Downshire House

9, Downshire Square, Reading, RG1 6NJ

01189595648

Care Type

Residential Care

Inspection date

14 June 2023

Provider

Aston Care Limited

Beds

8 beds

About Downshire House

Downshire House is a care home in Reading where the focus is firmly on making people feel at home from the moment they arrive. The team takes real pride in building relationships with residents and their families, creating an environment where everyone is treated as an individual. For families exploring care options in the Reading area, it can be reassuring to find a place that genuinely values the people who live there.

This residential care home provides accommodation and personal care for up to 8 older people and younger adults with learning disabilities, autism, mental health needs, dementia, sensory impairments and physical disabilities. At inspection, 7 people were using the service. The home supports people to access their local communities and respects their choices, independence and dignity in their daily lives.

Source: CQC inspection report, 12 August 2023

Specialist Care

DementiaLearning disabilitiesMental healthOlder peoplePhysical disabilitiesSensory impairmentsYounger adults

Facilities & Amenities

GardenCommunal LoungeDining RoomSensory RoomActivity RoomEn-suite Rooms

Practical details from the provider

The home has six single bedrooms, including one with en-suite facilities.
The shared lounge and dining area lead to a garden with lawn, flower beds and patio seating.

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 without nursing
Registered capacity: 8 places — this is not a vacancy count
Registration checked: Registered · RG1 6NJ

Registered care categories

Caring for adults over 65 yrs; Caring for adults under 65 yrs; Dementia; Learning disabilities; Mental health conditions; Physical disabilities; Sensory impairment.

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: Requires improvement.

Rating report published 12 August 2023. Latest inspection date recorded: 14 June 2023.

Safe: Requires improvement
Effective: Good
CaringPublished 9 December 2022: Requires improvement
ResponsivePublished 9 December 2022: Requires improvement
Well-led: Good

Questions prompted by these ratings

Safe: What changes have been made to medicines, staffing and safeguarding since this rating?
Caring: How do staff protect privacy, dignity and each person’s choices?
Responsive: How are care plans, activities and complaints adapted to each resident?

These are questions for your visit, not a claim about conditions today.

Read Downshire 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 Downshire 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 Downshire 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 Downshire 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