Bluebells Care Home
Bluebells Care Home is a residential care home in Whitstable, Kent (CT5 4LS). It holds a CQC rating of Good.
About Bluebells Care Home
Bluebells Care Home is a residential home in Whitstable, Kent, for older people. We offer permanent places and shorter respite stays. Our work is with the ordinary business of the day. Helping somebody get washed and dressed at their own pace. Making sure medication is taken on time. Meals that people actually want to eat, served properly rather than delivered. Support to move safely around the building, and somebody to talk to when the day feels long. A good number of the people living here are living with dementia. We keep routines steady and the surroundings easy to make sense of, and we give conversations the time they need. When words become difficult we pay attention to everything else a person is telling us. Respite stays matter to us too. Families looking after a relative at home often need a proper break, and knowing there is somewhere reliable to arrange can make the difference between managing and not managing. Whitstable is a good place to be, and getting out, having visitors and keeping up with local life are built into the week rather than treated as extras. Our most recent overall rating from the Care Quality Commission is good. Please come and visit if you are considering a home for yourself or somebody close to you.
Care provided at Bluebells Care Home
- Older person care
- Dementia care
- Respite care
- Last CQC inspection: 29 August 2024
Read the full inspection report on the CQC website.
How Bluebells Care Home compares in Canterbury
Measured against the 54 care homes for older people registered in Canterbury. The dark dot is this home.
- Size
- 30 places. Smaller than 28 of the 54 homes. The local average is 36 places.
- CQC rating
- Good. 34 of the 54 homes (63%) are rated Good or Outstanding. Across Kent the figure is 68%.
- Latest report
- 29 August 2024. 16 of the 54 homes have published a newer inspection report since.
- Registered
- January 2011. One of the longer established homes. 43 of the 54 registered more recently.
- Care offered
- Dementia care. Of the 54 homes, 35 offer dementia care.
- Food hygiene
- 5 out of 5. The top rating, shared by 46 of the 50 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 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
- 4.8 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 Bluebells Care Home
Facts from public registers, and what is close by.
- Registered with CQC
- 10 January 2011, so 15 years.
- Food hygiene rating
- 5 out of 5. Very good. Last inspected by the local council on 14 January 2026.
- Run by
- H U Investments 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 Bluebells 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
- William Harvey Hospital, Ashford, 15.1 miles away
It is about 15.1 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
- Whitstable Station, 0.7 miles away
- Chestfield & Swalecliffe Station, 2.1 miles away
- Herne Bay Station, 4.3 miles away
Around Bluebells Care Home
- H: Bluebells 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 Bluebells Care Home
Where is Bluebells Care Home located?
Bluebells Care Home is a residential care home in Whitstable, Kent, CT5 4LS. You can view its exact location and get directions from the map on this page.
What type of care does Bluebells Care Home provide?
Bluebells Care Home is registered to provide residential personal care, with support that includes Older person care, Dementia care, Respite care. The full list of services is shown on this page.
What is Bluebells Care Home's CQC rating?
Bluebells Care Home is registered with and inspected by the Care Quality Commission (CQC). Its most recent overall rating is Good following its last inspection on 29 August 2024. You can read the full CQC report from the link on this page.
Does Bluebells Care Home provide dementia care?
Yes. Bluebells Care Home supports people living with dementia. We recommend contacting the home directly to discuss your individual situation.
Does Bluebells Care Home offer respite or short-term care?
Yes. Bluebells Care Home offers respite and short-term care. Availability changes regularly, so it is best to enquire directly.
Questions families ask about Bluebells Care Home
Can Mum or Dad stay here if their dementia gets worse?
Yes. Bluebells 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. Bluebells 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. Bluebells 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?
No. Bluebells Care Home is registered for older people. Younger adults are not listed.
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
Bluebells 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 Bluebells Care Home. Actual fees depend on the room, the level of care and how it is funded.
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