The Close 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 beds90
- SpecialismsCaring for adults over 65 yrs, Caring for adults under 65 yrs, Dementia, Physical disabilities
- Last inspected2020-01-22
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 how staff here know residents by name, making each person feel genuinely welcomed despite the home's size. The structured activities programme helps support wellbeing, while the calm atmosphere allows residents to feel settled and secure.
The eight family priority themes
- Staff warmth92
- Compassion & dignity92
- Cleanliness88
- Activities & engagement87
- Food quality85
- Healthcare90
- Management & leadership93
- Resident happiness88
What inspectors found
Inspected 2020-01-22
Is this home safe?
Is the care effective?
The inspection awarded an Outstanding rating for effectiveness, covering training, care planning, healthcare access, and food. The home lists dementia as a formal specialism alongside physical disabilities. The published report does not include specific detail on care plan quality, GP access arrangements, medication management, or the content of dementia training provided to staff. The July 2023 monitoring review found no evidence requiring a reassessment.Is this home caring?
The inspection awarded an Outstanding rating for caring, covering staff warmth, dignity, respect, and independence. Staff warmth is the single most important theme in our family review data. The published report does not include inspector observations of staff interactions, resident testimony, or specific examples of how dignity and independence are upheld day to day. The rating alone is the evidence available here.Is the home responsive?
The inspection awarded an Outstanding rating for responsiveness, covering activities, individuality, and end-of-life care. The home has a declared dementia specialism and caters for a wide age range. The published report does not include detail on the activities programme, how individual preferences are captured, how end-of-life planning is managed, or how the home responds when someone's needs change. The July 2023 monitoring review found no concerns.Is the home well-led?
The inspection awarded an Outstanding rating for leadership and governance. Mrs Katie Rose Wordley is named as the Nominated Individual, providing a named point of accountability. The home is operated by Cavendish Close Limited. The published report does not include detail on the registered manager's tenure, how staff are supported to raise concerns, how complaints are handled, or how the home monitors and improves quality. The July 2023 monitoring review found no governance concerns.
Source: CQC inspection report →
What the evidence base says
The Close provides specialist care for adults both under and over 65, including those with physical disabilities. Their dementia care includes tailored support that helps with cognitive recovery and reorientation. Residents with memory problems receive individualised support here, with staff understanding how to help with reorientation and cognitive challenges. The therapeutic activities and calm environment work together to support those living with 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
The Close Care Home achieved an Outstanding rating across all five inspection domains, placing it in the top tier of care homes nationally. The Family Score of 91 reflects this breadth of strength, though the inspection is now several years old and families should verify that standards have been maintained.
Homes in South East typically score 68–82.The three-lens summary
What families tell us
Families describe how staff here know residents by name, making each person feel genuinely welcomed despite the home's size. The structured activities programme helps support wellbeing, while the calm atmosphere allows residents to feel settled and secure.
What inspectors have recorded
Staff show real attentiveness to residents' individual needs, with families particularly noting the compassionate approach during end-of-life care. The team allows unrestricted family presence during those precious final days, understanding how important these moments are.
How it sits against good practice
While there have been occasional concerns about communication clarity, the overwhelming picture is of a home that truly understands what families need during life's most challenging transitions.
Worth a visit
The Close Care Home on Abingdon Road was rated Outstanding at its last inspection in July 2021, with Outstanding awarded in every single domain: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive, and Well-led. This is achieved by fewer than four per cent of care homes nationally and covers the full range of what families look for. A monitoring review conducted in July 2023 found no evidence requiring a change to that rating. The main uncertainty is that the last full inspection took place in July 2021, now several years ago. The published report is brief and does not include the detail families need on staffing ratios, dementia-specific practice, night cover, agency use, or how individual people spend their days. Before deciding, visit in person: ask to see the staffing rota from last week, ask how many permanent staff work nights across the 90 beds, and observe whether staff interactions with your parent feel unhurried and genuinely personal.
The three questions to ask when you visitSave this home. Compare it against your shortlist.
Let our analysis show you how The Close Care Home measures up against the other homes you’re considering. Free account.
