The Firs

186 Grange Road, Felixstowe IP11 2QF
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9.8 130 Reviews
  • The Firs, Felixstowe
Anchor’s The Firs in Felixstowe is a purpose-built care home, providing quality care and facilities within a comfortable and relaxing environment. The home continues to welcome new residents and it is set in its own gardens for customers and their families to enjoy.

The home provides residential care which is personally tailored to meet the individual needs of customers and enhance their quality of life. The care team works with customers and their loved ones to create detailed care plans to ensure each individual’s health and care needs are continually met.

Anchor offers dementia care and provides on-going training for staff to ensure their approach always reflects best practice.

Anchor is England’s largest provider of housing and care for those over 55 years of age and has 60 years of experience as a not-for-profit provider of services to older people. Anchor reinvests the money made into their retirement properties and care homes, to continually raise standards to provide a high-quality service to surpass the customer’s expectations.

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Care Provided by The Firs

  • Primary Care Categories
  • Dementia
  • Older Person Care
  • Respite Care
  • Care Types Provided
  • Dementia Residential Care
  • Residential Care
  • For a maximum of 40 Service Users
  • Voluntary / Not for Profit Owned
  • Care Offered
  • Alzheimer's
  • Other Care Provided
  • Own GP if required

Good to Know

  • Person in charge
  • Colleen Farrow (Manager)
  • Admission Criteria
    • Please contact The Firs directly to discuss yours or your loved ones' care needs.
    • Ages 65+
  • Room Information
    • Single Rooms (40)
    • Couples/Companion Rooms (0)
    • Single Rooms with ensuite Wet Room (40)
  • Care Home Design/Build
    • Purpose Built: Yes
    • Last Refurbishment: 2006

Funding & Fees Guide for The Firs

  • 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 from £1,466
    • Self-Funded Residential Dementia Care from £1,466
    • RESPITE Self-Funded Residential Care from £1,466
    • RESPITE Self-Funded Residential Dementia Care from £1,466

  • Our colleagues at The Firs will be happy to answer any questions you have regarding our fees and what is included in our fees.
  • (these prices are only a guideline, please contact The Firs 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)
  • Phone Point in own room
  • Residents Kitchenette
  • Television point in own room
  • Wheelchair Access
  • Visiting

  • Visitors are welcome at The Firs.


  • Parking

  • Onsite parking is available, including disabled spaces.


The Firs Reviews (130)

Total of 130, showing 101-120
9.8

The Firs has a Review Score of 9.8 (9.816) out of 10, based on 39 reviews in the last 2 years. Over all time The Firs has 130 reviews.

Overall Experience

  • 90
  • 37
  • 2
  • 1
  • 0

Date Published

130
10
24
39
91

Review from Colin M (Son of Resident) published on 31 March 2020
Submitted via Postal Card • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 4.0 out of 5

Staff are all very friendly and caring towards my father.
There had been a recent incident that resulted in a hospital stay for my father. A full investigation was carried out by home management and following 3 meetings we (the family) are all content that lessons have been learnt and addressed.

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Review from P S (Daughter of Resident) published on 26 March 2020
Submitted via Postal Card • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 4.0 out of 5

The staff here are very caring. They always seem so busy though. I wish there were more of them to help but they do a great job.

Reply from Susan Gibson, Manager at The Firs

Thank you for taking the time to review The Firs and we’re pleased that you are extremely likely to recommend our home. We use a dependency tool to calculate the required number of staff on each shift. This is to ensure we can provide activities and engagement, in addition to high quality care for our residents.


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Review from D T (Wife of Resident) published on 25 March 2020
Submitted via Postal Card • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My husband has been in this home now for 2 years, he has been very well looked after and I am sure he is happy in his own little ward. I have no complaints.

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Review from J G (Daughter of Resident) published on 25 March 2020
Submitted via Postal Card • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 4.0 out of 5

Compared to other care homes I have visited The Firs is of a high standard - particularly in terms of comfort, facilities and the care given by staff.

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Review from P R (Wife of Resident) published on 25 March 2020
Submitted via Postal Card • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 4.0 out of 5

I am very happy with my husband's care, all the staff are very friendly.

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Review from J K (Daughter-in-law of Resident) published on 28 February 2020
Submitted via Postal Card • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

All staff brilliant, food always looks fresh and nice. Very approachable new manager. Thank you all!

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Review from B Y (Friend of Resident) published on 26 February 2020
Submitted via Postal Card • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Friendly staff, easy assessment, good relations with residents. Nice location, easy access, secure facility.

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Review from Paul S (Son of Resident) published on 31 January 2020
Submitted via Postal Card • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Unable to fault anything with this home. The staff are extremely helpful and professional.

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Review from Jayne M (Sister-in-law of Resident) published on 8 November 2018
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

We find The Firs a really friendly home. The rooms are really comfortable and nice and clean, very nicely decorated. And all the Carers are really welcoming and caring. We have been around when food has been served, and it looks quite delicious, one day it was prawn salad, one day was chicken goujons
with croquette potatoes, each night there is a good selection available. There is always soup, mixed sandwiches, cake. In fact, I would have been tempted myself. The Carers are very welcoming, we can as visitors help ourselves at any time to coffee, teas or soft drinks. My Sister-in-Law has seemed to have settled in well.

