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Little Acorns
Residential Care
19 August 2025
Specialist Care Limited
15 beds
How this home compares nearby
Of 49 care homes for older people within 5 miles, 1 is rated higher by CQC, 42 are the same and 6 are lower.
6 of these nearby homes have been inspected more recently than this one.
Based on CQC ratings, updated 23 October 2026. How we compare homes | See the nearby homes
Rating history
- Oct 2025
First inspected by CQC in 2025, rated Good.
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 Specialist Care Limited runs in England.
Average care home fees in the South East: £1,243 a week for residential care and £1,579 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 Little Acorns
Little Acorns is a small residential care home in Eastbourne with 15 beds, situated on Silverdale Road in East Sussex. Run by Specialist Care Limited, it provides care for older people, younger adults, and individuals with dementia, mental health conditions, or physical disabilities. The home's approach supports people with complex needs across multiple care areas.
Its most recent CQC inspection in October 2025 resulted in a Good rating. The smaller size of the home means residents benefit from a more intimate setting compared to larger facilities. The location in Eastbourne provides access to local amenities and services in the South East.
Specialist Care
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
- 15 places — this is not a vacancy count
- Registration checked
- Registered · BN20 7AT
Registered care categories
Caring for adults over 65 yrs; Caring for adults under 65 yrs; Dementia; Mental health conditions; 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: .
Assessment published 17 October 2025. Assessment date recorded: 19 August 2025.
Read CQC's assessment overview
The following is CQC's published account of its assessment, published 17 October 2025. References to “we” mean CQC. It describes findings at that time.
Date of Assessment: 5 September 2025. Little Acorns provides accommodation for people aged 18 – 65 with mental health needs, including drug and alcohol misuse. This was our first assessment of this service since it has registered with CQC. People received good care that met their needs and protected their rights.The provider had a good learning culture and people could raise concerns. People were protected and kept safe. Staff understood and managed risks. The facilities and equipment met people’s needs. There were enough staff with the right skills and experience. The manager made sure staff received training and regular appraisals to maintain high-quality care.People were involved in assessments of their needs. Staff worked with all agencies involved in people’s care for the best outcomes. They monitored people’s health and encouraged healthy living. Staff involved people in decisions around their care, including supporting people when they made unwise choices.
People were treated with kindness and compassion. Staff protected their privacy and dignity. They treated them as individuals and supported their preferences. People had choice in their care and were encouraged to maintain relationships. Staff responded to people in a timely way. The provider supported staff wellbeing. Staff had a shared vision and culture based on listening, learning and trust. Staff felt supported to give feedback and were treated equally. Staff worked with the local community and there was a culture of continuous improvement.
- Safe
- Effective
- Caring
- Responsive
- Well-led
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 Little Acorns, 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 Little Acorns, 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 Little Acorns'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.
Location
43 Silverdale Road, Eastbourne, BN20 7AT

Little Acorns
CQC overall rating
Assessment date: 19 August 2025
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