Crouched Friars Residential Home

103-107 Crouch Street, Colchester, Essex, CO3 3HA

01206572647

Care Type

Residential Care

Inspection date

27 September 2022

Provider

SA & JO Care Limited

Beds

56 beds

How this home compares nearby

Of 25 care homes for older people within 5 miles, 1 is rated higher by CQC, 18 are the same and 6 are lower.

12 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

GoodMay 2015
GoodAug 2016
Requires ImprovementFeb 2018
InadequateAug 2018
Requires ImprovementFeb 2019
InadequateAug 2019
Requires ImprovementMar 2020
Requires ImprovementJun 2021
GoodOct 2022

Improved from Requires Improvement to Good in 2022. CQC has rated this home 9 times since 2015.

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

Costs and who runs this home

This is the only care home SA & JO Care Limited runs in England.

Average care home fees in the East of England: £1,034 a week for residential care and £1,411 for nursing care (2024-25 averages). Self-funders usually pay more. See our care home costs guide.

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 Crouched Friars Residential Home

Crouched Friars Residential Home is a residential care home in Essex, offering accommodation and personal care to older people, including those living with dementia. Further detail on the most recent CQC findings appears below.

Crouched Friars Residential Home provides accommodation and personal care for up to 56 older people, including those with dementia-related needs. At inspection, 46 people were living at the service across three interconnected buildings: Crouched Friars, Friars Wing and Colne Lodge. People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives, with staff supporting them in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests.

The registered manager took appropriate action to safeguard people, and care staff understood how to raise concerns.

Source: CQC inspection report, 8 October 2022

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 without nursing
Registered capacity: 56 places — this is not a vacancy count
Registration checked: Registered · CO3 3HA

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 8 October 2022. Latest inspection date recorded: 27 September 2022.

Safe: Good
Effective: Good
CaringPublished 4 March 2020: Good
Responsive: Good
Well-led: Good

Read Crouched Friars Residential Home'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 Crouched Friars Residential Home, 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 Crouched Friars Residential Home, 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 Crouched Friars Residential Home'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