Dementia Care Home

St Clare's Court Care Home

Central Avenue, Newton Aycliffe, Durham, DL5 5QH

Residential homes

At a Glance

The information you need to decide whether this home warrants a closer look.

DCC Family Score
79/ 100
Weighted from family reviews
Dementia SpecialismConfirmed

Residential homes

Families Rate The Staff82 / 100

Staff warmth score

“Well Looked After”78%

of reviewers answered yes

Good to know

  • Registered beds58
  • SpecialismsCaring for adults over 65 yrs, Caring for adults under 65 yrs, Dementia, Physical disabilities, Sensory impairment
  • Last inspected2018-01-05

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The Evidence

What the review data, the inspection reports, and the dementia-care evidence base tell us about this home.

Section 01

What families say

Families visiting from near and far notice how content residents seem here. People talk about finding their loved ones engaged in activities and clearly comfortable in their surroundings. The atmosphere feels settled and purposeful, with residents actively participating in entertainment and social events.

The eight family priority themes

  • Staff warmth82
  • Compassion & dignity82
  • Cleanliness72
  • Activities & engagement88
  • Food quality65
  • Healthcare72
  • Management & leadership75
  • Resident happiness78
Section 02

What inspectors found

Inspected 2018-01-05

  • Is this home safe?

    Not yet rated
    Inspectors rated this domain Good at the May 2025 inspection. A Good rating for safety means inspectors were satisfied that risks were being managed, medicines were handled appropriately, and staffing levels were sufficient for the people living there. The home cares for a mixed group including people with dementia, physical disabilities, and sensory impairments, all of whom have differing safety needs. The published summary does not include specific observations or testimony to confirm what inspectors saw in practice.
    Verified by inspector
  • Is the care effective?

    Not yet rated
    Inspectors rated Effective as Good at the May 2025 inspection. This domain covers whether staff have the right training, whether care plans reflect each person's individual needs, and whether healthcare access such as GP visits and medication reviews is well managed. The home supports people with dementia, physical disabilities, and sensory impairments, all of which require specific trained knowledge. The published summary does not include detail on training content, care plan quality, or food provision.
    Verified by inspector
  • Is this home caring?

    Not yet rated
    Inspectors rated Caring as Good at the May 2025 inspection. This domain reflects whether staff treat people with genuine warmth, whether dignity and privacy are respected, and whether individuals are supported to remain as independent as possible. The home cares for a wide age range and a mix of conditions, which requires staff to adapt their approach to very different people. The published summary does not include direct quotes from residents or relatives, or specific observations of staff interactions.
    Verified by inspectorResident testimony recorded
  • Is the home responsive?

    Not yet rated
    Inspectors awarded an Outstanding rating for Responsive at the May 2025 inspection. This is the highest possible rating and means inspectors found significant evidence that the home goes beyond basic provision to tailor care, activities, and daily life to the individual needs and preferences of the people living there. Outstanding in this domain is awarded to a small minority of homes nationally. The published summary does not set out the specific evidence that earned this rating, which is an important gap.
    Verified by inspector
  • Is the home well-led?

    Not yet rated
    Inspectors rated Well-led as Good at the May 2025 inspection. The registered manager is Mrs Emma Louise Grebby and the nominated individual is Ms Anna Gretchen Selby. The home is operated by HC-One No.2 Limited. A Good rating here means inspectors were satisfied that the home has appropriate governance, that staff are supported, and that the manager provides visible and effective leadership. The published summary does not include detail on manager tenure, staff culture, or how the home handles concerns.
    Verified by inspector
  • Source: CQC inspection report →

    Section 03

    What the evidence base says

    St Clare's Court provides specialist support for residents with dementia, sensory impairments and physical disabilities. They care for both younger adults under 65 and older residents. For residents living with dementia, the home's structured activities and consistent staff approach help create the kind of stable, engaging environment that supports wellbeing. 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.

79/ 100

DCC Family Score

St Clare's Court scores well overall, lifted significantly by its Outstanding rating for responsiveness, which tells you that staff make a genuine effort to tailor life here to each individual. Most other areas are rated Good, which is solid, but the inspection report published in September 2025 contains very limited detail in the public summary available, so several scores reflect the official domain ratings rather than specific observed evidence.

Homes in North East typically score 68–82.

The three-lens summary

Lens 01

What families tell us

Families visiting from near and far notice how content residents seem here. People talk about finding their loved ones engaged in activities and clearly comfortable in their surroundings. The atmosphere feels settled and purposeful, with residents actively participating in entertainment and social events.

Lens 02

What inspectors have recorded

The team here works cohesively, with care quality staying consistent across different staff roles. When unexpected situations arise — like a visitor needing first aid — the manager and staff respond immediately with proper assessment and family support. This same attentiveness shows in their day-to-day care approach.

Lens 03

How it sits against good practice

It's the combination of swift crisis response and steady daily care that seems to define this Newton Aycliffe home.

DCC Recommendation

Worth a visit

St Clare's Court in Newton Aycliffe was rated Good overall at its most recent inspection, assessed on 15 May 2025 and published on 30 September 2025. Inspectors rated it Good across Safe, Effective, Caring, and Well-led, and awarded an Outstanding rating for Responsive, meaning the home stood out nationally for the way it tailors care and activities to the people who live there. The home is registered for 58 beds and cares for people over and under 65, including those living with dementia, physical disabilities, and sensory impairments. The main limitation of this report is that the full inspection text available for analysis is extremely brief, meaning it is not possible to confirm the specific observations, quotes, or evidence that underpinned each rating. The Outstanding for Responsive is a genuinely significant finding and worth exploring in detail when you visit. Ask the manager to show you what Outstanding actually looks like day to day, how activities are adapted for your parent's specific needs, and how the home stays responsive as those needs change.

The three questions to ask when you visit

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In Their Own Words

How St Clare's Court Care Home describes itself — collected from its own website. DCC has not edited or independently verified the content in this tab.

What St Clare's Court Care Home says about itself

Where quick thinking meets daily contentment in Newton Aycliffe

St Clare's Court – Your Trusted residential home

When families need to know their loved ones are genuinely settled, St Clare's Court in Newton Aycliffe shows its worth through the everyday moments. Whether it's staff dropping everything to help an injured visitor or residents happily absorbed in their activities, this home demonstrates the kind of attentive care that puts minds at ease.

Care & specialisms

Who they care for

    St Clare's Court provides specialist support for residents with dementia, sensory impairments and physical disabilities. They care for both younger adults under 65 and older residents.

    How they describe their dementia care

    For residents living with dementia, the home's structured activities and consistent staff approach help create the kind of stable, engaging environment that supports wellbeing.

    “It's the combination of swift crisis response and steady daily care that seems to define this Newton Aycliffe home.”

    DCC does not edit or curate content in this tab. For independently curated information, see The Evidence and DCC Verdict.

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