Fairdene Lodge Care Home – Brighton & Hove
At a Glance
The information you need to decide whether this home warrants a closer look.
Residential homes
Staff warmth score
of reviewers answered yes
Good to know
- Registered beds32
- SpecialismsCaring for adults over 65 yrs, Dementia
- Last inspected2022-02-24
The Evidence
What the review data, the inspection reports, and the dementia-care evidence base tell us about this home.
What families say
Visitors describe walking into a warm atmosphere where staff are approachable and friendly. Residents seem content, joining in with activities and clearly enjoying each other's company. There's a real sense of people being looked after as individuals, with staff taking time to engage properly rather than just rushing through tasks.
The eight family priority themes
- Staff warmth88
- Compassion & dignity87
- Cleanliness78
- Activities & engagement90
- Food quality72
- Healthcare78
- Management & leadership90
- Resident happiness82
What inspectors found
Inspected 2022-02-24
Is this home safe?
Is the care effective?
The Effective domain was rated Good at the December 2024 inspection. This domain covers staff training, care planning, healthcare access, and food. The home specialises in dementia care, which means inspectors will have looked specifically at whether staff have appropriate dementia training and whether care plans reflect individual needs. The published summary does not include specific detail about training content, GP access arrangements, or food quality. No concerns in this domain were flagged.Is this home caring?
The Caring domain was rated Good at the December 2024 inspection. This covers staff warmth, dignity, respect, and how well the home supports your parent's independence. A Good rating in Caring requires inspectors to have observed positive interactions and to have found that residents are treated with respect. The published summary does not include specific inspector observations, resident quotes, or examples of named staff interactions. No concerns about care or dignity were flagged.Is the home responsive?
The Responsive domain was rated Outstanding at the December 2024 inspection, the highest possible rating. Responsive covers activities, individual engagement, how well the home responds to changing needs, and end-of-life care. An Outstanding rating requires inspectors to have found specific, exceptional evidence that the home goes beyond standard expectations in tailoring its approach to each individual. The published summary does not include the specific examples that earned this rating, but the rating itself is a strong positive signal. Fewer than one in ten care homes in England achieve Outstanding in this domain.Is the home well-led?
The Well-led domain was rated Outstanding at the December 2024 inspection, alongside Responsive the strongest result in this report. Well-led covers management culture, governance, accountability, staff empowerment, and how the home uses feedback to improve. Both the registered manager, Mrs Thulani Ncube, and the nominated individual, Ms Maria Holliday-Welch, are named and confirmed in post. An Outstanding rating in this domain requires inspectors to have found a leadership culture that is open, accountable, and consistently improving. The published summary does not detail specific governance mechanisms or evidence of learning from incidents, but the rating is a strong positive indicator.
Source: CQC inspection report →
What the evidence base says
Fairdene Lodge specialises in caring for people over 65, with particular expertise in dementia care. The home's approach to dementia care shows in practical details like the themed areas that help with wayfinding and memory. Staff clearly understand how to engage residents with dementia, using familiar music and activities to maintain social connections and moments of joy. 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
Fairdene Lodge scores well above average, driven by Outstanding ratings in both Responsive and Well-led, which reflect strong individual engagement and visible leadership. Scores in cleanliness, food, and healthcare are positive but rest on limited published detail, so some questions remain worth asking on a visit.
Homes in South East typically score 68–82.The three-lens summary
What families tell us
Visitors describe walking into a warm atmosphere where staff are approachable and friendly. Residents seem content, joining in with activities and clearly enjoying each other's company. There's a real sense of people being looked after as individuals, with staff taking time to engage properly rather than just rushing through tasks.
What inspectors have recorded
Staff here respond quickly when residents need something, and families notice this attentiveness straight away. The team seems to understand the importance of keeping families in the loop, making visitors feel comfortable asking questions. One industry professional who visited noted the staff seemed particularly content in their work.
How it sits against good practice
If you're looking for somewhere in Hove that combines thoughtful dementia design with staff who genuinely seem to care, Fairdene Lodge is worth getting to know better.
Worth a visit
Fairdene Lodge, at 14-16 Walsingham Road in Hove, was assessed in December 2024 and rated Good overall, with two domains, Responsive and Well-led, rated Outstanding. This is a significant improvement from a previous Requires Improvement rating, and the combination of Outstanding in both engagement and leadership is rare: fewer than one in ten care homes in England achieve Outstanding in either domain. The home specialises in dementia care for adults over 65 and has 32 beds. The registered manager and nominated individual are both named and in post, which is a positive sign of stability. The main uncertainty here is detail. The published report summary is brief and does not include specific inspector observations, resident testimony, or staff quotes, so many positive indicators can only be inferred from the domain ratings rather than confirmed by specific evidence. Before deciding, visit the home and ask the manager to show you last week's actual staffing rota (not a template), ask how many permanent staff work the night shift on the dementia unit, and observe whether staff interact with residents at an unhurried pace using preferred names. These are the details that will tell you whether the Outstanding rating reflects what your parent would experience day to day.
