanliness72
  • Activities & engagement68
  • Food quality68
  • Healthcare70
  • Management & leadership75
  • Resident happiness70
Section 02

What inspectors found

Inspected 2019-06-21

  • Is this home safe?

    Not yet rated
    The Safe domain was rated Good at the December 2023 inspection. This is an improvement from the home's previous Requires Improvement rating, which suggests that earlier safety concerns have been resolved. The published report does not provide specific detail about staffing ratios, medicines management, falls monitoring, or infection control practices. A named registered manager is in post, which is a basic but important safety governance requirement. No specific concerns or incidents are referenced in the published summary.
    Verified by inspector
  • Is the care effective?

    Not yet rated
    The Effective domain was rated Good at the December 2023 inspection, covering areas such as staff training, care planning, and access to healthcare. The published summary does not include specific examples of how care plans are written or reviewed, what dementia training staff have completed, or how the home works with GPs and other health professionals. The improvement from Requires Improvement suggests that training or care planning gaps identified previously have been addressed. No direct evidence of care plan quality, GP access frequency, or dietary provision is available in the published text.
    Verified by inspector
  • Is this home caring?

    Not yet rated
    The Caring domain was rated Good at the December 2023 inspection. This domain covers staff warmth, dignity, respect, and support for independence. The published summary does not include any direct observations of staff interactions, resident or relative testimony, or specific examples of how dignity is maintained. The improvement from Requires Improvement is a meaningful signal, suggesting that concerns about care quality or staff behaviour identified at an earlier inspection have been resolved. No specific evidence of how staff address residents by preferred names, respond to distress, or support residents to remain independent is available in the public record.
    Verified by inspectorResident testimony recorded
  • Is the home responsive?

    Not yet rated
    The Responsive domain was rated Good at the December 2023 inspection. This domain covers activities, individual engagement, responsiveness to complaints, and end-of-life care. The published summary does not include any detail about the activities programme, how the home tailors engagement for residents with more advanced dementia, or how complaints are handled. No mention is made of one-to-one activities, outdoor access, or how end-of-life preferences are recorded and respected. The Good rating and upward trend are positive signals, but the absence of specific evidence means this domain cannot be assessed in detail from the published report alone.
    Verified by inspector
  • Is the home well-led?

    Not yet rated
    The Well-led domain was rated Good at the December 2023 inspection, up from Requires Improvement at a previous assessment. A named registered manager, Mr Dean Philip Palfrey, is confirmed as in post, alongside a nominated individual representing the provider organisation, The Orders of St. John Care Trust. The published summary does not include specific detail about governance processes, how the management team engages with staff or residents, or how the home monitors and improves its own quality. The upward trend from Requires Improvement to Good across all domains is the strongest signal of effective leadership available in the public record.
    Verified by inspector
  • Source: CQC inspection report →

    Section 03

    What the evidence base says

    The home welcomes adults of all ages, providing specialist support for people living with dementia and mental health conditions. For residents with dementia, the team understands the importance of maintaining familiar routines and connections. The regular activities and community outings help provide structure and engagement throughout the week. 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.

74/ 100

DCC Family Score

OSJCT Marden Court has improved from Requires Improvement to a Good rating across all five domains, which is a meaningful step forward. However, the published inspection report contains very little specific detail, so most scores reflect a confirmed positive direction rather than strong, observable evidence.

Homes in South West typically score 68–82.

The three-lens summary

Lens 01

What families tell us

Visitors frequently mention how friendly and dedicated the staff are, taking time to really get to know each resident. The home has a pleasant, welcoming atmosphere that helps people feel at ease. Many families notice their relatives seem genuinely happy and well-settled in their new surroundings.

Lens 02

What inspectors have recorded

The team shows real dedication to residents' daily needs, with staff who are attentive and responsive. Families appreciate how the home keeps them informed about their loved ones. While most find the care compassionate, it's worth asking about staff training and consistency when you visit.

Lens 03

How it sits against good practice

Getting a feel for daily life at Marden Court will help you decide if it's the right fit for your family.

