Longlands

Balfour Road, Blackbird Leys, Oxford OX4 6AJ
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9.6 103 Reviews
  • Longlands, Oxford
Longlands is registered for forty-eight residents and a team of skilled and friendly carers provide residential and early-stage dementia care for older people.

Care homes from The Orders of St John Care Trust are well respected in Lincolnshire, Wiltshire, Oxfordshire and Gloucestershire where the voluntary sector charity has a strong presence after seeing healthy growth since it first opened homes in 1992.

All residents are supported in the pursuit of an active lifestyle and personal interests, while benefitting from a care philosophy that prioritises dignity and independence alongside health, safety and security.

Care Provided by Longlands

  • Primary Care Categories
  • Dementia
  • Older Person Care
  • Physical Disability
  • Respite Care
  • Sensory Impairment
  • Care Types Provided
  • Residential Care
  • For a maximum of 48 Service Users
  • Voluntary / Not for Profit Owned
  • Care Offered
  • Alzheimer's
  • Other Care Provided
  • Day Care
  • Own GP if required

Good to Know

  • Person in charge
  • Kelly-Marie Allen (Home Manager)
  • Admission Criteria
    • Ages 65+
  • Room Information
    • Single Rooms (48)
    • Single Rooms with ensuite Wet Room (1)
  • Care Home Design/Build
    • Purpose Built: No
    • Last Refurbishment: 1997

Funding & Fees Guide for Longlands

  • Funding Types Accepted
  • Self funding (Private)
  • Local Authority with Top-Up
  • Local Authority
  • NHS Continuing Healthcare (CHC) Funding
  • Weekly Charges per Person
    • Self-Funded Residential Care £1,215 – £1,295
    • RESPITE Self-Funded Residential Care £1,355 – £1,430
  • Your fees cover several areas while in their care.
    These services are: Personal care, accommodation,
    utilities, use of communal areas, meals, drinks and
    snacks, laundry (excluding dry cleaning),
    housekeeping, maintenance and activities run by the
    home.


    Services NOT included in price are: dentistry, chiropody,
    physiotherapy, occupational therapy, opticians, hairdressing,
    medications, toiletries, clothing, newspapers/magazines.
    During your stay, you may need to purchase additional goods
    and services. If they are able to provide such goods and
    services, they will tell you how much these goods and services
    will cost and they expect that you will pay for these goods and
    services at the time you request them.
    They can accompany loved ones to private appointments,
    however the fee attached to this is £21 per hour. Where private taxi
    services are used for transportation to appointments the cost should
    be paid for by yourself.


  • (these prices are only a guideline, please contact Longlands to find out the exact price for your requirements)

Facilities

  • Close to Local shops
  • Gardens
  • Lift
  • Near Public Transport
  • Own Furniture if required
  • Pet Friendly (or by arrangement)
  • Television point in own room
  • Wheelchair Access
Total of 103, showing 1-20
9.6

Longlands has a Review Score of 9.6 (9.614) out of 10, based on 29 reviews in the last 2 years. Over all time Longlands has 103 reviews.

Overall Experience

  • 78
  • 23
  • 1
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Date Published

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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

I am happy. Make a lot of friends. I am helped with activities and setting the tables. I like the food, so delicious. My bedroom is clean and tidy. The staff and the manager are very helpful.

Reply from Helen Dearing, On behalf of the team at Longlands

Thank you for your very kind words about Longlands, it's greatly appreciated. The team will be so thrilled to read how happy and positive you are. We absolutely love caring for you and seeing you interact with everyone makes us smile.


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Very happy here. Staff are very good, and very helpful. Place is kept very clean. Management very good.

Reply from Helen Dearing, On behalf of the team at Longlands

Thank you for leaving us 5 stars, we really appreciate it. It's a real pleasure caring for you here at Longlands and it's been great seeing you thrive.


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

The home is very nice, and ran very well. Food varied and good. Staff are very helpful if we need anything. Activities are varied, and it is good to try new activities.

