Blackwell 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 beds49
- SpecialismsCaring for adults over 65 yrs, Caring for adults under 65 yrs, Dementia, Physical disabilities, Sensory impairment
- Last inspected2023-12-15
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STAGE 4 — RESEARCHING CARE HOMES
Visit homes. Compare them side by side. Choose with confidence.
Most of us will view care homes the way we view houses, impression, atmosphere, the feeling in the corridor. We go home, try to remember what we saw, and make a permanent decision from a blurred memory.
The DCC shortlist gives every home you visit a structured record: the same twelve questions, answered the same way, every time. When you’re ready to choose, pull any two homes side by side and compare them directly. Same criteria, same evidence, your notes and your scores.
The Evidence
What the review data, the inspection reports, and the dementia-care evidence base tell us about this home.
What families say
Families describe a sense of relief when they first walk through the doors. The atmosphere feels calm and purposeful, with staff who take time to understand each resident as a person. Whether someone's moving from hospital or another care home, the team here seems to have a knack for making transitions feel less daunting.
The eight family priority themes
- Staff warmth55
- Compassion & dignity55
- Cleanliness60
- Activities & engagement50
- Food quality50
- Healthcare55
- Management & leadership60
- Resident happiness55
What inspectors found
Inspected 2023-12-15
Is this home safe?
Is the care effective?
Effective was rated Good at the December 2024 inspection. This domain covers care planning, staff training, healthcare access, and food quality. No specific detail is available in the published text: there are no examples of care plan content, no description of GP access arrangements, and no reference to dementia training programmes. The Good rating suggests inspectors were satisfied overall, but the evidence behind it is not visible here.Is this home caring?
Caring was rated Good at the December 2024 inspection. This domain reflects staff warmth, dignity, respect, and whether your parent would be treated as an individual. No inspector observations, resident quotes, or family testimony are recorded in the published text provided. The Good rating is positive but its specific basis is not available here.Is the home responsive?
Responsive was rated Good at the December 2024 inspection. This domain covers activities, individual engagement, response to complaints, and end-of-life planning. No specific detail about the activity programme, one-to-one engagement, or complaint handling is recorded in the published text provided. The Good rating indicates inspectors were satisfied, but the evidence is not visible here.Is the home well-led?
Well-led was rated Good at the December 2024 inspection. The home has a named Registered Manager, Mrs Natalie Jade Pearce, and a Nominated Individual, Mr Rishi Rupen Dhameche. This follows a previous Requires Improvement rating, suggesting improvements in governance and leadership have been made. The published text does not describe what specific changes were implemented or how the management team addressed the earlier concerns.
Source: CQC inspection report →
What the evidence base says
The centre supports people with dementia, physical disabilities, and sensory impairments, welcoming both younger adults and those over 65. The home's approach to dementia goes beyond basic care — from the way spaces are designed to how staff interact with residents. Families particularly value how the team tailors support to each person's specific needs and stage of dementia. 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
Blackwell Care Centre recently recovered from a Requires Improvement rating, with its December 2024 inspection finding Good across all five domains. However, because the published inspection report provided to us contains very limited detail, scores reflect a cautious reading rather than confirmed specific evidence.
Homes in East Midlands typically score 68–82.The three-lens summary
What families tell us
Families describe a sense of relief when they first walk through the doors. The atmosphere feels calm and purposeful, with staff who take time to understand each resident as a person. Whether someone's moving from hospital or another care home, the team here seems to have a knack for making transitions feel less daunting.
What inspectors have recorded
Staff here stand out for their warmth and knowledge, particularly around dementia care. Families mention feeling genuinely included and supported, not just during visits but in ongoing conversations about their loved one's care. The team provides round-the-clock support with the same friendly, person-centred approach whether it's morning or midnight.
How it sits against good practice
Sometimes the smallest details — a calm atmosphere, a friendly face, genuine understanding — make the biggest difference.
Worth a visit
Blackwell Care Centre, on Gloves Lane in Alfreton, was rated Requires Improvement at its December 2023 inspection, having previously held an Outstanding rating. Its most recent inspection, carried out on 3 December 2024, found the home to be Good across all five domains: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive, and Well-led. This is a meaningful recovery, and the return to Good across every area is encouraging. The home is registered to care for 49 people, including adults living with dementia, physical disabilities, and sensory impairment, and has a named Registered Manager in post. The main uncertainty here is that the published inspection report text provided contains very little specific detail: no inspector observations, no resident or family quotes, and no breakdown of what evidence underpinned each Good rating. That means a Good rating is confirmed, but what that looks like day to day for your mum or dad is not yet visible from the published findings alone. Before placing a parent here, visit at different times of day, ask to see last week's actual staffing rota (not the template), and speak to the Registered Manager about night staffing ratios, dementia training for all staff, and how the home communicates with families when something changes.
