Foxholes Care Home
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 beds110
- SpecialismsCaring for adults over 65 yrs, Caring for adults under 65 yrs, Dementia, Physical disabilities
- Last inspected2019-09-19
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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 how their relatives have settled in well here, with staff who pick up on individual preferences and respond to them day by day. The atmosphere feels relaxed, and relatives say they've gotten to know both staff and other residents during their visits.
The eight family priority themes
- Staff warmth72
- Compassion & dignity72
- Cleanliness72
- Activities & engagement65
- Food quality65
- Healthcare70
- Management & leadership75
- Resident happiness70
What inspectors found
Inspected 2019-09-19
Is this home safe?
Is the care effective?
The Effective domain was rated Good at the September 2024 inspection. This domain covers how well staff are trained, how care plans are written and reviewed, whether residents have regular access to GPs and other health professionals, and how the home manages nutrition and hydration. The published report does not include specific examples of dementia training content, care plan quality, or healthcare access arrangements. The Good rating indicates the inspector was satisfied, but the detail behind that judgement is not available in the published summary.Is this home caring?
The Caring domain was rated Good at the September 2024 inspection. This domain covers staff warmth, how residents are treated with dignity and respect, whether privacy is protected, and whether people are supported to remain as independent as possible. The published report contains no direct quotes from residents or relatives and no recorded inspector observations of staff interactions. The Good rating indicates the inspector was satisfied with what they observed, but the published text does not describe specific examples.Is the home responsive?
The Responsive domain was rated Good at the September 2024 inspection. This domain covers whether the home offers meaningful activities tailored to individuals, how it responds to changing needs and complaints, and whether end-of-life care is planned and respectful. The published report does not describe the activity programme, give examples of individual engagement, or reference end-of-life planning arrangements. As with the other domains, the Good rating confirms the inspector's overall judgement but the specific evidence behind it is not available in the published summary.Is the home well-led?
The Well-led domain was rated Good at the September 2024 inspection. The home is run by Mrs Ushakiran Gandecha, who is both the Registered Manager and the Nominated Individual, meaning she holds personal regulatory responsibility for the home's performance. The fact that the home improved from Requires Improvement to Good across all domains suggests that leadership has been effective in identifying and addressing previous shortfalls. The published report does not describe management visibility, staff culture, complaint handling, or how the home involves families in governance.
Source: CQC inspection report →
What the evidence base says
Foxholes provides care for adults both over and under 65, including those living with dementia or physical disabilities. The home supports residents with dementia, creating routines and environments where they can feel settled and engaged at their own pace. 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
Foxholes Care Home scores 73 out of 100, reflecting a genuine improvement from its previous Requires Improvement rating to a full Good across all five inspection domains. The score sits in the positive range but stops short of the 80s because the published report contains very limited specific detail, direct quotes, or observed examples to confirm how that Good rating is experienced day to day.
Homes in East typically score 68–82.The three-lens summary
What families tell us
Families describe how their relatives have settled in well here, with staff who pick up on individual preferences and respond to them day by day. The atmosphere feels relaxed, and relatives say they've gotten to know both staff and other residents during their visits.
What inspectors have recorded
Staff pay attention to what each resident needs and likes, something families notice across different shifts and visits. They offer activities regularly but let residents choose their level of involvement without any pressure.
How it sits against good practice
While most families speak warmly about the care here, it's worth noting that first impressions at reception don't always reflect the kindness found throughout the rest of the home.
Worth a visit
Foxholes Care Home on Pirton Road in Hitchin was rated Good at its most recent inspection in September 2024, with the report published in December 2024. This is a meaningful improvement: the home previously held a Requires Improvement rating, and achieving Good across all five inspection domains, covering safety, effectiveness, care, responsiveness, and leadership, represents genuine progress. The home supports 110 people, including those living with dementia, physical disabilities, and adults both over and under 65, and is run by a registered manager who is also the nominated individual, meaning there is a single named person accountable for everything that happens here. The main caution for you as a family is that the published inspection summary contains very limited specific detail. There are no direct quotes from residents or relatives, no recorded inspector observations of staff interactions, and no specific examples of what Good looks like day to day in this home. That does not mean care is not good; it means you will need to find out for yourself on a visit. The questions in the checklist below, particularly around night staffing, agency use, dementia-specific activities, and how families are kept informed, are the ones this inspection simply did not answer. Go and see for yourself, and ask to speak to the registered manager in person.