Reply from Helen Dearing, On behalf of the team at Longlands

Thank you so much for giving us a 5 star review, we are so grateful. It is a real pleasure having you reside at Longlands.


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

I like it, very good, and happy with all staff. Happy with all the managers. Activities and food good. You all do good work.

Reply from Helen Dearing, On behalf of the team at Longlands

Thank you so much for a lovely review of our home. It's so lovely to read how happy you are here. It is a real pleasure caring for you and it's so amazing watching you interact with the other residents.


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My mother was briefly a resident at Longlands, awaiting a transfer to a care home nearer to her home town. I was so impressed with the welcome given to both my mother and myself during her 3 week stay.
The atmosphere is happy, homely and caring - all the staff without exception were friendly, kind
and professional.
The communal areas are clean, bright and welcoming. The residents appear to be happy and mix well. There are plenty of activities to engage and motivate them.
Communication from staff was very good and I was kept informed at all times of any issues arising.
I have no hesitation in recommending Longlands as a well run, warm and welcoming home.
I would like to thank all the staff for caring for my mother so well and for making her brief stay with you a happy one.

Reply from Helen Dearing, On behalf of the team at Longlands

Thank you for leaving us such a lovely detailed review of our home, we really appreciate it. It was a pleasure caring for your mum during her stay with us. She will definitely be missed. Please send her our best. The team here will be so chuffed to read how highly you rate our home and the fact you recommend us so highly means the world to us all. If you are ever in the area, please do come and say hello and join us for tea, the kettle is always on. Best wishes to you all.


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

A fabulous home! The manager and staff have helped us navigate a difficult placement and given us good help to help her settle in.
They have gone to great lengths to understand what she wants, to make her feel secure, and to give her the food and environment she likes.
They also have lots of activities,
so she can wander around chatting to folk, and also go on trips if she wants, go dancing, watch films, sing in a choir and they have regular doctor visits and good care in the home when inevitably she falls or is ill, without having to go to hospital.
Cannot recommend it too highly.

Reply from Helen Dearing, On behalf of the team at Longlands

Thank you for such a lovely review of our home, we are really grateful. The manager and staff will be so thrilled to read how highly you have rated our home and the recommendation. We host many events here during the year, we hope you can make one. If there is anything else we can do for your loved one, please let us know.


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

This was my first experience visiting the care home, I think that the social rooms were well decorated and stocked with coffee/tea, they were clean and tidy. I would like to note that all the care staff I met were polite, busy, helpful and very visible in the home. I can imagine that the work for you
all is very challenging, but for me, it was very reassuring to see first-hand your team operating very professionally and respectfully towards all the residents.

Reply from Helen Dearing, On behalf of the team at Longlands

Thank you for your review of our home, we really appreciate it. Our staff will be so thrilled to read how helpful and polite you think they are. Although our work can be challenging at times, it is immensely rewarding, especially seeing the smiles on our residents' faces. We have a range of events happening in 2025, we'd love to welcome you to one. Merry Christmas and best wishes for 2025.


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Staff are all very happy and very helpful. If there is an issue they try to solve it as soon as they can. Always made to feel welcome. They all do a very good job. Manageress is great and caring.

Reply from Rowen Campbell, on behalf of the team at Longlands

Thank you for taking the time to write us a review, and for sharing your experience of our home. Please don't hesitate to ask if there is anything else we can do to help.


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 4.0 out of 5

We went to take some post to a neighbour and stayed about half an hour. The home was well-decorated for Halloween. Signing in and out was done promptly. The neat, cheerful staff were busy but kind. We enjoyed the manager's conversations and we're happy to recommend the home when she asked us to.

Reply from Helen Dearing, On behalf of the team at Longlands

Thank you so much for leaving us a great review and for you to recommend our home, we really appreciate that.


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Dad had a wonderful stay again. Such an immaculately clean home. It was decorated brilliantly for Halloween. All the staff are always so friendly and caring. The manager is always so helpful and understanding of Dad's needs ensuring they are met whilst he's in respite. The activities at the home are
amazing too. So many different activities planned. Thank you for inviting myself and my youngest to join Dad and you all for fireworks. It was such a lovely night.

