The Avenue

72 Bates Avenue, Cockerton, Darlington, County Durham, DL3 0TU

01325240452

Care Type

Residential Care

Inspection date

5 February 2020

Provider

John Michael Leitch and Miss Sharon Elizabeth Keelan

Beds

3 beds

Rating history

GoodApr 2015
GoodJun 2017
OutstandingFeb 2020

Improved from Good to Outstanding in 2020.

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 John Michael Leitch and Miss Sharon Elizabeth Keelan runs in England.

Average care home fees in the North East: £897 a week for residential care and £1,164 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 The Avenue

The Avenue is a residential care home in Darlington, providing personal care to adults with learning disabilities. Details from the CQC's most recent inspection of the service are set out below.

The Avenue is a residential care home providing personal and nursing care to three people with learning disabilities. The service is designed around principles of person-centred support, enabling residents to live meaningful lives with control, choice, and independence. Care is planned and coordinated to be appropriate and inclusive for each individual, supporting them to achieve the best possible outcomes and live as full a life as possible.

Source: CQC inspection report, 25 February 2020

Specialist Care

Learning disabilitiesOlder 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 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: 3 places — this is not a vacancy count
Registration checked: Registered · DL3 0TU

Registered care categories

Caring for adults over 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: Outstanding.

Rating report published 25 February 2020. Latest inspection date recorded: 5 February 2020.

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

Read The Avenue'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 The Avenue, 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 The Avenue, 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 The Avenue'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