England

Rated:GoodNursing

The Orchards

Orchard Lane, Crewkerne, Somerset, TA18 7AF

0146076267

Care Type

Nursing Care

Inspection date

8 November 2022

Provider

Amica Care Trust

Beds

45 beds

How this home compares nearby

Of 25 care homes for older people within 10 miles, 2 are rated higher by CQC, 23 are the same and none are lower.

13 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

GoodDec 2015
GoodApr 2018
GoodDec 2022

Rated Good at every inspection 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 Amica Care Trust, which runs 3 care homes in England: 1 rated Outstanding and 2 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.

NHS-funded Nursing Care pays £267.68 a week to the home towards registered nursing care for eligible residents (2026/27). A quoted fee may already exclude it.
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 Orchards

The Orchards is a nursing home in Somerset. Details of the latest Care Quality Commission inspection are set out below.

The Orchards provides personal and nursing care for up to 45 people, specialising in supporting older people, those with complex healthcare needs, and people living with dementia. At inspection, 39 residents and one person receiving respite care were living at the home. The provider and registered manager create a homely, welcoming environment that values each person as an individual, with staff supporting residents to have maximum choice and control in their lives using the least restrictive approach.

People feel safe at the home and staff know how to raise concerns confidently. Medicines are administered safely by trained staff whose competency is regularly assessed. An inclusive ethos enables residents to share their views, raise concerns and follow their own routines, helping them remain in control of their support and daily lives.

Staff demonstrate excellent knowledge of the people they care for, enabling them to provide person-centred care.

Source: CQC inspection report, 21 December 2022

Specialist Care

DementiaMental healthOlder peoplePhysical disabilitiesSensory impairmentsYounger adults

Facilities & Amenities

GardenSecure GardenActivities ProgrammeHairdresserDining RoomCommunal LoungeWheelchair Accessible

Photographs of the home

Practical details from the provider

Facilities include a hairdresser’s room and a wheelchair-accessible landscaped garden.
Residents can choose between eating in the communal dining room and having meals in their own rooms.

Published on the provider's website, checked 20 September 2026. Confirm arrangements with the home before deciding.

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 with nursing
Registered capacity: 45 places — this is not a vacancy count
Registration checked: Registered · TA18 7AF

Registered care categories

Caring for adults over 65 yrs; Caring for adults under 65 yrs; Dementia; Mental health conditions; Physical disabilities; Sensory impairment.

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 2022. Latest inspection date recorded: 8 November 2022.

Safe: Good
EffectivePublished 7 April 2018: Good
CaringPublished 7 April 2018: Good
Responsive: Outstanding
Well-led: Good

Read The Orchards'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 Orchards, 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 Orchards, 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 Orchards'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