Orchard House
Orchard House is a residential care home in Ashford, Kent (TN23 3ED). It holds a CQC rating of Requires Improvement.
About Orchard House
Orchard House is a residential care home in Ashford, Kent, supporting adults with a learning disability, autistic adults and people with a physical disability. We also offer respite stays. This is somebody's home before it is anything else. People choose how their rooms look, what they eat, when they get up and how much of the day they spend in company. Those choices are most of what makes a place worth living in. Support is planned around what each person wants to be able to do rather than only around risk. Cooking, shopping, managing money, using transport, getting to activities, college or work, and keeping up with family and friends. Where somebody needs a great deal of help we still look for the parts they can take on themselves, because independence slips away quietly unless it is protected. We learn how each person communicates, including those who use little or no speech, and we pay attention to noise, lighting and predictability. Where a person has a physical disability we think properly about equipment and access, and about not helping more than is wanted. Our most recent overall rating from the Care Quality Commission is requires improvement. We are not going to talk around that. We know which areas were raised, work is in hand, and we would rather discuss it openly with anyone considering Orchard House than have it come as a surprise. Please visit and ask us directly what has changed.
Care provided at Orchard House
- Learning disability and autism support
- Physical disability support
- Respite care
- Last CQC inspection: 27 August 2025
Read the full inspection report on the CQC website.
How Orchard House compares in Ashford
Measured against the 43 care homes registered in Ashford. The dark dot is this home.
- Size
- 10 places. Larger than 22 of the 43 homes. The local average is 26 places.
- CQC rating
- Requires improvement. 39 of the 43 homes (91%) are rated Good or Outstanding. Across Kent the figure is 73%.
- Latest report
- 27 August 2025. 1 of the 43 homes has published a newer inspection report since.
- Registered
- November 2010. One of the longer established homes. 37 of the 43 registered more recently.
- Food hygiene
- 5 out of 5. The top rating, shared by 25 of the 26 homes that have one.
Powered by Orrery Intelligence. Data: CQC register and Food Standards Agency ratings. Counts cover registered care homes in Ashford.
The local picture: Ashford
What the numbers say about care for older people in Ashford, in Kent.
What care costs in Kent, per week
| Type of care | What the council pays | What self-funders are typically asked |
|---|
| Residential care | £1,187 | £1,409 to £1,600 (Middle half of prices from 22 Kent homes. Median £1,500.) |
| Nursing care | £1,378 | £1,550 to £1,865 (Middle half of prices from 11 Kent homes. Median £1,605.) |
| Residential dementia care | Not published separately | £1,500 to £1,619 (Middle half of prices from 18 Kent homes. Median £1,500.) |
| Nursing dementia care | Not published separately | £1,975 to £2,226 (South East figure, because too few Kent 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: 15,000. Rising to 17,600 by 2035, up 18%
- People aged 85 and over: 3,700. Rising to 6,000 by 2035, up 61%
- Living with dementia, aged 65 and over (estimate): 1,900. Rising to 2,500 by 2035, up 30%
- Dementia diagnosis rate: 58%. The NHS ambition is 67%. Kent as a whole is 62%.
- Care home beds per 1,000 people aged 75+: 60. Kent average is 77.
- Care homes, last 12 months: 0 opened, 0 closed. 2 changed owner, covering 29 beds.
- Care home beds filled across Kent: 88%. The 12 month average is 88%.
- Who pays, across Kent (estimate): 35% council, 43% self. The rest is NHS funded or other.
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 Orchard House
Facts from public registers, and what is close by.
- Registered with CQC
- 25 November 2010, so 15 years.
- Food hygiene rating
- 5 out of 5. Very good. Last inspected by the local council on 20 January 2026.
- Run by
- Caretech Community Services (No.2) Limited, which runs 24 adult social care services in England. 22 of the 24 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 Orchard House
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
- William Harvey Hospital, Ashford, 2.8 miles away
It is about 2.8 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
- Ashford International Station, 1.7 miles away
- Ham Street Station, 3.6 miles away
- Wye Station, 5.4 miles away
Around Orchard House
- H: Orchard House
- 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 Orchard House
Where is Orchard House located?
Orchard House is a residential care home in Ashford, Kent, TN23 3ED. You can view its exact location and get directions from the map on this page.
What type of care does Orchard House provide?
Orchard House is registered to provide residential personal care, with support that includes Learning disability and autism support, Physical disability support, Respite care. The full list of services is shown on this page.
What is Orchard House's CQC rating?
Orchard House is registered with and inspected by the Care Quality Commission (CQC). Its most recent overall rating is Requires Improvement following its last inspection on 27 August 2025. You can read the full CQC report from the link on this page.
Does Orchard House offer respite or short-term care?
Yes. Orchard House offers respite and short-term care. Availability changes regularly, so it is best to enquire directly.
Questions families ask about Orchard House
Can Mum or Dad stay here if their dementia gets worse?
No. Orchard House 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. Orchard House 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. Orchard House 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
Orchard House 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 Orchard House. Actual fees depend on the room, the level of care and how it is funded.
Explore more
More care homes in Ashford
Browse all care homes in Ashford.