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In Their Own Words
How Blackwell Care Home describes itself — collected from its own website. DCC has not edited or independently verified the content in this tab.
Where understanding meets warmth for families facing dementia
Dedicated nursing home Support in Alfreton
When dementia changes everything, finding the right support matters more than ever. Blackwell Care Centre in Alfreton brings together thoughtful design with genuine warmth, creating a space where residents feel understood and families feel welcomed. The bright, calm environment here reflects the care team's approach — focused on each person's individual needs rather than rigid routines.
Who they care for
The centre supports people with dementia, physical disabilities, and sensory impairments, welcoming both younger adults and those over 65.
The home's approach to dementia goes beyond basic care — from the way spaces are designed to how staff interact with residents. Families particularly value how the team tailors support to each person's specific needs and stage of dementia.
“Sometimes the smallest details — a calm atmosphere, a friendly face, genuine understanding — make the biggest difference.”
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
Blackwell Care Centre recently recovered from a Requires Improvement rating, with its December 2024 inspection finding Good across all five domains. However, because the published inspection report provided to us contains very limited detail, scores reflect a cautious reading rather than confirmed specific evidence.
Homes in East Midlands typically score 68–82.The three-lens summary
What families tell us
Families describe a sense of relief when they first walk through the doors. The atmosphere feels calm and purposeful, with staff who take time to understand each resident as a person. Whether someone's moving from hospital or another care home, the team here seems to have a knack for making transitions feel less daunting.
What inspectors have recorded
Staff here stand out for their warmth and knowledge, particularly around dementia care. Families mention feeling genuinely included and supported, not just during visits but in ongoing conversations about their loved one's care. The team provides round-the-clock support with the same friendly, person-centred approach whether it's morning or midnight.
How it sits against good practice
Sometimes the smallest details — a calm atmosphere, a friendly face, genuine understanding — make the biggest difference.
Worth a visit
Blackwell Care Centre, on Gloves Lane in Alfreton, was rated Requires Improvement at its December 2023 inspection, having previously held an Outstanding rating. Its most recent inspection, carried out on 3 December 2024, found the home to be Good across all five domains: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive, and Well-led. This is a meaningful recovery, and the return to Good across every area is encouraging. The home is registered to care for 49 people, including adults living with dementia, physical disabilities, and sensory impairment, and has a named Registered Manager in post. The main uncertainty here is that the published inspection report text provided contains very little specific detail: no inspector observations, no resident or family quotes, and no breakdown of what evidence underpinned each Good rating. That means a Good rating is confirmed, but what that looks like day to day for your mum or dad is not yet visible from the published findings alone. Before placing a parent here, visit at different times of day, ask to see last week's actual staffing rota (not the template), and speak to the Registered Manager about night staffing ratios, dementia training for all staff, and how the home communicates with families when something changes.
The three questions to ask when you visitSave this home. Compare it against your shortlist.
Let our analysis show you how Blackwell Care Home measures up against the other homes you’re considering. Free account.
In Their Own Words
How Blackwell Care Home describes itself — collected from its own website. DCC has not edited or independently verified the content in this tab.
Where understanding meets warmth for families facing dementia
Dedicated nursing home Support in Alfreton
When dementia changes everything, finding the right support matters more than ever. Blackwell Care Centre in Alfreton brings together thoughtful design with genuine warmth, creating a space where residents feel understood and families feel welcomed. The bright, calm environment here reflects the care team's approach — focused on each person's individual needs rather than rigid routines.
Who they care for
The centre supports people with dementia, physical disabilities, and sensory impairments, welcoming both younger adults and those over 65.
The home's approach to dementia goes beyond basic care — from the way spaces are designed to how staff interact with residents. Families particularly value how the team tailors support to each person's specific needs and stage of dementia.
Management & ethos
Staff here stand out for their warmth and knowledge, particularly around dementia care. Families mention feeling genuinely included and supported, not just during visits but in ongoing conversations about their loved one's care. The team provides round-the-clock support with the same friendly, person-centred approach whether it's morning or midnight.
The home & environment
The home stays bright and spotlessly clean throughout, with spaces designed to feel welcoming rather than clinical. Everything looks well-maintained and cared for, from the communal areas to individual rooms.
“Sometimes the smallest details — a calm atmosphere, a friendly face, genuine understanding — make the biggest difference.”
DCC does not edit or curate content in this tab. For independently curated information, see The Evidence and DCC Verdict.