The three questions to ask when you visitSave this home. Compare it against your shortlist.
Let our analysis show you how Fairdene Lodge Care Home – Brighton & Hove measures up against the other homes you’re considering. Free account.
In Their Own Words
How Fairdene Lodge Care Home – Brighton & Hove describes itself — collected from its own website. DCC has not edited or independently verified the content in this tab.
Where thoughtful design meets genuine warmth for residents with dementia
Fairdene Lodge – Expert Care in Hove
When families visit Fairdene Lodge in Hove, they often comment on how quickly their worries ease. The staff here have a knack for making both residents and visitors feel genuinely welcome, whether you're dropping in for the first time or settling into a regular visiting routine. It's the kind of place where requests get answered promptly and where you'll spot residents enjoying activities together rather than sitting alone.
Who they care for
Fairdene Lodge specialises in caring for people over 65, with particular expertise in dementia care.
The home's approach to dementia care shows in practical details like the themed areas that help with wayfinding and memory. Staff clearly understand how to engage residents with dementia, using familiar music and activities to maintain social connections and moments of joy.
“If you're looking for somewhere in Hove that combines thoughtful dementia design with staff who genuinely seem to care, Fairdene Lodge is worth getting to know better.”
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
Fairdene Lodge scores well above average, driven by Outstanding ratings in both Responsive and Well-led, which reflect strong individual engagement and visible leadership. Scores in cleanliness, food, and healthcare are positive but rest on limited published detail, so some questions remain worth asking on a visit.
Homes in South East typically score 68–82.The three-lens summary
What families tell us
Visitors describe walking into a warm atmosphere where staff are approachable and friendly. Residents seem content, joining in with activities and clearly enjoying each other's company. There's a real sense of people being looked after as individuals, with staff taking time to engage properly rather than just rushing through tasks.
What inspectors have recorded
Staff here respond quickly when residents need something, and families notice this attentiveness straight away. The team seems to understand the importance of keeping families in the loop, making visitors feel comfortable asking questions. One industry professional who visited noted the staff seemed particularly content in their work.
How it sits against good practice
If you're looking for somewhere in Hove that combines thoughtful dementia design with staff who genuinely seem to care, Fairdene Lodge is worth getting to know better.
Worth a visit
Fairdene Lodge, at 14-16 Walsingham Road in Hove, was assessed in December 2024 and rated Good overall, with two domains, Responsive and Well-led, rated Outstanding. This is a significant improvement from a previous Requires Improvement rating, and the combination of Outstanding in both engagement and leadership is rare: fewer than one in ten care homes in England achieve Outstanding in either domain. The home specialises in dementia care for adults over 65 and has 32 beds. The registered manager and nominated individual are both named and in post, which is a positive sign of stability. The main uncertainty here is detail. The published report summary is brief and does not include specific inspector observations, resident testimony, or staff quotes, so many positive indicators can only be inferred from the domain ratings rather than confirmed by specific evidence. Before deciding, visit the home and ask the manager to show you last week's actual staffing rota (not a template), ask how many permanent staff work the night shift on the dementia unit, and observe whether staff interact with residents at an unhurried pace using preferred names. These are the details that will tell you whether the Outstanding rating reflects what your parent would experience day to day.
The three questions to ask when you visitSave this home. Compare it against your shortlist.
Let our analysis show you how Fairdene Lodge Care Home – Brighton & Hove measures up against the other homes you’re considering. Free account.
In Their Own Words
How Fairdene Lodge Care Home – Brighton & Hove describes itself — collected from its own website. DCC has not edited or independently verified the content in this tab.
Where thoughtful design meets genuine warmth for residents with dementia
Fairdene Lodge – Expert Care in Hove
When families visit Fairdene Lodge in Hove, they often comment on how quickly their worries ease. The staff here have a knack for making both residents and visitors feel genuinely welcome, whether you're dropping in for the first time or settling into a regular visiting routine. It's the kind of place where requests get answered promptly and where you'll spot residents enjoying activities together rather than sitting alone.
Who they care for
Fairdene Lodge specialises in caring for people over 65, with particular expertise in dementia care.
The home's approach to dementia care shows in practical details like the themed areas that help with wayfinding and memory. Staff clearly understand how to engage residents with dementia, using familiar music and activities to maintain social connections and moments of joy.
Management & ethos
Staff here respond quickly when residents need something, and families notice this attentiveness straight away. The team seems to understand the importance of keeping families in the loop, making visitors feel comfortable asking questions. One industry professional who visited noted the staff seemed particularly content in their work.
The home & environment
The home has put real thought into creating spaces that work for people living with dementia. There's a train carriage area and a village high street setting — clever touches that help residents find their way around and spark conversations about the past. Everything looks well-maintained and clean, with careful attention to creating different atmospheres in different areas.
“If you're looking for somewhere in Hove that combines thoughtful dementia design with staff who genuinely seem to care, Fairdene Lodge is worth getting to know better.”
DCC does not edit or curate content in this tab. For independently curated information, see The Evidence and DCC Verdict.
