Barchester Appletree Grange Care Home

Durham Road, Birtley, Chester le Street DH3 2BH
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9.6 60 Reviews
  • Barchester Appletree Grange Care Home, Chester le Street
Appletree Grange is located between Newcastle and Durham, in the historic town of Chester-le-Street. The facility provides exceptional residential care and also provides first-class person-centred dementia care in a Memory Lane Community.

A team of highly-qualified and attentive staff really focuses on the individual needs of residents with a tailored care plan for each person. The activities programme is also crafted to meet the interests and hobbies of all residents.

Along with accommodation for dementia and Alzheimer’s sufferers, Appletree Grange also welcomes individuals in need of temporary respite care or long-term residential care.

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Care Provided by Barchester Appletree Grange Care Home

  • Primary Care Categories
  • Dementia
  • Older Person Care
  • Respite Care
  • Care Types Provided
  • Dementia Residential Care
  • Residential Care
  • For a maximum of 32 Service Users
  • Privately Owned
  • Care Offered
  • Alzheimer's
  • COPD/Pulmonary Disease
  • Epilepsy
  • Hearing Impairment
  • Korsakoff Syndrome
  • Parkinson's Disease
  • Speech Impairment
  • Stroke
  • Visual Impairment
  • Other Care Provided
  • End of Life Care
  • Own GP if required
  • Palliative Care

Good to Know

  • Person in charge
  • Ben Patterson (General Manager)
  • Admission Criteria
    • Ages 55+
  • Room Information
    • Single Rooms (32)
  • Care Home Design/Build
    • Purpose Built: Yes
    • Last Refurbishment: 2003
    • Number of floors: 2

Funding & Fees Guide for Barchester Appletree Grange Care Home

  • 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 £1,116

  • This Weekly Fee rate is an indication only of a typical standard fee rate for a resident living in a standard, comfortable room. A final Weekly Fee rate will be confirmed once we have carried out a pre-admission needs assessment.
  • (these prices are only a guideline, please contact Barchester Appletree Grange Care Home to find out the exact price for your requirements)

Facilities

  • Close to Local shops
  • Gardens
  • Lift
  • Minibus or other transport
  • Near Public Transport
  • Own Furniture if required
  • Pet Friendly (or by arrangement)
  • Residents Internet Access
  • Television point in own room
  • Wheelchair Access

Barchester Appletree Grange Care Home Reviews (60)

Total of 60, showing 41-60
9.6

Barchester Appletree Grange Care Home has a Review Score of 9.6 (9.592) out of 10, based on 13 reviews in the last 2 years. Over all time Barchester Appletree Grange Care Home has 60 reviews.

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Review from Christine T (Daughter of Resident) published on 29 March 2018
Submitted via Postal Card • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

When I walked into Appletree Grange having visited lots of other homes, I knew this was the right place for my mother. The staff are all very friendly, welcoming and very caring and kind.
My mother and all the residents are treated with respect.
The food is lovely and there's always plenty of activities
and regular entertainment. I know I made a great choice.

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Review from Margaret S (Wife of Resident) published on 20 November 2017
Submitted via Postal Card • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

I am well pleased with the care my husband receives. He is happy here and we have no problems at all. The food is excellent and well presented at all times. The home is well run and is always very well presented. The management provides an excellent service and keeps you well informed of anything you
need to know of.


I think Appletree Grange is a very well thought of residential care home.


Reply from Elizabeth Brown, General Manager at Barchester Appletree Grange Care Home

Thank you for the review, it is much appreciated.


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Review from David L (Son of Resident) published on 7 September 2017
Submitted via Postal Card • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

After the first few weeks, my Mam has settled in very well and is very happy at this home. She has lots of activities and trips out and joins in with all of the activities.

Reply from Elizabeth Brown, General Manager at Barchester Appletree Grange Care Home

Thank you the staff will appreciate your comments.


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Review from Valerie R (Daughter of Resident) published on 24 August 2017
Submitted via Postal Card • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Mam is very well looked after. My sister and I have no worries about Mam. She is always very well, if there are any problems I am informed directly.

Reply from elizabeth brown, general manager at Barchester Appletree Grange Care Home

Thank you for your kind words and comments it is always nice for the staff to be praised for there hard word


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Review from Doreen W (Daughter of Resident) published on 20 June 2017
Submitted via Postal Card • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Appletree is a delightful care home where my mother has settled very well, but this home would really go upmarket if they had a conservatory so families could sit with residents.

Reply from Elizabeth Brown, General Manager at Barchester Appletree Grange Care Home

Thank you for your lovely comments, it is much appreciated.


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Review from Susan D (Daughter of Resident) published on 5 June 2017
Submitted via Postal Card • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Appletree Grange could really use a conservatory built. It would be ideal for residents to sit in, on a lovely day and to watch things in the garden. It would also be good for any events they have planned. Appletree is a very caring and well-kept home, my mum loves it there.