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In Their Own Words
How Foxholes Care Home describes itself — collected from its own website. DCC has not edited or independently verified the content in this tab.
Thoughtful care with gardens that become part of daily life
Dedicated residential home Support in Hitchin
When families visit Foxholes Care Home in Hitchin, they often mention how staff seem to genuinely notice what makes their loved one tick. This care home for adults over and under 65 creates an environment where residents can enjoy the outdoors, join in activities when they feel like it, and settle into comfortable routines.
Who they care for
Foxholes provides care for adults both over and under 65, including those living with dementia or physical disabilities.
The home supports residents with dementia, creating routines and environments where they can feel settled and engaged at their own pace.
“While most families speak warmly about the care here, it's worth noting that first impressions at reception don't always reflect the kindness found throughout the rest of the home.”
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
Foxholes Care Home scores 73 out of 100, reflecting a genuine improvement from its previous Requires Improvement rating to a full Good across all five inspection domains. The score sits in the positive range but stops short of the 80s because the published report contains very limited specific detail, direct quotes, or observed examples to confirm how that Good rating is experienced day to day.
Homes in East typically score 68–82.The three-lens summary
What families tell us
Families describe how their relatives have settled in well here, with staff who pick up on individual preferences and respond to them day by day. The atmosphere feels relaxed, and relatives say they've gotten to know both staff and other residents during their visits.
What inspectors have recorded
Staff pay attention to what each resident needs and likes, something families notice across different shifts and visits. They offer activities regularly but let residents choose their level of involvement without any pressure.
How it sits against good practice
While most families speak warmly about the care here, it's worth noting that first impressions at reception don't always reflect the kindness found throughout the rest of the home.
Worth a visit
Foxholes Care Home on Pirton Road in Hitchin was rated Good at its most recent inspection in September 2024, with the report published in December 2024. This is a meaningful improvement: the home previously held a Requires Improvement rating, and achieving Good across all five inspection domains, covering safety, effectiveness, care, responsiveness, and leadership, represents genuine progress. The home supports 110 people, including those living with dementia, physical disabilities, and adults both over and under 65, and is run by a registered manager who is also the nominated individual, meaning there is a single named person accountable for everything that happens here. The main caution for you as a family is that the published inspection summary contains very limited specific detail. There are no direct quotes from residents or relatives, no recorded inspector observations of staff interactions, and no specific examples of what Good looks like day to day in this home. That does not mean care is not good; it means you will need to find out for yourself on a visit. The questions in the checklist below, particularly around night staffing, agency use, dementia-specific activities, and how families are kept informed, are the ones this inspection simply did not answer. Go and see for yourself, and ask to speak to the registered manager in person.
The three questions to ask when you visitSave this home. Compare it against your shortlist.
Let our analysis show you how Foxholes Care Home measures up against the other homes you’re considering. Free account.
In Their Own Words
How Foxholes Care Home describes itself — collected from its own website. DCC has not edited or independently verified the content in this tab.
Thoughtful care with gardens that become part of daily life
Dedicated residential home Support in Hitchin
When families visit Foxholes Care Home in Hitchin, they often mention how staff seem to genuinely notice what makes their loved one tick. This care home for adults over and under 65 creates an environment where residents can enjoy the outdoors, join in activities when they feel like it, and settle into comfortable routines.
Who they care for
Foxholes provides care for adults both over and under 65, including those living with dementia or physical disabilities.
The home supports residents with dementia, creating routines and environments where they can feel settled and engaged at their own pace.
Management & ethos
Staff pay attention to what each resident needs and likes, something families notice across different shifts and visits. They offer activities regularly but let residents choose their level of involvement without any pressure.
The home & environment
The gardens here get plenty of use, with seating arranged so residents can enjoy being outdoors as part of their daily routine. Inside, the home feels bright and airy, with clean, comfortable spaces where people gather.
“While most families speak warmly about the care here, it's worth noting that first impressions at reception don't always reflect the kindness found throughout the rest of the home.”
DCC does not edit or curate content in this tab. For independently curated information, see The Evidence and DCC Verdict.
