Dementia Care Home

Ashtonleigh Residential Care Homes in Crawley West Sussex

4 Wimblehurst Road, Horsham, Sussex, RH12 2ED

Nursing homes, Residential homes

At a Glance

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

DCC Family Score
72/ 100
Weighted from family reviews
Dementia SpecialismConfirmed

Nursing homes, Residential homes

Families Rate The Staff55 / 100

Staff warmth score

“Well Looked After”55%

of reviewers answered yes

Good to know

  • Registered beds54
  • SpecialismsCaring for adults over 65 yrs, Caring for adults under 65 yrs, Dementia, Learning disabilities, Mental health conditions, Physical disabilities, Sensory impairment
  • Last inspected2019-02-06

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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

Families describe a place where cleanliness and comfort come standard. They've noticed how staff treat their loved ones with genuine respect, taking time to understand each person's unique situation.

The eight family priority themes

  • Staff warmth55
  • Compassion & dignity55
  • Cleanliness55
  • Activities & engagement50
  • Food quality50
  • Healthcare55
  • Management & leadership60
  • Resident happiness55
Section 02

What inspectors found

Inspected 2019-02-06

  • Is this home safe?

    Good
    The Safe domain was rated Good at the January 2019 inspection. This followed a previous period in which the home was rated Requires Improvement, so the improvement in this domain is significant. However, the published inspection text contains no specific findings about staffing numbers, medicines management, falls prevention, infection control, or incident learning. A desk-based review in July 2023 found no evidence to reassess this rating.
    Verified by inspector
  • Is the care effective?

    Good
    The Effective domain was rated Good at the January 2019 inspection. This covers training, care planning, healthcare access, and food. No specific findings about any of these areas are available in the published summary. The home lists dementia as a specialism, which implies a level of staff training and care planning expertise, but this is not confirmed by specific inspection evidence.
    Verified by inspector
  • Is this home caring?

    Good
    The Caring domain was rated Good at the January 2019 inspection. This domain covers staff warmth, dignity, respect, and support for independence. No inspector observations, resident quotes, or relative feedback are available in the published summary. The improvement from Requires Improvement suggests inspectors found meaningful change in this area, but the specific nature of that change is not recorded.
    Verified by inspectorResident testimony recorded
  • Is the home responsive?

    Good
    The Responsive domain was rated Good at the January 2019 inspection. This domain covers activities, individual engagement, complaint handling, and end-of-life care. No specific findings about any of these areas are available in the published text. The home supports residents with dementia, learning disabilities, physical disabilities, and sensory impairment, which means activities and individual engagement need to be tailored to a wide range of needs.
    Verified by inspector
  • Is the home well-led?

    Good
    The Well-led domain was rated Good at the January 2019 inspection, having previously been rated Requires Improvement. A named registered manager and a nominated individual are recorded on the registration. The July 2023 desk-based review found no evidence requiring a reassessment of the Good rating. No specific findings about management visibility, staff culture, or governance processes are available in the published text.
    Verified by inspector
  • Source: CQC inspection report →

    Section 03

    What the evidence base says

    Ashtonleigh supports adults of all ages with dementia, learning disabilities, mental health conditions and physical disabilities. They also provide care for people with sensory impairments. Several families have specifically mentioned the staff's understanding approach to dementia care. They've noticed how the team adapts their support to each person's changing 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.

72/ 100

DCC Family Score

Ashtonleigh achieved a Good rating across all five domains after a previous Requires Improvement, which is a meaningful improvement. However, the published inspection text contains very little specific detail, so scores reflect the rating itself rather than direct observations or testimony.

Homes in South East typically score 68–82.

The three-lens summary

Lens 01

What families tell us

Families describe a place where cleanliness and comfort come standard. They've noticed how staff treat their loved ones with genuine respect, taking time to understand each person's unique situation.

Lens 02

What inspectors have recorded

Communication seems to be a real strength here. Families mention being kept in the loop about their loved ones, with staff who understand the complexities of dementia care and respond appropriately to different situations.

Lens 03

How it sits against good practice

Every family's experience is unique, so visiting Ashtonleigh yourself will give you the clearest picture of whether it feels right for your situation.

DCC Recommendation

Worth a visit

Ashtonleigh, on Wimblehurst Road in Horsham, was rated Good across all five inspection domains at its last physical inspection in January 2019. That rating represented a genuine improvement from a previous Requires Improvement rating, and a desk-based review in July 2023 found no evidence to suggest the standard had fallen. The home offers 54 beds and lists dementia, mental health conditions, learning disabilities, physical disabilities, and sensory impairment among its specialisms. The honest limitation here is that the published inspection summary contains almost no specific detail: no direct quotes from residents or relatives, no inspector observations, and no concrete findings about staffing levels, activities, food, or the physical environment. A Good rating after Requires Improvement is encouraging, but it is now more than six years old. Before making any decision, visit the home in person, ask to see the most recent staffing rota, speak to the registered manager about what changed after the previous lower rating, and ask specifically how the home supports people living with dementia on a day-to-day basis.

The three questions to ask when you visit

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In Their Own Words

How Ashtonleigh Residential Care Homes in Crawley West Sussex describes itself — collected from its own website. DCC has not edited or independently verified the content in this tab.

What Ashtonleigh Residential Care Homes in Crawley West Sussex says about itself

Where understanding meets genuine respect in West Sussex

Compassionate Care in Horsham at Ashtonleigh

Finding the right care home means looking beyond first impressions to what really matters. Ashtonleigh in Horsham offers something families consistently notice — staff who truly understand dementia and keep relatives informed every step of the way. This West Sussex home supports people with various needs, from learning disabilities to physical challenges.

Care & specialisms

Who they care for

    Ashtonleigh supports adults of all ages with dementia, learning disabilities, mental health conditions and physical disabilities. They also provide care for people with sensory impairments.

    How they describe their dementia care

    Several families have specifically mentioned the staff's understanding approach to dementia care. They've noticed how the team adapts their support to each person's changing needs.

    “Every family's experience is unique, so visiting Ashtonleigh yourself will give you the clearest picture of whether it feels right for your situation.”

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

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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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