Amherst Court

Palmerston Road, Chatham, Kent, ME4 6LU

01634400009

Care Type

Nursing Care

Inspection date

3 September 2020

Provider

Avante Care and Support Limited

Beds

112 beds

How this home compares nearby

Of 31 care homes for older people within 5 miles, none are rated higher by CQC, 19 are the same and 12 are lower.

23 of these nearby homes have been inspected more recently than this one.

Based on CQC ratings, updated 22 October 2026. How we compare homes | See the nearby homes

Rating history

OutstandingOct 2015
OutstandingAug 2018
GoodOct 2020

Rating dropped from Outstanding to Good in 2020.

Source: CQC inspection reports. Contains CQC data licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

Costs and who runs this home

Run by Avante Care and Support Limited, which runs 12 care homes in England: 8 rated Good, 2 Requires Improvement, 1 Inadequate and 1 not yet rated.

Average care home fees in the South East: £1,243 a week for residential care and £1,579 for nursing care (2024-25 averages). Self-funders usually pay more. See our care home costs guide.

NHS-funded Nursing Care pays £267.68 a week to the home towards registered nursing care for eligible residents (2026/27). A quoted fee may already exclude it.
This home lists dementia care, which usually costs more than standard residential care. See dementia care home costs. NHS Continuing Healthcare may apply where someone's needs are primarily health needs.
How to pay for a care home explains the council means test, what counts as capital and the funding you can ask to be assessed for.

About Amherst Court

Amherst Court is a nursing home in Medway providing care and support to older people. The full findings from the Care Quality Commission's most recent inspection are set out below.

Amherst Court is a residential care home providing personal care to 60 older people, including those living with dementia, with capacity for up to 71 residents. The accommodation is arranged across four care suites on two floors, with a lift providing access between levels.

People and their relatives reported feeling safe at the home. Staff demonstrated understanding of how to recognise abuse and poor practice, and knew how to report concerns appropriately. During the inspection, staff were observed delivering person-centred care in line with the service's aims, taking care to ensure people understood communication and providing reassurance to those who felt anxious.

Source: CQC inspection report, 7 October 2020

Specialist Care

DementiaOlder peopleYounger adults

Fees and availability

We have not verified a current weekly fee for this home. Ask for a written quote based on the room and care needed, including any extra charges.

Check current vacancies, the admission assessment and visiting arrangements directly with the home.

Care and inspection details

Checked against the CQC register on 20 September 2026. This is a check of published information, not a visit to the home.

Registered service: Care home service with nursing
Registered capacity: 112 places — this is not a vacancy count
Registration checked: Registered · ME4 6LU

Registered care categories

Caring for adults over 65 yrs; Caring for adults under 65 yrs; Dementia.

These describe the registration. The home must assess whether it can meet the individual person's needs and whether a place is available.

CQC ratings in more detail

Overall rating shown by CQC: Good.

Rating report published 7 October 2020. Latest inspection date recorded: 3 September 2020.

Safe: Good
EffectivePublished 15 August 2018: Good
CaringPublished 15 August 2018: Good
ResponsivePublished 15 August 2018: Outstanding
Well-led: Good

Read Amherst Court's CQC record and reports.

Contains Care Quality Commission information under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Ratings and registration details can change after the date checked.

5 Questions to Ask on Your Visit

When visiting Amherst Court, consider asking...

1.What specific dementia training do staff receive and how recently?
2.How do you support a resident who becomes distressed or confused?
3.How does the home keep a record of a resident's life history and personal preferences?
4.How do you involve families as dementia progresses and communication becomes harder?
5.What happens when a resident's dementia reaches an advanced stage?

5 Things to Look For on Your Visit

When you visit Amherst Court, look out for...

1.Is the environment calm, uncluttered and easy to navigate?
2.Do staff speak to residents with patience and dignity, even if they repeat themselves?
3.Are there memory cues around the home -- photos, familiar objects, clear signage?
4.Do residents seem settled and safe, or agitated and unsupervised?
5.Is there meaningful activity happening, or are residents just sitting quietly with nothing to do?

Could the NHS fund Amherst Court's fees?

The average nursing home costs £1,535 per week. That's £79,820 a year. NHS Continuing Healthcare could cover all of it. No means test, no contribution from you.

Find out if the NHS could fund these fees