Dementia Care Home

Quinnell House

77 Quinnell Drive, Hailsham, Sussex, BN27 1QN

Residential homes

At a Glance

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

DCC Family Score
62/ 100
Weighted from family reviews
Dementia SpecialismConfirmed

Residential homes

Families Rate The Staff55 / 100

Staff warmth score

“Well Looked After”55%

of reviewers answered yes

Good to know

  • Registered beds56
  • SpecialismsCaring for adults over 65 yrs, Dementia
  • Last inspected2018-06-29

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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

People describe the team as particularly attentive during the early stages of dementia, providing appropriate support when residents first arrive. The home maintains a structured approach to daily life that helps residents settle into their new surroundings.

The eight family priority themes

  • Staff warmth55
  • Compassion & dignity55
  • Cleanliness55
  • Activities & engagement50
  • Food quality50
  • Healthcare55
  • Management & leadership42
  • Resident happiness55
Section 02

What inspectors found

Inspected 2018-06-29

  • Is this home safe?

    Good
    The Safe domain was rated Good at the February 2021 inspection. This covers staffing levels, medicines management, infection control, and how the home responds to accidents and incidents. The published summary does not include specific observations about staffing ratios, night cover, or agency use. No concerns were recorded under Safety at this inspection. Because the inspection took place in February 2021, these findings predate many of the staffing pressures the care sector has faced since then.
    Verified by inspector
  • Is the care effective?

    Good
    The Effective domain was rated Good at the February 2021 inspection. This domain covers staff training, care planning, access to healthcare professionals, and nutrition. The published summary does not include specific detail about the quality of care plans, dementia training content, GP access arrangements, or food quality. No concerns were recorded under Effectiveness at this inspection. The findings are from 2021 and may not reflect current practice.
    Verified by inspector
  • Is this home caring?

    Good
    The Caring domain was rated Good at the February 2021 inspection. This is the domain that covers staff warmth, dignity, respect, and how independently your parent is supported to live. The published summary does not include specific inspector observations, resident testimony, or relative feedback to illustrate what Good looks like in practice at this home. No concerns were recorded under Caring. The inspection is now more than three years old.
    Verified by inspectorResident testimony recorded
  • Is the home responsive?

    Good
    The Responsive domain was rated Good at the February 2021 inspection. This domain covers how well the home tailors its care and activities to individual needs, including for people with dementia, and how it handles complaints. The published summary does not include specific detail about the activity programme, one-to-one engagement, or how individual preferences are recorded and acted on. No concerns were recorded under Responsiveness. These findings are from 2021.
    Verified by inspector
  • Is the home well-led?

    Requires improvement
    The Well-led domain was rated Requires Improvement at the February 2021 inspection. This is the only domain not rated Good, and it means inspectors found concerns about the management, governance, or accountability systems at the home at that time. The published summary does not detail what specifically was found to be below standard. A review was carried out in July 2023 and did not trigger a reassessment, but this does not mean the concerns have been formally re-inspected and closed. The home is operated by Bamford Care Homes Limited.
    Verified by inspector
  • Source: CQC inspection report →

    Section 03

    What the evidence base says

    The home cares for adults over 65 and specialises in dementia support. However, they don't have nurses on site, which means medication management and end-of-life care depend on visiting district nurse services. The team provides attentive care during early-stage dementia, with staff who understand how to support residents through this phase. For those with more advanced dementia or complex medical needs, the absence of on-site nursing may mean this isn't the right setting. 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.

62/ 100

DCC Family Score

Quinnell House scored 62 out of 100. Four domains were rated Good at the last inspection, which is a positive sign, but the Well-led domain was rated Requires Improvement and the inspection itself took place in February 2021, meaning these findings are now over three years old and should be treated with caution.

Homes in South East typically score 68–82.

The three-lens summary

Lens 01

What families tell us

People describe the team as particularly attentive during the early stages of dementia, providing appropriate support when residents first arrive. The home maintains a structured approach to daily life that helps residents settle into their new surroundings.

Lens 02

What inspectors have recorded

The management team actively supports both care delivery and the activities programme. They've shown commitment to maintaining engagement activities even during challenging periods, though the home relies on district nurses for any medical needs.

Lens 03

How it sits against good practice

Understanding what level of care is available helps families make the right choice for their loved one's specific needs.

DCC Recommendation

Worth a visit

Quinnell House, on Quinnell Drive in Hailsham, was rated Good overall at its last inspection in February 2021, having improved from a previous rating of Requires Improvement. Four of the five inspection domains, covering safety, effectiveness, caring, and responsiveness, were rated Good. That improvement from a lower rating is a positive sign of a home moving in the right direction. However, the Well-led domain was rated Requires Improvement, which means inspectors found concerns about management, governance, or leadership at the time. The inspection is also now more than three years old, which means you cannot rely on these findings alone to reflect what the home is like today. On a visit, ask to speak with the current registered manager, find out how long they have been in post, and ask what has changed since the last inspection. A follow-up review was noted in July 2023 but did not trigger a reassessment, which means no new detailed findings are publicly available.

The three questions to ask when you visit

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In Their Own Words

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

What Quinnell House says about itself

Caring support for early dementia with creative daily activities

Residential home in Hailsham: True Peace of Mind

Quinnell House in Hailsham provides residential care with a focus on supporting people in the early stages of dementia. The home maintains an active programme of creative activities, though families should note that nursing care isn't available on site.

Care & specialisms

Who they care for

    The home cares for adults over 65 and specialises in dementia support. However, they don't have nurses on site, which means medication management and end-of-life care depend on visiting district nurse services.

    How they describe their dementia care

    The team provides attentive care during early-stage dementia, with staff who understand how to support residents through this phase. For those with more advanced dementia or complex medical needs, the absence of on-site nursing may mean this isn't the right setting.

    “Understanding what level of care is available helps families make the right choice for their loved one's specific needs.”

    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.

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    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)

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