Nursing Homes in Chatham
Just two nursing homes in Chatham are listed on this page, both of them registered with the Care Quality Commission to provide care with qualified nursing on site. One of the pair, Amherst Court, holds a rating of Good, while the other, Fort Horsted Care Home Ltd, was judged Requires Improvement at its most recent inspection, so the two profiles deserve to be read side by side rather than treated as interchangeable. Because the choice here is narrow, it helps to know who else has a part to play. Medway Council is the authority responsible for carrying out a care needs assessment and for deciding whether funded support applies once income and savings have been taken into account, and that assessment can be requested before any home has been chosen. Spend a little time with each profile below, read what inspectors actually recorded about staffing, safety and daily life, and let that evidence shape the questions you take with you to a visit.
Planning and paying for nursing care in Chatham
Beginning with a care needs assessment
A nursing home placement usually starts with an assessment of need rather than a viewing. Anyone living in Chatham can ask for one, and it looks at daily tasks, mobility, medication and the level of clinical support required. If nursing care is judged necessary, the assessment also establishes whether the NHS contributes towards the nursing element of the fee. A separate financial assessment follows, and Medway Council is the body responsible both for assessing need and for arranging funded support where income and savings fall below the national thresholds.
Making sense of the fees
Nursing homes cost more than residential homes because registered nurses are on duty around the clock. Fees differ between the two homes listed here, so ask each one for a written schedule setting out what the weekly rate covers and what is billed separately, such as hairdressing or chiropody. Where a placement begins as self funded, ask in advance what happens if savings later fall below the threshold.
Choosing between the nursing homes listed for Chatham
Weighing the inspection evidence
With only two providers on this page, the inspection record carries real weight. Amherst Court is rated Good, while Fort Horsted Care Home Ltd is rated Requires Improvement. A Requires Improvement judgement is not a reason to rule a home out on its own, but it does mean reading the report closely to see which areas fell short and asking the manager directly what has changed since inspectors visited.
What to look at on a visit
Go at a busy time, such as mid morning or during a meal, and if possible without a long appointment booked in advance. Notice whether residents look occupied, whether call bells are answered promptly and how staff speak to people who cannot easily reply. Ask about nurse cover overnight, turnover among permanent staff, and how families are told when someone becomes unwell.
2 nursing homes in Chatham
- Amherst Court · Chatham, Medway · CQC Good
- Fort Horsted Care Home · Chatham, Medway · CQC Requires improvement
What care costs in South East, per week
| Type of care | What the council pays | What self-funders are typically asked |
|---|---|---|
| Residential care Middle half of prices from 107 South East homes. Median £1,600. | Varies by council | £1,500 to £1,809 |
| Nursing care Middle half of prices from 63 South East homes. Median £1,933. | Varies by council | £1,617 to £2,080 |
| Residential dementia care Middle half of prices from 82 South East homes. Median £1,709. | Not published separately | £1,571 to £1,942 |
| Nursing dementia care Middle half of prices from 37 South East homes. Median £2,050. | Not published separately | £1,975 to £2,226 |
Published prices are often starting prices, and come from homes that publish fees, so treat them as a guide. What a council pays differs from council to council. Ask the home for its own price. Powered by Orrery Intelligence.