Howard Lodge Care Centre
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 beds74
- SpecialismsCaring for adults over 65 yrs, Caring for adults under 65 yrs, Dementia, Physical disabilities, Sensory impairment
- Last inspected2020-02-21
The Evidence
What the review data, the inspection reports, and the dementia-care evidence base tell us about this home.
What families say
Families talk about the warmth they feel when they visit. Staff take time to know each resident, showing the kind of patience that makes a real difference. There's a sense that everyone matters here, whatever their abilities or challenges.
The eight family priority themes
- Staff warmth72
- Compassion & dignity72
- Cleanliness65
- Activities & engagement88
- Food quality60
- Healthcare68
- Management & leadership88
- Resident happiness75
What inspectors found
Inspected 2020-02-21
Is this home safe?
Is the care effective?
The Effective domain was rated Good at the October 2019 inspection. This covers staff training, care planning, healthcare access, and food quality. The home lists dementia as a specialism, which means inspectors will have checked whether staff have appropriate dementia training. The published summary does not provide specific detail on training content, GP access arrangements, or food quality and choice.Is this home caring?
The Caring domain was rated Good at the October 2019 inspection. Inspectors assess warmth, dignity, respect, and how well staff support independence under this domain. A Good rating means no concerns were found. The published summary does not include specific inspector observations about staff interactions, preferred names, or how distress is managed, so this area benefits from direct observation on a visit.Is the home responsive?
The Responsive domain was rated Outstanding at the October 2019 inspection. This is the highest possible rating and is awarded only when inspectors find strong, specific evidence that activities and engagement are genuinely tailored to individuals, care records reflect personal histories and preferences, and the home responds flexibly to changing needs. This is Howard Lodge's standout strength. The published summary does not reproduce the specific examples inspectors used to justify this rating, but the award itself is meaningful.Is the home well-led?
The Well-led domain was rated Outstanding at the October 2019 inspection. The registered manager is named as Mrs Linda Maralyn Kirby, and the nominated individual is Miss Claire Watson. An Outstanding Well-led rating requires inspectors to find clear and stable leadership, a positive staff culture where people can speak up, effective governance systems, and evidence that the home learns from incidents and acts on feedback. This is the second of Howard Lodge's two Outstanding domains.
Source: CQC inspection report →
What the evidence base says
Howard Lodge supports younger adults under 65 alongside older residents, caring for people with physical disabilities and sensory impairments. They also provide dementia care. The home welcomes residents with dementia, though families might want to ask about mealtime support arrangements. Understanding how staff help residents who need encouragement to eat could be particularly important. 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
Howard Lodge scores well on management, leadership, and activities, where inspectors found Outstanding evidence. Scores for food, cleanliness, and healthcare are more modest because the inspection text published here does not contain specific detail on those areas.
Homes in East typically score 68–82.The three-lens summary
What families tell us
Families talk about the warmth they feel when they visit. Staff take time to know each resident, showing the kind of patience that makes a real difference. There's a sense that everyone matters here, whatever their abilities or challenges.
What inspectors have recorded
Staff here seem to understand what respectful care looks like. They're approachable when families have questions and maintain high standards throughout the home. One family did notice that residents with dementia could use more hands-on support during mealtimes, which is worth discussing with the team.
How it sits against good practice
Sometimes the right home is the one where staff genuinely respect every person in their care.
Worth a visit
Howard Lodge Care Centre on Beacon Hill Road in Brentwood was rated Outstanding at its last inspection in October 2019, improving from a previous rating of Good. Inspectors awarded Outstanding in two domains: Responsive, which covers activities, engagement, and individuality, and Well-led, which covers management culture, accountability, and the home's ability to learn and improve. The Safe, Effective, and Caring domains were all rated Good, indicating no concerns were found in safety, training, care planning, or the day-to-day kindness of staff. The main limitation here is that the published inspection summary is brief, so specific observations, staff quotes, and resident testimony that would normally inform a fuller picture are not available in what has been published. The inspection also took place in late 2019, and while a review in July 2023 found no reason to change the rating, a review is not the same as a full re-inspection. Before making a decision, visit the home in person, ask to see last month's staffing rota including night shifts, and speak to the activities coordinator about what a typical week looks like for a resident who may not be able to join group sessions.