Reply from Elizabeth Brown, General Manager at Barchester Appletree Grange Care Home

Thanks for your caring words. It is much appreciated.


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Review from K S (Nephew of Resident) published on 25 May 2017
Submitted via Postal Card • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My experience of Appletree Grange is most pleasing and positive in every respect. The care my aunt receives is of an excellent standard. Her individual needs are well catered for with great care, respect and understanding by all the staff. I wouldn't hesitate in recommending Appletree Grange to anyone
else.

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Review from Liz C (Daughter of Resident) published on 28 March 2017
Submitted via Postal Card • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Mum has advanced stage Vascular Dementia and was friendly it increasingly difficult to lead an independent life. She was depressed and withdrawn. Since she entered Appletree Grange she has a renewed zest for life and is happy and content.
The staff are caring and efficient. They treat each resident
with respect and have a genuine liking for them. My sisters and I were worried about how mum would react to her new life - our worries were needless, thanks to the care of the care home staff and management. Have recommended Barchester Appletree Grange Care Home to friends of ours.

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Review from Ruth B (Daughter of Resident) published on 13 March 2017
Submitted via Postal Card • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 4.0 out of 5

Speaking on behalf of my mother, as Mam has dementia and Alzheimer's, Mam seems very happy, clean, groomed. She likes her outings and loves watching telly and going over to the Community Hall to have a bit of a dance. I would only love it if she could recognise me but she can't, well she is still here.

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Review from Sonia W (Wife of Resident) published on 9 March 2017
Submitted via Postal Card • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

I am very happy with Barchester Appletree Grange Care Home. All the resident are well fed and cared for, the place is always very clean and there is a lady who calls bingo and does a lot of other activities as well as entertainers coming to the house. There is a TV in the lounge with plenty of DVD's.
There is also a cassette to play music. People who cannot feed themselves are fed by the staff each meal and all the carers make everyone welcome when you visit the home. It's a home from home.

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Review from Ray J (Daughter of Resident) published on 8 March 2017
Submitted via Postal Card • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

The home has been the best thing that has happened to my mother in recent years.
She is safe, well cared for, and has lots of company. She engages in the activities and is happy to join in whatever is going on.
We were worried as a family about placing my mother in care but those fears and worries
have totally disappeared.
I cannot praise the home and all the people who work in it enough.
The standards are exceptional.

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Review from David B (Son of Resident) published on 21 December 2016
Submitted via Postal Card • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Appletree is a small friendly care home, where all the residents are treated with dignity and respect. During the day the residence socialise/relax in one communal living area, where they can interact with their fellow residents and carers. From my experience, visiting my mother on a regular basis,
I've noticed the staff are of the highest standard and they genuinely care for the residents, which gives me peace of mind knowing my mam is being given the best care possible.

Reply from Elizabeth Brown, General manager at Barchester Appletree Grange Care Home

Thank you, David for your lovely comments I have passed this over to all the staff and it is much appreciated.


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Review from Christine A (Daughter of Resident) published on 7 December 2016
Submitted via Postal Card • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 4.0 out of 5

The staff in the home are very friendly, caring and obliging. Bedrooms seem rather small, no room for any additional furniture i.e another chair for visitors. The furniture in the bedroom is quite old.
Daytime area (lounge) is tight for space both for residents and visitors. Narrow corridors make it
difficult to give residents walking exercise.

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Review from Sue L (Daughter of Resident) published on 22 November 2016
Submitted via Postal Card • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Barchester Appletree Grange Care Home staff have been my mother's guardian angels. I am unable to nominate an employee of the month of this outstanding team as each and every member of staff has shown our dear Mam respect and treated her with the utmost dignity. More importantly given her the best person-centered
loving care and we appreciate their understanding of our Mam's wonderful personality and sense of humour. We feel relieved and forever thankful that she has been in the safe and capable hands of the management and staff at Barchester Appletree Grange Care Home. Afterall, Mam is our most treasured and loved member of the family and deserves nothing but the best and this she has received with thanks.

Reply from Elizabeth Brown, General Manager at Barchester Appletree Grange Care Home

Thank you to all the family for their kind words, mum was a pleasure to care for and all the staff will always have fond memories of her wonderful smile and the support of the family.


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Review from L S (Daughter of Resident) published on 8 January 2016
Submitted via Postal Card • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Since my mother has resided at Appletree Grange she has been cared for extremely well with respect and dignity. The staff have as very caring approach and make family and friends feel very welcome. The management have been great helping with any questions and advice.

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Review from Jean S (Daughter of Resident) published on 24 August 2015
Submitted via Postal Card • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Well kept very clean home. Staff always willing to talk about residents, plenty of activities to keep minds working. My father has improved loads since coming to Appletree. If he had stayed at the previous home I don't think he would still be with us. Love the open days, raffles and tombola's. The atmosphere
is relaxed, homely feel about the place with nice nick nacks like a proper home not a care home.

