Oak Lodge
Oak Lodge is a residential care home in Polegate, East Sussex (BN26 5DU). It holds a CQC rating of Good.
About Oak Lodge
Oak Lodge is a small residential care home in Polegate supporting adults with a learning disability and autistic adults. We work in a deliberately domestic way, because this is a house where people live rather than a unit where care is delivered. Much of what we do comes down to communication. We take time to understand how somebody tells us they are content, bored, unwell or unsettled, and we make sure every member of the team reads those signs the same way. Once that is in place, life can be kept predictable enough for a person to relax, and we can spot early when something is wrong. People here choose how to spend their time, keep their own things around them and take on as much of the ordinary running of a house as they want. Where somebody is working towards more independence, we look for the practical steps and go at their pace rather than ours. Respite stays are available as well, for people needing short term support and for families who need a break. Our most recent overall rating from the Care Quality Commission is good. The better measure is whether people here seem at ease, so please come and see.
Care provided at Oak Lodge
- Learning disability and autism support
- Respite care
- Last CQC inspection: 25 January 2019
Read the full inspection report on the CQC website.
What the inspectors found
A plain English summary of the Care Quality Commission inspection behind the current rating of Oak Lodge. Report published 25 January 2019.
- 13 December 2018
- 6 places, 6 people were using the service at the time
Safe
Inspectors found that people were safe. Staff were recruited safely and there were enough staff to meet people's support needs. Medicines were given safely by trained and competent staff.
Effective
Inspectors found that people's nutritional and dietary needs were met. People received support from a wide range of health and social care professionals. Staff had a robust induction and were supported with regular supervisions, staff meetings and appraisals.
Caring
Inspectors saw that people had built good relationships with staff. They described the atmosphere as warm, positive and engaging. People's independence, dignity and privacy were respected and promoted.
Responsive
Relatives and a professional told inspectors that staff were responsive to people and any changing needs. There was a clear complaints policy, and relatives were confident any concerns would be dealt with immediately. People's communication needs were well known and supported using a variety of communication tools.
Well-led
Relatives, a professional and staff were complimentary of the registered manager and felt the service was well led. The provider asked people, relatives, staff and professionals for their views to improve the service.
What people told the inspectors
Relatives and a professional spoke highly of the staff. They told inspectors that staff were responsive to people's changing needs.
Since the last inspection
Rated Good in January 2019, the same overall rating as before (Good).
Safe is still Good; Effective is still Good; Caring is still Good; Responsive is still Good; Well-led is still Good.
- 25 January 2019: Routine inspection, rated Good. This inspection gave the current rating.
- 10 June 2016: Routine inspection, rated Good
- 11 January 2014: Routine inspection
- 29 March 2013: Routine inspection
- 2 July 2012: Routine inspection
Read the full report on the CQC website
Source: Care Quality Commission inspection report, summarised by CareAssura. Contains CQC data used under the Open Government Licence.
How Oak Lodge compares in Wealden
Measured against the 63 care homes registered in Wealden. The dark dot is this home.
- Size
- 6 places. Smaller than 52 of the 63 homes. The local average is 37 places.
- CQC rating
- Good. 45 of the 63 homes (71%) are rated Good or Outstanding. Across East Sussex the figure is 79%.
- Latest report
- 25 January 2019. 53 of the 63 homes have published a newer inspection report since.
- Registered
- December 2010. One of the longer established homes. 56 of the 63 registered more recently.
- Food hygiene
- 5 out of 5. The top rating, shared by 47 of the 52 homes that have one.
Powered by Orrery Intelligence. Data: CQC register and Food Standards Agency ratings. Counts cover registered care homes in Wealden.
The local picture: Wealden
What the numbers say about care for older people in Wealden, in East Sussex.
What care costs in East Sussex, per week
| Type of care | What the council pays | What self-funders are typically asked |
|---|
| Residential care | £929 | £1,500 to £1,809 (South East figure, because too few East Sussex homes publish this price. 107 homes. Median £1,600.) |
| Nursing care | £994 | £1,617 to £2,080 (South East figure, because too few East Sussex homes publish this price. 63 homes. Median £1,933.) |
| Residential dementia care | Not published separately | £1,571 to £1,942 (South East figure, because too few East Sussex homes publish this price. 82 homes. Median £1,709.) |
| Nursing dementia care | Not published separately | £1,975 to £2,226 (South East figure, because too few East Sussex homes publish this price. 37 homes. Median £2,050.) |
Published prices are often starting prices, and come from homes that publish fees, so treat them as a guide. Ask the home for its own price.
- People aged 75 and over: 24,700. Rising to 28,800 by 2035, up 17%
- People aged 85 and over: 6,300. Rising to 9,800 by 2035, up 55%
- Living with dementia, aged 65 and over (estimate): 3,100. Rising to 4,000 by 2035, up 27%
- Dementia diagnosis rate: 56%. The NHS ambition is 67%. East Sussex as a whole is 61%.
