Valentine House Care Home – Black Swan Care Group
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 beds50
- SpecialismsCaring for adults over 65 yrs, Caring for adults under 65 yrs, Dementia
- Last inspected2019-05-23
Save Valentine House Care Home – Black Swan Care Group to your shortlist
Keep a running list, add visit notes, and compare homes side-by-side. Free account — it takes a minute.
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
Visitors frequently describe feeling genuinely welcomed when they arrive, with staff taking time to chat and update them about their loved ones. There's a sense of calm that families notice, with residents appearing content and well-looked-after. The approachable nature of the team helps put visitors at ease during what can be emotional visits.
The eight family priority themes
- Staff warmth72
- Compassion & dignity72
- Cleanliness65
- Activities & engagement82
- Food quality60
- Healthcare65
- Management & leadership70
- Resident happiness75
What inspectors found
Inspected 2019-05-23
Is this home safe?
Is the care effective?
The Effective domain was rated Good at the March 2019 inspection. This covers training, care plan quality, GP access, nutrition, and how well the home uses information to improve outcomes. Dementia is listed as a specialism, which means inspectors would have considered whether staff training and care planning reflected the specific needs of people living with dementia. No specific examples of training content, care plan reviews, or healthcare monitoring are described in the available published text.Is this home caring?
The Caring domain was rated Good at the March 2019 inspection. Inspectors assess this by observing staff interactions, speaking to people who live in the home and their relatives, and reviewing how the home upholds dignity, privacy, and independence. A Good rating indicates inspectors were satisfied with what they saw and heard. No direct observations, quotes, or specific examples are included in the available published text.Is the home responsive?
The Responsive domain was rated Outstanding at the March 2019 inspection. This is the home's strongest result and the most distinctive feature of this report. Inspectors award Outstanding only when they find specific, sustained evidence that a home goes beyond the expected standard in tailoring care and activities to individuals. This would typically include evidence of individualised activity planning, responses to changing needs, and attention to personal histories and preferences. The published text does not reproduce the specific examples that earned this rating.Is the home well-led?
The Well-led domain was rated Good at the March 2019 inspection. The registered manager at the time was Emma Louise Galvin and the nominated individual was Tom Bruce Lyons. A Good rating in this domain indicates inspectors were satisfied with governance, accountability, and the culture of the home at the time of their visit. No specific observations about management visibility, staff culture, or quality monitoring are reproduced in the available published text.
Source: CQC inspection report →
What the evidence base says
Valentine House provides residential care for adults over 65, with specific experience in supporting people living with dementia. The home also cares for younger adults under 65 who need residential support. The home has experience caring for residents with dementia, though families considering respite care may want to discuss specific support arrangements during their visit. Understanding how individual needs will be met can help ensure the right fit for each person. 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
Valentine House scores 72 out of 100. The Outstanding rating for Responsive suggests meaningfully individualised activities and engagement, but the published inspection text provides very limited specific detail across most areas, so several scores reflect that uncertainty rather than any concern.
Homes in East typically score 68–82.The three-lens summary
What families tell us
Visitors frequently describe feeling genuinely welcomed when they arrive, with staff taking time to chat and update them about their loved ones. There's a sense of calm that families notice, with residents appearing content and well-looked-after. The approachable nature of the team helps put visitors at ease during what can be emotional visits.
What inspectors have recorded
The staff team creates an atmosphere where families feel they can approach anyone with questions or concerns. While some visitors have raised concerns about staffing levels during respite stays, the general picture is of carers who try to maintain a calm, attentive presence. Communication with families appears to be a priority for the team.
How it sits against good practice
If you're considering Valentine House, spending time in those much-loved gardens during a visit might give you a real feel for daily life here.
Worth a visit
Valentine House on Broadway in Witham was rated Good overall at its inspection in March 2019, with an Outstanding rating in Responsive. That Outstanding rating is significant: inspectors award it only when they find specific, compelling evidence that a home goes beyond the expected standard in meeting people's individual needs. The home supports adults over and under 65, including people living with dementia. The registered manager at the time was Emma Louise Galvin, with Tom Bruce Lyons named as nominated individual. The main limitation of this report for your decision is that the published text is very brief and contains almost no specific observations, quotes, or data to explain how inspectors reached their conclusions. The Outstanding in Responsive is genuinely encouraging, but you cannot rely on a 2019 inspection to tell you what the home is like today. Ask the manager what has changed since the inspection, request to visit at a mealtime, and ask specifically how staff support your parent on days when they cannot join a group activity.
The three questions to ask when you visitSave this home. Compare it against your shortlist.
