Little Amberwood

1 Amberwood Gardens, Walkford, Christchurch, BH23 5RT

01202022002

Care Type

Residential Care

Inspection date

4 November 2021

Provider

Apple House Limited

Beds

4 beds

Rating history

GoodDec 2021

First inspected by CQC in 2021, rated Good.

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

Costs and who runs this home

Run by Apple House Limited, which runs 5 care homes in England: 5 rated Good.

Average care home fees in the South West: £1,170 a week for residential care and £1,472 for nursing care (2024-25 averages). Self-funders usually pay more. See our care home costs guide.

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 Amberwood

Little Amberwood is a residential care home in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole, offering accommodation and personal care for people with autistic spectrum disorders and learning disabilities. Further details on the home can be found in the findings below.

Little Amberwood provides accommodation and personal care for up to four people with autistic spectrum disorders and learning disabilities. The home is situated in a two-story house in Walkford, Christchurch, with four bedrooms each featuring en-suite facilities. Shared living areas include a kitchen, conservatory dining area, and separate lounge, with a garden offering recreation space and seating areas.

Residents particularly enjoy caring for the chickens kept in a dedicated garden area, which provides both meaningful activity and leisure opportunities for people living at the home.

Source: CQC inspection report, 21 December 2021

Specialist Care

Learning disabilitiesOlder peopleYounger adults

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: 4 places — this is not a vacancy count
Registration checked: Registered · BH23 5RT

Registered care categories

Caring for adults over 65 yrs; Caring for adults under 65 yrs; 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.

Rating report published 21 December 2021. Latest inspection date recorded: 4 November 2021.

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

Read Little Amberwood'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 Little Amberwood, 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 Little Amberwood, 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 Little Amberwood'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