L'Arche The Rainbow
L'Arche The Rainbow is a residential care home in Canterbury, Kent (CT1 3SG). It holds a CQC rating of Good.
About L'Arche The Rainbow
The Rainbow is part of L'Arche in Kent, a residential care home in Canterbury supporting adults with a learning disability or autism. We also offer respite stays. What matters most to us is that this is a shared home and a community rather than a set of rooms. People here have their own space and their own belongings, and they have a genuine say in how the household runs, from what goes on the shopping list to how the weekend is spent. Meals together, ordinary routines and the small business of living alongside one another are the substance of the place. Our team supports people to do as much for themselves as they want to. That might mean cooking and shopping together rather than doing it for somebody, keeping a job or a course going, managing money, getting out into Canterbury or having the right kind of help with appointments and letters. Where somebody communicates without speech we take time to learn how they do communicate and we record it so that everyone responds in the same way. Friendship is taken seriously here, not as an extra but as the point. People are known for who they are rather than for what they need help with. Our most recent overall rating from the Care Quality Commission is good. Please visit as often as you need before making any decision, and ask us whatever you would like to know.
Care provided at L'Arche The Rainbow
- Learning disability and autism support
- Respite care
- Last CQC inspection: 3 April 2020
Read the full inspection report on the CQC website.
How L'Arche Kent The Rainbow compares in Canterbury
Measured against the 66 care homes registered in Canterbury. The dark dot is this home.
- Size
- 6 places. Smaller than 59 of the 66 homes. The local average is 31 places.
- CQC rating
- Good. 45 of the 66 homes (68%) are rated Good or Outstanding. Across Kent the figure is 73%.
- Latest report
- 3 April 2020. 41 of the 66 homes have published a newer inspection report since.
- Registered
- January 2011. 46 of the 66 homes registered more recently.
- Food hygiene
- 5 out of 5. The top rating, shared by 53 of the 57 homes that have one.
Powered by Orrery Intelligence. Data: CQC register and Food Standards Agency ratings. Counts cover registered care homes in Canterbury.
The local picture: Canterbury
What the numbers say about care for older people in Canterbury, 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: 19,800. Rising to 23,300 by 2035, up 17%
- People aged 85 and over: 5,300. Rising to 8,200 by 2035, up 54%
- Living with dementia, aged 65 and over (estimate): 2,600. Rising to 3,300 by 2035, up 28%
- Dementia diagnosis rate: 73%. The NHS ambition is 67%. Kent as a whole is 62%.
- Care home beds per 1,000 people aged 75+: 91. Kent average is 77.
- Care homes, last 12 months: 1 opened, 2 closed. 5 changed owner, covering 153 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.
Planned and recent building work within 5 miles
- 1.2 miles: Depot Adj Hall Place Harbledown Bypass Harbledown Kent. Application for a 72 bed care home through a change of use. Submitted 11 November 2025. Decision pending.
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 L'Arche Kent The Rainbow
Facts from public registers, and what is close by.
- Registered with CQC
- 14 January 2011, so 15 years.
- Food hygiene rating
- 5 out of 5. Very good. Last inspected by the local council on 5 October 2026.
- Run by
- L'Arche, which runs 13 adult social care services in England. 11 of the 13 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 L'Arche Kent The Rainbow
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, 11.3 miles away
It is about 11.3 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
- Canterbury East Station, 0.3 miles away
- Canterbury West Station, 0.8 miles away
- Chartham Station, 2.5 miles away
Around L'Arche Kent The Rainbow
- H: L'Arche Kent The Rainbow
- 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 L'Arche The Rainbow
Where is L'Arche The Rainbow located?
L'Arche The Rainbow is a residential care home in Canterbury, Kent, CT1 3SG. You can view its exact location and get directions from the map on this page.
What type of care does L'Arche The Rainbow provide?
L'Arche The Rainbow 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 L'Arche The Rainbow's CQC rating?
L'Arche The Rainbow is registered with and inspected by the Care Quality Commission (CQC). Its most recent overall rating is Good following its last inspection on 3 April 2020. You can read the full CQC report from the link on this page.
Does L'Arche The Rainbow offer respite or short-term care?
Yes. L'Arche The Rainbow offers respite and short-term care. Availability changes regularly, so it is best to enquire directly.
Questions families ask about L'Arche The Rainbow
Can Mum or Dad stay here if their dementia gets worse?
No. L'Arche Kent The Rainbow 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. L'Arche Kent The Rainbow 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. L'Arche Kent The Rainbow 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
L'Arche Kent The Rainbow 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 L'Arche Kent The Rainbow. Actual fees depend on the room, the level of care and how it is funded.
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