Reply from Helen Dearing, On behalf of the team at Longlands

Thank you for your lovely review - we are so pleased to read how happy you are with the care and the facilities we provide to your dad at Longlands. Our staff will be really pleased to read such fabulous comments about us all. Look forward to welcoming you to our next event.


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

I have power of attorney for a resident I have known through my church for several decades. She has never been considered easygoing, and when she was admitted to care after several strokes, because she had lost capacity to live at home with carers we thought that the care home staff would have an uphill
struggle. She has settled into Longlands brilliantly. The manager and the carer team have done an excellent job of meeting her needs, and gaining her trust, to the point where she is happiest at Longlands and disinterested in going out. One example of this is that when she wandered in the night recently, which sometimes happens, rather than try to press her to return to bed, they put a film on the big TV for her to watch in the living room and covered her up when she fell asleep on the sofa. Well done to everyone at Longlands.

Reply from Helen Dearing, On behalf of the team at Longlands

Thank you so much for such a wonderful review. We all were very emotional reading it. It's great to hear how well she is doing here at Longlands, she certainly has fitted in well and she's a pleasure to care for. The staff are so thrilled to read the very positive feedback, thank you once again.


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My mum who is suffering from vascular dementia was admitted for respite care for a 5-week period. Every occasion I had to speak to her she was very happy with the care and treatment she was receiving. If the case was to arise she would be more than happy to be a permanent resident.

Reply from Helen Dearing, On behalf of the team at Longlands

Thank you for your lovely words. It was a pleasure caring for your mum during her respite stay with us. She will be missed. We would very much welcome her if she wanted to reside with us permanently. Best wishes to you all from everyone here at Longlands.


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Mum has been in Longlands since May 2023 and she has not complained about anything. When asked she always has praise for all the staff and eats all her meals as there is always a choice. The staff always answer any questions I may have about my mum's care and well-being so I am happy leaving Mum in
their care.

Reply from Helen Dearing, On behalf of the team at Longlands

Thanks so much for your review of our home, we really appreciate it. We absolutely love caring for your mum, she's been an absolute delight since she joined us in May 2023. Do come and say hello next time you're visiting us.


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Mum was originally at Longlands for emergency respite care. Since then Mum has been diagnosed with dementia, and assessed as needing 24-hour care within a care home. We hope that Longlands will soon become a permanent home for Mum. From the time Mum arrived, she was made to feel welcome and safe. The
staff are very kind and attentive; nothing is too much trouble for them. The manager, and the admin staff and care team, have been amazingly supportive to our family, and they have helped us through a very stressful time by providing reassurance, plus invaluable advice and assistance with the stressful process of applying for a full-time care placement for Mum.
Mum is well looked after, and she likes to stay in the communal area, as she tells us that she feels safe with the carers. There is a lot of interaction between carers and residents and plenty of activities.
We are always offered drinks when we visit, we feel welcome, and we are kept informed about Mum's care.

Reply from Helen Dearing, On behalf of the team at Longlands

Thank you for leaving us such a detailed review of our home and the care journey you and your mum have gone through, we really appreciate it. We hope your mum stays with us too, she has settled in well and likes the activities. It's been a pleasure caring for her. Our staff will be thrilled to read your feedback. Thanks so much.


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 4.0 out of 5

The staff are very helpful and kind. My room was too small, it was difficult getting to the wash sink, not a lot of room for washing yourself.

Reply from Helen Dearing, On behalf of the team at Longlands

Thank you for leaving us a review and for your review. Your comments have been passed to the Home Manager and she will have a chat with you about your room and see what can be done for you. Thanks.


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 4.0 out of 5

I visit my aunt fortnightly and find the home pleasant, staff-friendly and smiling. I was disappointed that my aunt does not have a shower and toilet facility in her room. Which means for her age of 97 it is very difficult for her to use the bathroom opposite.