In Their Own Words
How The Close Care Home describes itself — collected from its own website. DCC has not edited or independently verified the content in this tab.
Where kindness matters most during life's difficult moments
Compassionate Care in Abingdon at The Close Care Home
When families face those heartbreaking final days, the care that surrounds them becomes everything. The Close Care Home in Abingdon understands this deeply, providing comfort and dignity when it matters most. Set in peaceful grounds with access to the river, this South East home creates a therapeutic environment where residents feel known and valued.
Who they care for
The Close provides specialist care for adults both under and over 65, including those with physical disabilities. Their dementia care includes tailored support that helps with cognitive recovery and reorientation.
Residents with memory problems receive individualised support here, with staff understanding how to help with reorientation and cognitive challenges. The therapeutic activities and calm environment work together to support those living with dementia.
“While there have been occasional concerns about communication clarity, the overwhelming picture is of a home that truly understands what families need during life's most challenging transitions.”
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
The Close Care Home achieved an Outstanding rating across all five inspection domains, placing it in the top tier of care homes nationally. The Family Score of 91 reflects this breadth of strength, though the inspection is now several years old and families should verify that standards have been maintained.
Homes in South East typically score 68–82.The three-lens summary
What families tell us
Families describe how staff here know residents by name, making each person feel genuinely welcomed despite the home's size. The structured activities programme helps support wellbeing, while the calm atmosphere allows residents to feel settled and secure.
What inspectors have recorded
Staff show real attentiveness to residents' individual needs, with families particularly noting the compassionate approach during end-of-life care. The team allows unrestricted family presence during those precious final days, understanding how important these moments are.
How it sits against good practice
While there have been occasional concerns about communication clarity, the overwhelming picture is of a home that truly understands what families need during life's most challenging transitions.
Worth a visit
The Close Care Home on Abingdon Road was rated Outstanding at its last inspection in July 2021, with Outstanding awarded in every single domain: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive, and Well-led. This is achieved by fewer than four per cent of care homes nationally and covers the full range of what families look for. A monitoring review conducted in July 2023 found no evidence requiring a change to that rating. The main uncertainty is that the last full inspection took place in July 2021, now several years ago. The published report is brief and does not include the detail families need on staffing ratios, dementia-specific practice, night cover, agency use, or how individual people spend their days. Before deciding, visit in person: ask to see the staffing rota from last week, ask how many permanent staff work nights across the 90 beds, and observe whether staff interactions with your parent feel unhurried and genuinely personal.
The three questions to ask when you visitSave this home. Compare it against your shortlist.
Let our analysis show you how The Close Care Home measures up against the other homes you’re considering. Free account.
In Their Own Words
How The Close Care Home describes itself — collected from its own website. DCC has not edited or independently verified the content in this tab.
Where kindness matters most during life's difficult moments
Compassionate Care in Abingdon at The Close Care Home
When families face those heartbreaking final days, the care that surrounds them becomes everything. The Close Care Home in Abingdon understands this deeply, providing comfort and dignity when it matters most. Set in peaceful grounds with access to the river, this South East home creates a therapeutic environment where residents feel known and valued.
Who they care for
The Close provides specialist care for adults both under and over 65, including those with physical disabilities. Their dementia care includes tailored support that helps with cognitive recovery and reorientation.
Residents with memory problems receive individualised support here, with staff understanding how to help with reorientation and cognitive challenges. The therapeutic activities and calm environment work together to support those living with dementia.
Management & ethos
Staff show real attentiveness to residents' individual needs, with families particularly noting the compassionate approach during end-of-life care. The team allows unrestricted family presence during those precious final days, understanding how important these moments are.
The home & environment
The home maintains high cleanliness standards throughout, something families consistently notice and appreciate. The grounds offer real therapeutic value, with riverside walks and a courtyard garden providing peaceful spaces for residents to enjoy. Good quality meals round out the daily experience.
“While there have been occasional concerns about communication clarity, the overwhelming picture is of a home that truly understands what families need during life's most challenging transitions.”
DCC does not edit or curate content in this tab. For independently curated information, see The Evidence and DCC Verdict.