The three questions to ask when you visitSave this home. Compare it against your shortlist.
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In Their Own Words
How Howard Lodge Care Centre describes itself — collected from its own website. DCC has not edited or independently verified the content in this tab.
Where patience and understanding meet specialised support
Dedicated residential home Support in Brentwood
When you're looking for care that goes beyond the basics, Howard Lodge Care Centre in Brentwood offers something families value deeply — genuine patience and respect for every resident. This East Brentwood home supports people with varying needs, from physical disabilities to dementia, always focusing on individual dignity.
Who they care for
Howard Lodge supports younger adults under 65 alongside older residents, caring for people with physical disabilities and sensory impairments. They also provide dementia care.
The home welcomes residents with dementia, though families might want to ask about mealtime support arrangements. Understanding how staff help residents who need encouragement to eat could be particularly important.
“Sometimes the right home is the one where staff genuinely respect every person in their care.”
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
Howard Lodge scores well on management, leadership, and activities, where inspectors found Outstanding evidence. Scores for food, cleanliness, and healthcare are more modest because the inspection text published here does not contain specific detail on those areas.
Homes in East typically score 68–82.The three-lens summary
What families tell us
Families talk about the warmth they feel when they visit. Staff take time to know each resident, showing the kind of patience that makes a real difference. There's a sense that everyone matters here, whatever their abilities or challenges.
What inspectors have recorded
Staff here seem to understand what respectful care looks like. They're approachable when families have questions and maintain high standards throughout the home. One family did notice that residents with dementia could use more hands-on support during mealtimes, which is worth discussing with the team.
How it sits against good practice
Sometimes the right home is the one where staff genuinely respect every person in their care.
Worth a visit
Howard Lodge Care Centre on Beacon Hill Road in Brentwood was rated Outstanding at its last inspection in October 2019, improving from a previous rating of Good. Inspectors awarded Outstanding in two domains: Responsive, which covers activities, engagement, and individuality, and Well-led, which covers management culture, accountability, and the home's ability to learn and improve. The Safe, Effective, and Caring domains were all rated Good, indicating no concerns were found in safety, training, care planning, or the day-to-day kindness of staff. The main limitation here is that the published inspection summary is brief, so specific observations, staff quotes, and resident testimony that would normally inform a fuller picture are not available in what has been published. The inspection also took place in late 2019, and while a review in July 2023 found no reason to change the rating, a review is not the same as a full re-inspection. Before making a decision, visit the home in person, ask to see last month's staffing rota including night shifts, and speak to the activities coordinator about what a typical week looks like for a resident who may not be able to join group sessions.
The three questions to ask when you visitSave this home. Compare it against your shortlist.
Let our analysis show you how Howard Lodge Care Centre measures up against the other homes you’re considering. Free account.
In Their Own Words
How Howard Lodge Care Centre describes itself — collected from its own website. DCC has not edited or independently verified the content in this tab.
Where patience and understanding meet specialised support
Dedicated residential home Support in Brentwood
When you're looking for care that goes beyond the basics, Howard Lodge Care Centre in Brentwood offers something families value deeply — genuine patience and respect for every resident. This East Brentwood home supports people with varying needs, from physical disabilities to dementia, always focusing on individual dignity.
Who they care for
Howard Lodge supports younger adults under 65 alongside older residents, caring for people with physical disabilities and sensory impairments. They also provide dementia care.
The home welcomes residents with dementia, though families might want to ask about mealtime support arrangements. Understanding how staff help residents who need encouragement to eat could be particularly important.
Management & ethos
Staff here seem to understand what respectful care looks like. They're approachable when families have questions and maintain high standards throughout the home. One family did notice that residents with dementia could use more hands-on support during mealtimes, which is worth discussing with the team.
The home & environment
The home keeps everything spotlessly clean — something visitors mention consistently. The grounds are well-maintained too, giving residents pleasant outdoor spaces to enjoy when the weather's nice.
“Sometimes the right home is the one where staff genuinely respect every person in their care.”
DCC does not edit or curate content in this tab. For independently curated information, see The Evidence and DCC Verdict.