Reply from Helen Dearing, On behalf of the team at Longlands

Thank you for leaving us a review, we appreciate it. We pride ourselves on our great staff and the home's atmosphere. Would you be happy to make contact with the Home Manager to discuss your comment about the bathroom? Thank you.


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My sister has now been a resident at Longlands for over 3 months and we couldn't have been happier for the difficult choice we had to make. My sister has been very happy in her own flat for over 20 years but eventually needed 24-hour care. After reviewing 2 care homes, we chose Longlands who had very,
very good reviews. My wife and I had a good feeling when we were shown around all the rooms, lounges and facilities were beyond our expectations. Our final thought is that Longlands has an excellent team of carers and management with a view of continually improving standards.

Reply from Helen Dearing, On behalf of the team at Longlands

Thank you so much for your lovely review, we are really grateful. We are so pleased to read how highly you rate our facilities, care and staff you have interacted with. Our mission is to make people who come through our doors have a good feeling about us. We are honoured to care for your sister and she has settled in well. Please come and say hello next time you're visiting. Thanks.


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

The Staff at Longlands have been very helpful and very nice. nothing is too much trouble. the home is very clean and tidy. they try their best to help everyone. One of the members of staff brought in a DVD player so I could watch a DVD. The Home manager arranged for me to go out on trips that suited
my requirements and has been very good to me.

Reply from Helen Dearing, On behalf of the team at Longlands

Thanks for your fantastic review, we are so pleased to read how happy you are living with us at Longlands. If there is anything else we can do for you, please let us know. It's an absolute pleasure having you here.


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

I have been visiting a close friend of mine with Alzheimer's at Longlands, weekly since September 2023. At the time there was a problem with some of the CQC ratings which were not good. Since the new manager became manager at Longlands, these ratings have improved hugely because she has made radical
changes and updated procedures and record-keeping. She takes an encouraging view of the staff and trains them properly. Generally, the staff are excellent, with a positive and happy attitude towards their work. They function as a family to the residents. I like to take my friend out each week, and give a shower and a phone call abroad. We sit together in one of the lounges and do a jigsaw or watch TV. I check the name stickers on all clothing every week, otherwise clothing can go astray. The home is cheerful and comfortable, the size of the room is good; the staff are reliable about administering medication. All good! We feel very lucky to have a place there.

Reply from Helen Dearing, On behalf of the team at Longlands

Wow, what a fantastic review. The staff and home manager will be so thrilled to hear how vocal you are about the positive improvements at Longlands. Please come and say hello next time you visit. Thanks so much!


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 4.0 out of 5

I am pleased to see improvements during this month. E.g. More attendance by carers in the lounge/dining area, residents being taken out on regular trips.

Reply from Helen Dearing, On behalf of the team at Longlands

Many thanks for taking the time to write us a review - we really appreciate it. The new Home Manager has been working really hard to make improvements to Longlands, so it's fantastic to see that her efforts are making a difference.


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Current Review Score: 9.6 (9.614)

Overview of Review Score

The Review Score of 9.6 (9.614) out of 10 for Longlands is based on a) the Average Rating and b) the number of positive Reviews.

  • a) The Average Rating is 4.6 out of 5 from 29 Reviews in the last 24 months.

  • b) The score for the number of positive Reviews is 5.0 out of 5 from 28 positive Reviews in the last 24 months.

Detailed Breakdown of Review Score

The maximum Review Score for a Care Home is 10, which is made up from the Average Rating of Reviews (maximum of 5 points) and the Number of Reviews (maximum of 5 points) in the last 24 months:

  • a) 5 Points are available for the Average Rating from all Reviews in the last 24 months.

    The Average Rating of 4.614 for Longlands is calculated as follows: ( (242 Excellents x 5) + (75 Goods x 4) + (6 Satisfactorys x 3) + (2 Poors x 2) + (9 Very Poors x 1) ) ÷ 334 Ratings = 4.614

  • b) 5 Points are available for the number of Positive Reviews in the last 24 months. A Positive Review is defined as any Review with an 'Overall Experience' of '4' or '5' (out of a max rating '5').

