Orford House, Coulsdon Care Home – Friends of the Elderly
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 beds29
- SpecialismsCaring for adults over 65 yrs, Dementia
- Last inspected2019-01-30
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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 finding warm, approachable staff who make visits feel relaxed and welcoming. There's a friendly atmosphere throughout the home, with staff taking time to chat with visitors and making everyone feel comfortable.
The eight family priority themes
- Staff warmth72
- Compassion & dignity72
- Cleanliness68
- Activities & engagement60
- Food quality60
- Healthcare65
- Management & leadership70
- Resident happiness68
What inspectors found
Inspected 2019-01-30
Is this home safe?
Is the care effective?
The effective domain was rated Good at the August 2025 inspection. This covers care planning, staff training, healthcare access, and nutrition. No specific detail about dementia training content, GP visit frequency, care plan quality, or how food preferences are recorded and met is included in the published report summary. The home is registered as a dementia specialist provider.Is this home caring?
The caring domain was rated Good at the August 2025 inspection. This domain covers staff warmth, dignity, respect, and support for independence. No verbatim quotes from residents or relatives are available in the published report text, and no specific inspector observations about staff interactions, use of preferred names, or response to distress are recorded.Is the home responsive?
The responsive domain was rated Good at the August 2025 inspection. This domain covers activities, individual engagement, how complaints are handled, and end-of-life care. No specific information about the activities programme, one-to-one engagement provision, complaint records, or advance care planning is included in the published report summary.Is the home well-led?
The well-led domain was rated Good at the August 2025 inspection. A named registered manager, Ms Cheryl Louise Rothschild, is confirmed in post, and Mrs Michelle Ann Kennett is named as the nominated individual. The home is operated by Friends of the Elderly, a not-for-profit provider. No specific detail about manager visibility, governance processes, staff culture, or how the home acts on feedback is available in the published report text.
Source: CQC inspection report →
What the evidence base says
The home cares for adults over 65, with particular experience in supporting those living with dementia. Staff understand the specific needs that come with dementia, providing specialised support as part of their everyday care approach. 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 home received a Good rating across all five domains at its August 2025 inspection, representing a meaningful improvement from its previous Requires Improvement rating. However, the published report text provided contains very limited specific detail, which means many scores reflect a positive but unverified picture rather than strong direct evidence.
Homes in London typically score 68–82.The three-lens summary
What families tell us
Families describe finding warm, approachable staff who make visits feel relaxed and welcoming. There's a friendly atmosphere throughout the home, with staff taking time to chat with visitors and making everyone feel comfortable.
What inspectors have recorded
What stands out most is how staff respond when residents need extra help. Families talk about staff noticing health changes early and taking quick action, always keeping relatives in the loop about what's happening. When residents reach the end of their lives, the team provides dignified, unhurried care that gives families time to say goodbye properly.
How it sits against good practice
If you're looking for a care home in the Coulsdon area, visiting Orford House could help you get a feel for whether it's the right place for your family.
Worth a visit
Orford House Residential Care Home, located in Coulsdon and run by the not-for-profit organisation Friends of the Elderly, was rated Good across all five inspection domains at its most recent assessment in August 2025, with findings published in October 2025. This represents a positive improvement from its previous Requires Improvement rating, which is an encouraging directional signal. The home offers 29 beds and specialises in caring for adults over 65, including people living with dementia. A named registered manager is confirmed in post. The main caution for families is that the published inspection summary contains very little specific detail: no verbatim resident or staff quotes, no direct inspector observations, and no figures on staffing ratios, training completion, or activity provision. A Good rating is meaningful, but it tells you the direction of travel rather than the day-to-day texture of life in the home. When you visit, ask the manager to show you last week's actual staffing rota, including nights, so you can see the ratio of permanent to agency staff. Sit in a communal area for 20 minutes and watch whether staff stop to chat with residents or move through without engaging. Ask specifically what one-to-one activities are available for residents who cannot 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 Orford House, Coulsdon Care Home – Friends of the Elderly describes itself — collected from its own website. DCC has not edited or independently verified the content in this tab.