DCC Recommendation

Worth a visit

OSJCT Marden Court, a 28-bed care home in Calne run by The Orders of St. John Care Trust, was rated Good across all five inspection domains at its most recent assessment in December 2023. This is a genuine improvement: the home previously held a Requires Improvement rating, and achieving Good across every domain suggests that the issues identified earlier have been addressed. The home supports adults over and under 65, including people living with dementia and mental health conditions. The main uncertainty here is that the published inspection report contains very little specific detail. No direct observations, resident or relative quotes, or examples of practice are available in the published summary. This means the Good ratings are confirmed but not richly evidenced in the public record. Before choosing this home for your parent, visit in person and ask the specific questions listed in the checklist below, particularly around staffing levels after 8pm, how dementia training is delivered, what one-to-one engagement looks like for residents who cannot join group activities, and how the home keeps families informed about day-to-day changes.

The three questions to ask when you visit

Save this home. Compare it against your shortlist.

Let our analysis show you how OSJCT Marden Court measures up against the other homes you’re considering. Free account.

Create free account →

In Their Own Words

How OSJCT Marden Court describes itself — collected from its own website. DCC has not edited or independently verified the content in this tab.

What OSJCT Marden Court says about itself

A friendly community where residents enjoy outings and daily comforts

OSJCT Marden Court – Your Trusted residential home

When you're looking for residential care that keeps life feeling normal and connected, OSJCT Marden Court in Calne offers a welcoming environment where residents stay engaged with the wider community. This South West care home provides support for adults of all ages, including those living with dementia or mental health conditions. Families often comment on the warm atmosphere and how settled their loved ones seem here.

Care & specialisms

Who they care for

    The home welcomes adults of all ages, providing specialist support for people living with dementia and mental health conditions.

    How they describe their dementia care

    For residents with dementia, the team understands the importance of maintaining familiar routines and connections. The regular activities and community outings help provide structure and engagement throughout the week.

    “Getting a feel for daily life at Marden Court will help you decide if it's the right fit for your family.”

    DCC does not edit or curate content in this tab. For independently curated information, see The Evidence and DCC Verdict.

    Free download – Dementia Stage 4

    Not sure if it's dementia or just ageing? Here's the checklist your GP will use.

    Twelve signs to observe. A simple scoring framework. A printable, one-page record you can take to your next GP appointment, so you go in with specifics, not anxiety.

    Download Your Checklist

    No registration required to download. Free.

    Related:

    What Real Families Say About Dementia Care Homes: The Eight Things That Matter Most

    A Which? Report for Care Homes: Real Family Reviews, Not Just Official Inspections

    Step-by-Step Guide to Finding a Care Home for Your Mum in the UK

    What Does 'Dementia Specialist' Actually Mean? How to Tell If a Care Home Really Is One

    Best UK Website for Comparing Dementia Care Homes (Beyond CQC Ratings)

    Dementia care gifts that help

    The Thoughtful Gift That Makes a Difficult Day Easier

    The things that make the greatest difference to someone living with dementia are rarely the most obvious ones. They are the things that ease the day — that give a carer a moment to breathe, or give the person they care for a moment of calm or quiet joy. Every item here was chosen because it works, and because it reduces stress for everyone in the room.

    Comforting Memories

    Britain 1940 to 1970: Memory Lane

    Card Game

    The Card Game That Turns Familiar Phrases Into Open Doors

    Memory Box

    The Box That Holds a Life

    Digital Photoframe

    The Frame That Brings the Family Into the Room

    Digital Calendar

    The Clock That Knows What Day It Is

    FAQs Related to Care Homes increasing support care

    How often to visit a parent with dementia in a care home — and what makes a visit actually matter

    read this FAQ

    Care home fees and dementia — who pays, who doesn't, and what determines the difference

    read this FAQ

    Do you have to sell the house to pay for dementia care? The options most families don't know about

    read this FAQ

    The 7-year rule and care home fees — what it actually means and why it's misunderstood

    read this FAQ

    How much the NHS will pay for a care home — and what happens when the home costs more

    read this FAQ

    NHS Continuing Healthcare and dementia — who qualifies, how to apply, and what to do if refused

    read this FAQ

    When the NHS pays for dementia care — the two situations and how to access both

    read this FAQ

    What the NHS actually covers in dementia care — and the funding most eligible families never claim

    read this FAQ
    We use cookies in order to give you the best possible experience on our website. By continuing to use this site, you agree to our use of cookies.
    Accept