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Review from Marina B (Daughter of Resident) published on 5 November 2018
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 4.0 out of 5

Mum is being cared for well, she eats and drinks really well now. The staff always tell me if there's a problem and how Mum is doing.

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Review from Richard F (Resident) published on 5 September 2018
Submitted via Postal Card • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Lovely environment and friendly staff. No nasty smells and very clean. All round professional set up.

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Review from Christine H (Friend of Resident) published on 16 April 2018
Submitted via Postal Card • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

The Firs is very homely and welcoming. It provides excellent home cooked food with a choice of menus each day. Local churches go in and take services on a regular basis. Excellent activities planned and my only concern i.e that the shifts were changed from 8hrs to 12hrs and I feel that is far too long
when you are caring for residents with dementia. This has also meant that staff have left.

Reply from Jerome Wright, Digital Marketing Apprentice at The Firs

Thank you for taking the time to provide feedback on The Firs . We endeavour to ensure every aspect of our homes are of a high standard and always aim to rectify any issues as soon as possible


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Review from Anne S (Daughter-in-law of Resident) published on 21 March 2018
Submitted via Postal Card • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 4.0 out of 5

I have always found the staff to be friendly and attentive towards the residents. The home itself is kept clean and tidy. The decorations are seasonal and changed regularly with the help of the residents who are encouraged to take part in weekly craft activities. The home and grounds are spacious and
easy to move around even in a wheelchair.

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Review from B S (Son of Resident) published on 21 March 2018
Submitted via Postal Card • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

The care of my mother is professional but also caring. They managed to cope when she was having a bad patch and behaving in a very challenging way. Now she is much happier and they do very well with her basic needs. Also activities and fun things to do.

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Review from Michael G (Brother of Resident) published on 21 March 2018
Submitted via Postal Card • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 4.0 out of 5

I have only been twice but I can already see that this is a very nice place and yesterday the hall was full up with a 'music man' who was very good and got some singing and the rest of their attention.

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Review from P F (Son-in-law of Resident) published on 21 March 2018
Submitted via Postal Card • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 4.0 out of 5

Only visited three times, from what I have seen and experienced, the home is an excellent facility. I would definitely recommend it to any family. My father-in-law has settled in extremely well. We all feel totally happy with the care provided.

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Review from Caron F (Daughter of Resident) published on 21 March 2018
Submitted via Postal Card • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 4.0 out of 5

My father spent several weeks in hospital prior to coming into The Firs and we are all so pleased to now have him settled in The Firs. He has a lovely room overlooking the garden which he will love in the summertime. The staff are all lovely, friendly and welcoming, making the family feel very relieved
to see Dad so wonderfully taken care of. Thank you to you all.

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Review from D C (Daughter of Resident) published on 12 March 2018
Submitted via Postal Card • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 4.0 out of 5

My mother is a resident. Home is friendly and welcoming. Rooms are a nice size. Staff are proactive in dealing with any medical issues that arise! Activities good. Home is 'quiet' at the moment, hoping for new residents for my mother to interact with!

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Review from S M (Son of Resident) published on 6 March 2018
Submitted via Postal Card • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

The Firs is safe, secure but very homely too. Lots of space and familiar resources for my mum to select. Staff have got to know my mum really well and regularly share information about her and how she spends her day. Mum is very happy and settled and that is very reassuring to us.

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Review from Kevin H (Son of Resident) published on 12 February 2018
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 4.0 out of 5

My mother seems very happy and settled. The staff are well aware of her needs and have become used to her personality. They tend to persuade mum to do the things which are good for her. She has regular access to health professionals, through the scheduled home visits. We have been involved in a care
plan review and our mother's involvement was also sought in that process.

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Current Review Score: 9.8 (9.816)

Overview of Review Score

The Review Score of 9.8 (9.816) out of 10 for The Firs is based on a) the Average Rating and b) the number of positive Reviews.

  • a) The Average Rating is 4.8 out of 5 from 39 Reviews in the last 24 months.

  • b) The score for the number of positive Reviews is 5.0 out of 5 from 39 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 4.816 for The Firs is calculated as follows: ( (382 Excellents x 5) + (74 Goods x 4) + (4 Satisfactorys x 3) + (1 Poors x 2) ) ÷ 461 Ratings = 4.816

  • 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 The Firs is based on 39 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 40 registered maximum number of service users is 8, which has been reached with 39 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: 16 Dec 2022

Overall
Good

  • Caring

    Good

  • Effective

    Good

  • Responsive

    Good

  • Safe

    Good

  • Well-led

    Good

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

View Latest Report

Bed Vacancies

2 Bed Vacancies

posted 03 Mar 2025

We currently have two vacancies for care. Please contact The Firs directly for further details.


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