Poplar Lodge

Wards End, Tow Law, Bishop Auckland, County Durham, DL13 4JS

01388730451

Care Type

Residential Care

Inspection date

22 November 2022

Provider

Aspire Healthcare Limited

Beds

9 beds

Rating history

GoodApr 2015
GoodMay 2017
Requires ImprovementApr 2018
Requires ImprovementNov 2018
Requires ImprovementMar 2019
Requires ImprovementOct 2019
GoodDec 2022

Improved from Requires Improvement to Good in 2022. CQC has rated this home 7 times since 2015.

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

Costs and who runs this home

Run by Aspire Healthcare Limited, which runs 7 care homes in England: 7 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 Poplar Lodge

Poplar Lodge is a residential care home in County Durham, providing personal care for people with learning disabilities, autism, and mental health needs. Details of the most recent CQC findings are set out below.

Poplar Lodge provides personal care to up to 9 people with learning disabilities, autism, and mental health needs. At inspection, 7 people were using the service. Staff supported residents to have maximum choice and control over their lives, focusing on their strengths and enabling them to pursue meaningful activities in their local area.

The service operated in a safe, clean environment that met residents' sensory and physical needs, and staff supported people to make decisions while playing an active role in maintaining their own health and wellbeing. Care provided was kind and compassionate, with policies and systems in place to support best practice.

Source: CQC inspection report, 29 December 2022

Specialist Care

Learning disabilitiesMental health

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 21 September 2026. This is a check of published information, not a visit to the home.

Registered service: Care home service without nursing
Registered capacity: 9 places — this is not a vacancy count
Registration checked: Registered · DL13 4JS

Registered care categories

Learning disabilities; Mental health conditions.

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 29 December 2022. Latest inspection date recorded: 22 November 2022.

Safe: Good
EffectivePublished 12 October 2019: Good
CaringPublished 12 October 2019: Good
ResponsivePublished 12 October 2019: Good
Well-led: Good

Read Poplar Lodge'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 Poplar Lodge, 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 Poplar Lodge, 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 Poplar Lodge'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