Donwell House

Wellgarth Road, District 2, Washington, Tyne and Wear, NE37 1EE

01914167663

Care Type

Nursing Care

Inspection date

4 August 2020

Provider

Shaftesbury Care GRP Limited

Beds

63 beds

About Donwell House

Donwell House is a nursing home in Sunderland, providing personal and nursing care, including for people living with dementia. The findings below set out what the CQC found on its most recent inspection.

This care home provides personal and nursing care for up to 63 people, including those living with dementia. At the time of inspection, 52 people were living there with bedrooms across two floors and access to communal lounges and dining areas.

Improvements in person-centred care have been sustained, with people's individualities and interests now factored into care planning and activities provision. Activities are meaningful and have a positive impact on people's wellbeing. The home has made sufficient improvements in this area.

Source: CQC inspection report, 27 August 2020

Specialist Care

DementiaOlder peoplePhysical disabilitiesYounger adults

Facilities & Amenities

WiFiPets AllowedEn-suite RoomsGardenSecure GardenActivities Programme

Photographs of the home

Practical details from the provider

The provider lists en-suite bedrooms and shared lounges, with dining areas and outdoor lawn space.

Published on the provider's website, checked 20 September 2026. Confirm arrangements with the home before deciding.

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: 63 places — this is not a vacancy count
Registration checked: Registered · NE37 1EE

Registered care categories

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

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 27 August 2020. Latest inspection date recorded: 4 August 2020.

SafePublished 28 September 2019: Good
Effective: Good
CaringPublished 28 September 2019: Good
Responsive: Good
Well-led: Good

Read Donwell House'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 Donwell House, 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 Donwell House, 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 Donwell House'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