England

The FirsDevon

Illustrative image. Photographs of this home have not yet been added.

Rated:GoodResidential

The Firs

27 Fore Street, Witheridge, Devon, EX16 8AH

01884860679

Care Type

Residential Care

Inspection date

2 February 2022

Provider

South West Care Homes Limited

Beds

27 beds

How this home compares nearby

Of 7 care homes for older people within 10 miles, none are rated higher by CQC, 5 are the same and 2 are lower.

4 of these nearby homes have been inspected more recently than this one.

Based on CQC ratings, updated 22 October 2026. How we compare homes | See the nearby homes

Rating history

Requires ImprovementJun 2015
GoodNov 2016
GoodJul 2017
Requires ImprovementMar 2018
Requires ImprovementSept 2018
Requires ImprovementApr 2019
InadequateFeb 2020
Requires ImprovementDec 2020
GoodMar 2022

Improved from Requires Improvement to Good in 2022. CQC has rated this home 9 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 South West Care Homes Limited, which runs 10 care homes in England: 10 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.

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 The Firs

The Firs is a residential care home in Devon, providing personal care for people who may be frail or living with dementia. Further details on the CQC's most recent findings are set out below.

The service provides personal care and support to up to 22 people, including those who are frail and living with dementia. Residents reported feeling safe and well cared for, with one person praising staff as "the best" who take good care of them. Those unable to communicate verbally appeared relaxed and comfortable, with inspectors observing positive interactions between staff and residents.

Staff demonstrated kindness and patience, particularly when supporting distressed individuals or helping people understand their surroundings, and actively encouraged communal activities like shared mealtimes.

Relatives expressed confidence in the care provided, with one family member noting that compared to their experience elsewhere, The Firs offers genuinely caring support and staff who "are doing a great job. " The staff team demonstrated thorough knowledge of residents' needs and consistently spoke about the people they support in positive terms.

Source: CQC inspection report, 4 March 2022

Specialist Care

DementiaOlder people

Facilities & Amenities

Pets AllowedDining Room

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: 27 places — this is not a vacancy count
Registration checked: Registered · EX16 8AH

Registered care categories

Caring for adults over 65 yrs; Dementia.

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 4 March 2022. Latest inspection date recorded: 2 February 2022.

SafePublished 9 December 2020: Good
EffectivePublished 9 December 2020: Good
Caring: Good
Responsive: Good
Well-led: Good

Read The Firs'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 Firs, 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 The Firs, 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 The Firs'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