Where quick action and gentle care make difficult times easier
Compassionate Care in Coulsdon at Orford House Residential Care Home
When health takes a sudden turn, families need to know their loved one is in safe hands. Orford House Residential Care Home in Coulsdon provides attentive care for older adults, with staff who spot changes quickly and keep families informed every step of the way. The home specialises in supporting residents with dementia alongside general residential care.
Who they care for
The home cares for adults over 65, with particular experience in supporting those living with dementia.
Staff understand the specific needs that come with dementia, providing specialised support as part of their everyday care approach.
“If you're looking for a care home in the Coulsdon area, visiting Orford House could help you get a feel for whether it's the right place for your family.”
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 home received a Good rating across all five domains at its August 2025 inspection, representing a meaningful improvement from its previous Requires Improvement rating. However, the published report text provided contains very limited specific detail, which means many scores reflect a positive but unverified picture rather than strong direct evidence.
Homes in London typically score 68–82.The three-lens summary
What families tell us
Families describe finding warm, approachable staff who make visits feel relaxed and welcoming. There's a friendly atmosphere throughout the home, with staff taking time to chat with visitors and making everyone feel comfortable.
What inspectors have recorded
What stands out most is how staff respond when residents need extra help. Families talk about staff noticing health changes early and taking quick action, always keeping relatives in the loop about what's happening. When residents reach the end of their lives, the team provides dignified, unhurried care that gives families time to say goodbye properly.
How it sits against good practice
If you're looking for a care home in the Coulsdon area, visiting Orford House could help you get a feel for whether it's the right place for your family.
Worth a visit
Orford House Residential Care Home, located in Coulsdon and run by the not-for-profit organisation Friends of the Elderly, was rated Good across all five inspection domains at its most recent assessment in August 2025, with findings published in October 2025. This represents a positive improvement from its previous Requires Improvement rating, which is an encouraging directional signal. The home offers 29 beds and specialises in caring for adults over 65, including people living with dementia. A named registered manager is confirmed in post. The main caution for families is that the published inspection summary contains very little specific detail: no verbatim resident or staff quotes, no direct inspector observations, and no figures on staffing ratios, training completion, or activity provision. A Good rating is meaningful, but it tells you the direction of travel rather than the day-to-day texture of life in the home. When you visit, ask the manager to show you last week's actual staffing rota, including nights, so you can see the ratio of permanent to agency staff. Sit in a communal area for 20 minutes and watch whether staff stop to chat with residents or move through without engaging. Ask specifically what one-to-one activities are available for residents who cannot join group sessions.
The three questions to ask when you visitSave this home. Compare it against your shortlist.
Let our analysis show you how Orford House, Coulsdon Care Home – Friends of the Elderly measures up against the other homes you’re considering. Free account.
In Their Own Words
How Orford House, Coulsdon Care Home – Friends of the Elderly describes itself — collected from its own website. DCC has not edited or independently verified the content in this tab.
Where quick action and gentle care make difficult times easier
Compassionate Care in Coulsdon at Orford House Residential Care Home
When health takes a sudden turn, families need to know their loved one is in safe hands. Orford House Residential Care Home in Coulsdon provides attentive care for older adults, with staff who spot changes quickly and keep families informed every step of the way. The home specialises in supporting residents with dementia alongside general residential care.
Who they care for
The home cares for adults over 65, with particular experience in supporting those living with dementia.
Staff understand the specific needs that come with dementia, providing specialised support as part of their everyday care approach.
Management & ethos
What stands out most is how staff respond when residents need extra help. Families talk about staff noticing health changes early and taking quick action, always keeping relatives in the loop about what's happening. When residents reach the end of their lives, the team provides dignified, unhurried care that gives families time to say goodbye properly.
The home & environment
The home sits in pleasant surroundings with views that visitors have found quite striking. There's a well-kept courtyard where residents can enjoy time outdoors, and the building itself has been described as having a lovely, homely feel.
“If you're looking for a care home in the Coulsdon area, visiting Orford House could help you get a feel for whether it's the right place for your family.”
DCC does not edit or curate content in this tab. For independently curated information, see The Evidence and DCC Verdict.