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Review from Florence D (Partner of Resident) published on 13 August 2015
Submitted via Postal Card • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 4.0 out of 5

I find Appletree Grange to be a home loving atmosphere, staff are lovely with the residents, if I have any concerns they are easy to talk to and give me peace of mind, they have summer fairs, which are quite good, we have sing-alongs which get the residents involved and which they enjoy. All in all
I am quite happy with the care there.

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Review from Ann S (Sister of Resident) published on 7 August 2015
Submitted via Postal Card • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

I am always kept informed of my sisters health, how she has been and what she has been doing.

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Review from Rose L (Daughter of Resident) published on 7 August 2015
Submitted via Postal Card • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

I have been very pleased with the excellent care my mother receives at Applegate Grange. The staff are very professional but also warm and affectionate with the residents. The home is always clean and smells fresh and welcoming. Visitors are very welcome and are offered a cup of tea or coffee to share
with their loved ones. This means so much to my mother as it was something we always did together. Any health problems have been picked up quickly and acted upon. There is a regular hairdresser, podiatrist, dentist and of course health professionals in attendance. I have complete peace of mind knowing my mother is in Applegate Grange.

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Review from Frank B (Son of Resident) published on 5 August 2015
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Visited the home on the 30 of July 2015, spent most of the morning with mother the day being her 97th birthday. The home had a very pleasant atmosphere with good clean surroundings. I found the menu for the day good wholesome food, mum appeared to be very happy at Appletree Grange which makes me contented
that she's in good hands.

Reply from Elizabeth Brown, General Manager at Barchester Appletree Grange Care Home

Thank you very much for the wonderful review, myself and the staff really appreciate some positive feedback.


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Current Review Score: 9.6 (9.592)

Overview of Review Score

The Review Score of 9.6 (9.592) out of 10 for Barchester Appletree Grange Care Home 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 13 Reviews in the last 24 months.

  • b) The score for the number of positive Reviews is 5.0 out of 5 from 13 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 4.592 for Barchester Appletree Grange Care Home is calculated as follows: ( (96 Excellents x 5) + (43 Goods x 4) + (7 Satisfactorys x 3) + (1 Poors x 2) ) ÷ 147 Ratings = 4.592

  • 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 Barchester Appletree Grange Care Home is based on 13 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 32 registered maximum number of service users is 6.4, which has been reached with 13 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: 6 Apr 2022

Overall
Good

  • Caring

    Good

  • Effective

    Good

  • Responsive

    Good

  • Safe

    Good

  • 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 (12)

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Meet the Team (6)

Nicola

Nicola Liddle

Job Title: Administrator

Hi, my name is Nicola and I joined the Appletree team in August 2022. I am the Home Administrator. I deal with all aspects of the administration of the home to ensure it runs smoothly, from invoicing, ordering, recruitment, and setting up contracts, to manning reception; there's never a dull day!


I consider myself to be extremely privileged to work with such wonderful people, full of humour with wonderful stories to tell.


David

David Scott

Job Title: Head Chef

Hi, my name is David and I am the Head Chef here at Appletree Grange. I bring a wealth of experience and knowledge to the home and have worked in the hospitality sector since I was 17 years old. I have previously cooked in hotels, restaurants, and in the army. Cooking is a passion of mine and I love seeing our lovely residents enjoying their meals. Here at Appletree Grange, we provide a wonderful choice of delicious and wholesome dishes. The food and the dining experience at Appletree Grange is recognised as an integral part of the lifestyle here at the home and I am responsible for managing the catering team, ensuring they provide a quality catering service to all our residents, guests and visitors.


Julie

Julie Redden

Job Title: Head of Housekeeping

Hi, my name is Julie Redden and I am the Head Housekeeper here at Appletree Grange. I have worked here for many years; it’s a lovely environment for residents. I enjoy getting to know those we support and their loved ones. Outside of work, I love spending time with my family, and I also like to go out for meals. I also love shopping, especially for new shoes and perfume.


Leigh

Leigh Cameron

Job Title: Carer

Joined: 2022

Hi, I’m Leigh, I joined Appletree in September 2022 as a Care Assistant and I enjoy getting to know our residents, it’s a lovely environment for them and I love working here and hope to be here for many years to come. I love working as part of a team in delivering quality care and lifestyle for our residents - it feels like an extended family.


Renaye

Renaye Dixon

Job Title: Carer

Joined: 2022

Hi, my name is Reneye and I joined Appletree Grange in 2022 as a carer, I really enjoy my job and caring for all of our residents. I continue to develop my skills to support our Residents on a day-to-day basis, I enjoy my job and enjoy any training that helps with my continued development that enhances the delivery of great Quality of Care to my Residents within the Home.


James

James Evans

Job Title: Kitchen Assistant

Joined: 2014

Hi, my name is James and I am a Kitchen Assistant at Appletree Grange and joined the home in 2014. I love my job and spending happy times with our residents and staff.


Appletree Grange is a very happy home and there is lots of laughter. This makes it a pleasure to come to work.