- Care home beds per 1,000 people aged 75+: 69. East Sussex average is 88.
- Care homes, last 12 months: 0 opened, 1 closed. 13 changed owner, covering 685 beds.
- Care home beds filled across East Sussex: 83%. The 12 month average is 83%.
- Who pays, across East Sussex (estimate): 33% council, 47% self. The rest is NHS funded or other.
Planned and recent building work within 5 miles
- 3.1 miles: Shalom 8 Carew Road Eastbourne East Sussex. Application for a 11 bed care home through a change of use. Submitted 18 December 2025. Approved 30 December 2025.
Powered by Orrery Intelligence. Market model built 22 October 2026 (ONS 2022 based population projections, dementia estimates, CQC register), published care home prices, council planning records.
Good to know about Oak Lodge
Facts from public registers, and what is close by.
- Registered with CQC
- 6 December 2010, so 15 years.
- Food hygiene rating
- 5 out of 5. Very good. Last inspected by the local council on 4 June 2021.
- Run by
- Achieve Together Limited, which runs 160 adult social care services in England. 127 of the 153 that have a rating are rated Good or Outstanding.
Sources: CQC register, Food Standards Agency, OpenStreetMap contributors. Distances are in a straight line from the postcode, not walking or driving routes.
Local services near Oak Lodge
The closest places to this home, measured in a straight line from its postcode. They are the nearest, not necessarily the ones the home uses. Ask the home which GP, dentist and pharmacy its residents are registered with.
Nearest 24 hour A&E
- Eastbourne District General Hospital, Eastbourne, 2.2 miles away
It is about 2.2 miles in a straight line from the postcode. The drive is usually longer. In an emergency call 999; the ambulance may take you elsewhere.
Nearest GP practices
Nearest dentists
Nearest pharmacies
Nearest railway stations
- Polegate Station, 0.5 miles away
- Hampden Park (Sussex) Station, 1.9 miles away
- Pevensey & Westham Station, 3.5 miles away
Around Oak Lodge
- H: Oak Lodge
- A: 24 hour A&E
- G: GP practice
- D: Dentist
- P: Pharmacy
- S: Railway station
Straight line distances, not routes. Places very close to the home are spread out slightly so they can be told apart.
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Practice and pharmacy details from the NHS England Organisation Data Service. A&E sites from NHS England A&E data and the Organisation Data Service. Railway stations from the Department for Transport NaPTAN dataset. Distances are straight line and approximate.
Common questions about Oak Lodge
Where is Oak Lodge located?
Oak Lodge is a residential care home in Polegate, East Sussex, BN26 5DU. You can view its exact location and get directions from the map on this page.
What type of care does Oak Lodge provide?
Oak Lodge is registered to provide residential personal care, with support that includes Learning disability and autism support, Respite care. The full list of services is shown on this page.
What is Oak Lodge's CQC rating?
Oak Lodge is registered with and inspected by the Care Quality Commission (CQC). Its most recent overall rating is Good following its last inspection on 25 January 2019. You can read the full CQC report from the link on this page.
Does Oak Lodge offer respite or short-term care?
Yes. Oak Lodge offers respite and short-term care. Availability changes regularly, so it is best to enquire directly.
Questions families ask about Oak Lodge
Can Mum or Dad stay here if their dementia gets worse?
No. Oak Lodge is not listed for dementia care on the CQC register. If dementia is likely, choose a home that is, so a second move is not needed later.
Is there a nurse on site if health needs change?
No. Oak Lodge is a residential care home without on-site nursing. District nurses and GPs visit, but someone who needs daily nursing may have to move to a nursing home.
Can they try a short stay before deciding?
Yes. Yes. Oak Lodge offers respite and short stays, which is a good way to see whether the home is the right fit.
Will they support end of life care, so there is no move at the hardest time?
Ask the home. End of life care is not listed on the register. Ask the manager whether residents can remain in the home with hospice or district nurse support.
Can she bring her cat or dog?
Ask the home. The home has not told us its pet policy yet. Ask directly; some homes allow small pets in residents' rooms or welcome visiting dogs.
Can a couple stay together?
Ask the home. We do not know whether the home has rooms for couples. Ask about shared or adjoining rooms if this matters.
Will the council help pay, or is it self funded only?
Ask the home. The home has not told us which funding it accepts. Most homes take both council funded and self funded residents; ask about council rates and any top up.
Do they take younger adults as well as older people?
Ask the home. The register does not say which age groups the home supports. Ask the home.
Can I visit before deciding, and are there visiting hours?
Ask the home. Every home should welcome a visit. Call to arrange one, ideally at a mealtime or during an activity, and ask about visiting hours for family.
Typical weekly fees in the South East
Oak Lodge has not published its fees yet. These are typical weekly fees for the South East, so you know roughly what to expect before you call.
- Residential care: £1,100 to £1,450 per week per person, typical range
Indicative figures for the South East, not a quote from Oak Lodge. Actual fees depend on the room, the level of care and how it is funded.
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