    The 5 Points relating to the number of positive Reviews for Longlands is based on 28 positive Reviews in the last 24 months and is calculated as per below:

    The 5 points available are broken down as follows:

    • i) 4 points are available for the first 10 Positive Reviews in the last 24 months; 3 points for the first Positive Review, and then 0.125 Points for each of the next four Positive Reviews and then 0.1 Points for the next five Positive Reviews. (1st = 3.000, 2nd = 0.125, 3rd = 0.125, 4th = 0.125, 5th = 0.125, 6th = 0.100, 7th = 0.100, 8th = 0.100, 9th = 0.100, 10th = 0.100) 3 + 0.125 + 0.125 + 0.125 + 0.125 + 0.1 + 0.1 + 0.1 + 0.1 + 0.1 = 4

    • ii) 1 point is available for the number of Positive Reviews reaching 20% of the registered maximum number of service users in the last 24 months. If this number is partially reached, then that proportion of 1 point is given. eg a Care Home registered for a maximum of 50 service users has to reach 10 Positive Reviews to receive 1 point, if it has 7 reviews it will receive 0.7 points. 20% of the 48 registered maximum number of service users is 9.6, which has been reached with 28 Positive reviews. Points = 1

  • When a Review is submitted by someone who has previously submitted a Review, only the latest Review will count towards the Review Score.

  • If a Care Home does not have a review in the last 24 months, then it will not have a Review Score.

Performance

Care Quality Commission (CQC) Rating

Date: 14 Jun 2023

Overall
Requires improvement

  • Caring

    Good
  • Effective

    Good
  • Responsive

    Good
  • Safe

    Requires improvement
  • Well-led

    Requires improvement

Care Quality Commission is responsible for the registration and inspection of social care services in England.

View Latest Report

Bed Vacancies

Please Contact Us for Latest Vacancies

Awards / Recognitions (8)

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Meet the Team (2)

Kelly-Marie

Kelly-Marie Allen

Job Title: Home Manager

Joined: 2014

Kelly-Marie is the Home Manager at Longlands. She has over 10 years of experience in the care industry. She joined the Trust in 2014, having previously worked as a Care Coordinator in domiciliary care. Kelly-Marie has a QCF Level 3 in Health and Social Care, and she is also a moving and handling trainer. Kelly-Marie completed her Level 5 in Leadership and Management in 2022 and is working towards Level 7.


Kelly says, “I love my job, and love how no two days are ever the same. I am very proud of my team at Longlands; the residents are at the heart of everything we do in the home.”


In Kelly-Marie’s spare time, she spends with her three children and family. She also enjoys reading.


Elaine

Elaine Eadle

Job Title: Admin Assistant

Joined: 2017

Elaine started in the care sector 13 years ago as a domiciliary carer and joined Longlands six years ago as a carer. Four years ago she started in the office as an admin assistant.


She loves working for OSJCT as every day is different, there's never a dull moment working in the care sector! She enjoys working in front of the house as she has good relationships with the residents and families and the staff and volunteering team.


When she is not working she spends time with her son who’s a professional dancer, so she does a lot of travelling, watching him perform. She loves going on long walks with her dog.


Frequently Asked Questions about Longlands

What types of Care is Longlands registered for?

Older Person Care, Dementia, Respite Care, Physical Disability & Sensory Impairment are the registered (by the Care Quality Commission) categories of Care.

What additional types of Care does Longlands provide?

Day Care & Own GP if required are other types of care provided.

How many Rooms does Longlands have?

There are 48 Single Rooms.

What are the Facilities & Services at Longlands?

Own Furniture if required, Pet Friendly (or by arrangement), Close to Local shops, Near Public Transport, Lift, Wheelchair Access, Gardens & Television point in own room are some of the Facilities & Services.

How far is Longlands to the centre of Oxford?

3.2 mile(s) as the crow flies, distance by road may be significantly further.