The Vale Residential Care Home
The Vale Residential Care Home is a residential care home in Maidstone, Kent (ME15 8ED). It holds a CQC rating of Inadequate.
About The Vale Residential Care Home
The Vale is a residential care home in Maidstone. We support older people, including people living with dementia, and we also care for younger adults whose needs we know we can meet well. Moving into a care home is a significant thing, and we try to make it feel like arriving somewhere rather than being placed. Before anyone comes to live here we spend time with them and their family, learning not only what help they need but how they like their days to go, what they eat, when they sleep, who they want to hear from and what they would rather we left alone. That is the plan we then work to, and it is theirs to change. Day to day life is unhurried. People keep their own hours and their own belongings, choose company or quiet as they please, and get help with washing, dressing and moving about at their own pace and as privately as possible. Meals are cooked here and we would rather cook what somebody fancies than expect them to fit in with us. With dementia, knowing a person's life story is what allows us to offer comfort when words become harder, so we gather it with families and keep adding to it. We also offer respite stays, which can give a carer at home a real break. Families are welcome at any reasonable time, and anyone thinking about a move is welcome to visit and talk to the people who live here.
Care provided at The Vale Residential Care Home
- Older person care
- Dementia care
- Younger adults care
- Respite care
- Last CQC inspection: 22 April 2024
Read the full inspection report on the CQC website.
How The Vale Residential Care Home compares in Maidstone
Measured against the 40 care homes for older people registered in Maidstone. The dark dot is this home.
- Size
- 28 places. Smaller than 28 of the 40 homes. The local average is 44 places.
- CQC rating
- Inadequate. 29 of the 40 homes (73%) are rated Good or Outstanding. Across Kent the figure is 68%.
- Latest report
- 16 January 2026. 4 of the 40 homes have published a newer inspection report since.
- Registered
- December 2010. One of the longer established homes. 33 of the 40 registered more recently.
- Care offered
- Dementia care. Of the 40 homes, 30 offer dementia care.
- Food hygiene
- 5 out of 5. The top rating, shared by 31 of the 33 homes that have one.
Powered by Orrery Intelligence. Data: CQC register and Food Standards Agency ratings. Counts cover registered care homes for older people in Maidstone.
The local picture: Maidstone
What the numbers say about care for older people in Maidstone, 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: 19,200. Rising to 22,400 by 2035, up 17%
- People aged 85 and over: 5,200. Rising to 7,900 by 2035, up 54%
- Living with dementia, aged 65 and over (estimate): 2,500. Rising to 3,200 by 2035, up 28%
- Dementia diagnosis rate: 65%. The NHS ambition is 67%. Kent as a whole is 62%.
- Care home beds per 1,000 people aged 75+: 79. Kent average is 77.
- Care homes, last 12 months: 0 opened, 0 closed. 4 changed owner, covering 174 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
- 1.6 miles: Memory Lane House 25 College Road Maidstone Kent. Application for a 12 bed care home through a change of use. Submitted 21 September 2026. 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 The Vale Residential Care Home
Facts from public registers, and what is close by.
- Registered with CQC
- 3 December 2010, so 15 years.
- Food hygiene rating
- 5 out of 5. Very good. Last inspected by the local council on 30 January 2026.
- Run by
- Charing Vale Limited, which runs this service only.
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 The Vale Residential Care Home
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
- Maidstone Hospital, Maidstone, 3.3 miles away
It is about 3.3 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
- Bearsted Station, 1.4 miles away
- Maidstone West Station, 1.9 miles away
- Maidstone East Station, 2 miles away
Around The Vale Residential Care Home
- H: The Vale Residential Care Home
- 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 The Vale Residential Care Home
Where is The Vale Residential Care Home located?
The Vale Residential Care Home is a residential care home in Maidstone, Kent, ME15 8ED. You can view its exact location and get directions from the map on this page.
What type of care does The Vale Residential Care Home provide?
The Vale Residential Care Home is registered to provide residential personal care, with support that includes Older person care, Dementia care, Younger adults care, Respite care. The full list of services is shown on this page.
What is The Vale Residential Care Home's CQC rating?
The Vale Residential Care Home is registered with and inspected by the Care Quality Commission (CQC). Its most recent overall rating is Inadequate following its last inspection on 22 April 2024. You can read the full CQC report from the link on this page.
Does The Vale Residential Care Home provide dementia care?
Yes. The Vale Residential Care Home supports people living with dementia. We recommend contacting the home directly to discuss your individual situation.
Does The Vale Residential Care Home offer respite or short-term care?
Yes. The Vale Residential Care Home offers respite and short-term care. Availability changes regularly, so it is best to enquire directly.
Questions families ask about The Vale Residential Care Home
Can Mum or Dad stay here if their dementia gets worse?
Yes. The Vale Residential Care Home is registered for dementia care, so someone whose needs increase can usually stay rather than move.
Is there a nurse on site if health needs change?
No. The Vale Residential Care Home 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. The Vale Residential Care Home 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?
Yes. Yes. The Vale Residential Care Home supports younger adults as well as older people.
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
The Vale Residential Care Home 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
- Dementia care: £1,200 to £1,550 per week per person, typical range
Indicative figures for the South East, not a quote from The Vale Residential Care Home. Actual fees depend on the room, the level of care and how it is funded.
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