Let our analysis show you how Valentine House Care Home – Black Swan Care Group measures up against the other homes you’re considering. Free account.
In Their Own Words
How Valentine House Care Home – Black Swan Care Group describes itself — collected from its own website. DCC has not edited or independently verified the content in this tab.
Where gardens offer peaceful moments and staff create calm connections
Valentine House – Your Trusted residential home
Families visiting Valentine House in Witham often mention the welcoming atmosphere that greets them at the door. The care home supports adults over 65, including those living with dementia, in a setting where outdoor spaces play a central role in daily life. Staff here seem to understand that small gestures — a friendly chat, a moment in the garden — can make all the difference.
Who they care for
Valentine House provides residential care for adults over 65, with specific experience in supporting people living with dementia. The home also cares for younger adults under 65 who need residential support.
The home has experience caring for residents with dementia, though families considering respite care may want to discuss specific support arrangements during their visit. Understanding how individual needs will be met can help ensure the right fit for each person.
“If you're considering Valentine House, spending time in those much-loved gardens during a visit might give you a real feel for daily life here.”
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
Valentine House scores 72 out of 100. The Outstanding rating for Responsive suggests meaningfully individualised activities and engagement, but the published inspection text provides very limited specific detail across most areas, so several scores reflect that uncertainty rather than any concern.
Homes in East typically score 68–82.The three-lens summary
What families tell us
Visitors frequently describe feeling genuinely welcomed when they arrive, with staff taking time to chat and update them about their loved ones. There's a sense of calm that families notice, with residents appearing content and well-looked-after. The approachable nature of the team helps put visitors at ease during what can be emotional visits.
What inspectors have recorded
The staff team creates an atmosphere where families feel they can approach anyone with questions or concerns. While some visitors have raised concerns about staffing levels during respite stays, the general picture is of carers who try to maintain a calm, attentive presence. Communication with families appears to be a priority for the team.
How it sits against good practice
If you're considering Valentine House, spending time in those much-loved gardens during a visit might give you a real feel for daily life here.
Worth a visit
Valentine House on Broadway in Witham was rated Good overall at its inspection in March 2019, with an Outstanding rating in Responsive. That Outstanding rating is significant: inspectors award it only when they find specific, compelling evidence that a home goes beyond the expected standard in meeting people's individual needs. The home supports adults over and under 65, including people living with dementia. The registered manager at the time was Emma Louise Galvin, with Tom Bruce Lyons named as nominated individual. The main limitation of this report for your decision is that the published text is very brief and contains almost no specific observations, quotes, or data to explain how inspectors reached their conclusions. The Outstanding in Responsive is genuinely encouraging, but you cannot rely on a 2019 inspection to tell you what the home is like today. Ask the manager what has changed since the inspection, request to visit at a mealtime, and ask specifically how staff support your parent on days when they cannot join a group activity.
The three questions to ask when you visitSave this home. Compare it against your shortlist.
Let our analysis show you how Valentine House Care Home – Black Swan Care Group measures up against the other homes you’re considering. Free account.
In Their Own Words
How Valentine House Care Home – Black Swan Care Group describes itself — collected from its own website. DCC has not edited or independently verified the content in this tab.
Where gardens offer peaceful moments and staff create calm connections
Valentine House – Your Trusted residential home
Families visiting Valentine House in Witham often mention the welcoming atmosphere that greets them at the door. The care home supports adults over 65, including those living with dementia, in a setting where outdoor spaces play a central role in daily life. Staff here seem to understand that small gestures — a friendly chat, a moment in the garden — can make all the difference.
Who they care for
Valentine House provides residential care for adults over 65, with specific experience in supporting people living with dementia. The home also cares for younger adults under 65 who need residential support.
The home has experience caring for residents with dementia, though families considering respite care may want to discuss specific support arrangements during their visit. Understanding how individual needs will be met can help ensure the right fit for each person.
Management & ethos
The staff team creates an atmosphere where families feel they can approach anyone with questions or concerns. While some visitors have raised concerns about staffing levels during respite stays, the general picture is of carers who try to maintain a calm, attentive presence. Communication with families appears to be a priority for the team.
The home & environment
The gardens at Valentine House draw consistent praise from families, who see their relatives enjoying time outdoors in well-kept surroundings. Residents have mentioned to visitors that they're pleased with the food, which suggests mealtimes are something to look forward to rather than just routine.
“If you're considering Valentine House, spending time in those much-loved gardens during a visit might give you a real feel for daily life here.”
DCC does not edit or curate content in this tab. For independently curated information, see The Evidence and DCC Verdict.
