Ferndale

131 Whitstone Road, Shepton Mallet, Somerset, BA4 5PS

01749345885

Care Type

Residential Care

Assessment date

11 December 2023

Provider

Orchard Vale Trust Limited

Beds

3 beds

Rating history

Requires ImprovementFeb 2017
GoodJun 2018
GoodFeb 2024

Improved from Requires Improvement to Good in 2018.

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

Costs and who runs this home

Run by Orchard Vale Trust Limited, which runs 4 care homes in England: 4 rated Good.

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 Ferndale

Ferndale is a small residential care home in Somerset, providing personal care for autistic people and people with a learning disability. The CQC's most recent findings on the service are set out below.

Ferndale is a small care home providing personal care for up to three autistic people and people with a learning disability. At the time of the assessment, three people were living there. The CQC found the service performing well, with people well protected from abuse and risks properly identified, assessed and reviewed.

Inspectors found staff were suitably recruited, trained and available in sufficient numbers to support people safely. People had choice and control over their lives, were encouraged to build independence, and enjoyed regular activities. The home was found to be open, positive, inclusive and person-centred, earning an overall rating of Good.

Source: CQC assessment, 9 February 2024

Specialist Care

Learning disabilities

Facilities & Amenities

En-suite Rooms

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: 3 places — this is not a vacancy count
Registration checked: Registered · BA4 5PS

Registered care categories

Learning 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.

Assessment published 9 February 2024. Assessment date recorded: 11 December 2023.

Read CQC's assessment overview

The following is CQC's published account of its assessment, published 9 February 2024. References to “we” mean CQC. It describes findings at that time.

Ferndale is a care home providing personal care for up to 3 people. Care is provided to autistic people and people with a learning disability. There were 3 people living at the home when we carried out this assessment. The assessment was completed on 3 January 2024. A site visit to gather people’s experiences and observe care practices was carried out on 19 December 2023. We met all 3 people who lived at the home and spoke with 2 of them about their care and support. We also contacted 2 people’s relatives to ask their views following our visit. We looked at 5 quality statements; Safeguarding; Involving people to manage risks; Safe and effective staffing; Independence, choice and control and Equity in experiences and outcomes.

Safe: Good
Effective: Good
Caring: Good
Responsive: Good
Well-led: Good

Read Ferndale'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 Ferndale, consider asking...

1.What happens if my relative's care needs increase significantly -- will they have to move?
2.How do you handle concerns or complaints from families?
3.What does the monthly fee cover and what will cost extra?
4.How do you keep families informed about their relative's day-to-day wellbeing?
5.What happens if my relative is unhappy here?

5 Things to Look For on Your Visit

When you visit Ferndale, look out for...

1.Do staff greet residents by name and stop to chat?
2.Are residents dressed, up and occupied, or sitting alone in front of a TV?
3.Does the home smell fresh and feel clean without being clinical?
4.Do residents look comfortable and at ease, or anxious and withdrawn?
5.Does the manager answer your questions openly or deflect?

Could the NHS fund Ferndale'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