Freda Gunton Lodge Residential Home

Balkerne Gardens, Colchester, Essex, CO1 1PR

01206574786

Care Type

Residential Care

Inspection date

6 December 2019

Provider

Balkerne Gardens Trust Limited

Beds

40 beds

About Freda Gunton Lodge Residential Home

Freda Gunton Lodge Residential Home is a residential care home in Essex, providing personal care for older adults. Details of the Care Quality Commission's most recent findings are set out below.

Freda Gunton Lodge provides personal care for up to 40 people over 65 years old. The home features a large lounge and dining room, smaller communal spaces, and shared gardens with the provider's supported living service. Two passenger lifts and stairs provide access to the upper floors, with kitchen facilities on both ground and first floors.

Staff ensured people received medicines on time from trained and competent staff members. Physical and social needs were met by suitably trained staff who knew residents well and managed risks effectively to keep people safe.

Source: CQC inspection report, 11 February 2020

Specialist Care

Older people

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: 40 places — this is not a vacancy count
Registration checked: Registered · CO1 1PR

Registered care categories

Caring for adults over 65 yrs.

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 11 February 2020. Latest inspection date recorded: 6 December 2019.

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

Questions prompted by these ratings

Well-led: What has changed in management, checks and oversight since this rating?

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

Read Freda Gunton Lodge 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 Freda Gunton Lodge Residential Home, 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 Freda Gunton Lodge Residential Home, 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 Freda Gunton Lodge 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