Barchester Austen House Care Home

Kilnsea Drive, Lower Earley, Reading RG6 3UJ
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9.7 114 Reviews
  • Barchester Austen House Care Home, Reading
Austen House is a purpose-built Nursing Home in Reading, set in a semi-rural location and within easy reach of Wokingham and London. The staff at Austen House are dedicated to meeting all residents’ needs.

Austen House boasts an established, well run Nursing Floor with dedicated, experienced nurses 24 hours a day.

Austen House’s specialised Memory Lane Community (for people living with dementia) was refurbished in Summer 24. The team have also been awarded certificates by the Alzheimer's Society for passing a course that helped with enhancing their understanding of dementia. It involves improved insight into dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, and learning that feelings matter most.

Austen House welcomes enquiries from anyone and is pleased to show everyone – whether they're looking for advice or support – around if they would like to drop in to investigate for themselves.

Please get in touch and they would be thrilled to assist you with your enquiry.

Care Provided by Barchester Austen House Care Home

  • Primary Care Categories
  • Dementia
  • Older Person Care
  • Physical Disability
  • Respite Care
  • Sensory Impairment
  • Care Types Provided
  • Dementia Nursing Care
  • Dementia Residential Care
  • Nursing Care
  • Residential Care
  • For a maximum of 79 Service Users
  • Privately Owned
  • Care Offered
  • Alzheimer's
  • Cancer Care
  • Hearing Impairment
  • Parkinson's Disease
  • Speech Impairment
  • Stroke
  • Visual Impairment
  • Other Care Provided
  • Convalescent Care
  • Own GP if required
  • Palliative Care
  • Physiotherapy
  • Separate Specialist Dementia Care Unit

Good to Know

  • Person in charge
  • Simona Cioinac (Registered Manager)
  • Admission Criteria
    • Enquiries welcome from all agencies and individuals
    • Ages 60+
  • Room Information
    • Single Rooms (79)
    • Couples/Companion Rooms (0)
  • Care Home Design/Build
    • Purpose Built: Yes
    • Year Purpose Built: 1994
    • Last Refurbishment: 2024
    • Number of floors: 2

Funding & Fees Guide for Barchester Austen House 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 £1,566
  • 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. For nursing care, Weekly Fee rate will be dependent on personal needs.


  • (these prices are only a guideline, please contact Barchester Austen House Care Home to find out the exact price for your requirements)

Facilities

  • Bar/Café
  • Close to Local shops
  • Gardens
  • Lift
  • Minibus or other transport
  • Near Public Transport
  • Own Furniture if required
  • Phone Point in own room
  • Residents Internet Access
  • Smoking not permitted
  • Wheelchair Access
  • Parking
  • Free parking on site at Austen House


Barchester Austen House Care Home Reviews (114)

Total of 114, showing 101-114
9.7

Barchester Austen House Care Home has a Review Score of 9.7 (9.715) out of 10, based on 18 reviews in the last 2 years. Over all time Barchester Austen House Care Home has 114 reviews.

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  • 37
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Date Published

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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 4.0 out of 5

My father has been a resident since November 2017. It has been a very positive experience in such a stressful situation. We had come from a very uncaring environment to one here at Austen house where I feel my dad is looked after very well. All the staff are very friendly towards both the residents
and visitors/family. They have welcomed my children and get them involved in their events. I feel that maybe looking after the residents' bedrooms/belongings could be improved as lots go missing.

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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

We are very happy with Austen House. They make everyone welcome and always happy to help in any way.

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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 4.0 out of 5

My mum came here for the second time for respite care. Everyone made her feel very welcome which helped her anxiety. Four carers, in particular, were very reassuring to my mum.
Thank you.

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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 3.0 out of 5

Some carers are good. New management is looking good and trying to improve the quality of care.

Reply from Jo Wood, Client Liaison Manager at Barchester Austen House Care Home

Thank you for your comments. We welcome feedback to ensure we continue our focus on delivering person centred care. We are pleased to hear you are happy with our improvements.


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

The staff in the Kennet area at Austen House Care Home are an exceptional group of nurses and carers. My mother spent the last eight months of her life here and she was very happy. During this time her care was second to none and the staff showed great friendship towards her. Knowing that she was happy,
safe and secure gave me peace of mind. When I visited her I too was shown a friendly welcome and I was kept informed of any changes. We were able to personalise her room with her pictures, ornaments and soft toys which made her feel at home. I would not hesitate to recommend Austen House Care Home to anyone looking for a nursing care home.

Reply from Serb Sidhu, DSMM at Barchester Austen House Care Home

Dear Mrs Jones
Thank you very much for your positive and valuable feedback which we are delighted to share with our team. We are pleased to know that we were able to make such a difference to your mothers life. We thank you for scoring us so highly on all areas and we are committed to sustaining these excellent standards.
Kind Regards
The Management Team at Austen House


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 4.0 out of 5

Austen House nursing staff, care staff and the manager all give care and demonstrate respect, understanding, constant skill and patience. This creates a really caring community and willingness to respond in creative ways to numerous and constant demand.
The atmosphere is positive, teamwork is good,
there is great spirit and enthusiasm evident in the staff teams.
Areas that need to be developed are the use of the gardens, singers, musicians, entertainers, music and artwork, I think. Getting more people out of their rooms. We are very pleased with Austen House.

Reply from Jo Wood, Client Liaison Manager at Barchester Austen House Care Home

Thank you for your kind comments and we will look at the areas that you have suggested. We will feed this back to the teams at the home.


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 4.0 out of 5

My husband has been at Austen House since January 2017. He has settled well and I am very pleased. I must compliment the staff for their understanding, warmth and wonderful care they have shown to my husband and in fact myself also. They exercise terrific patience and comfort.


I always find him

in clean clothes and neatly shaven. Compliments must also be paid to the catering staff, who provide a varied menu. I must mention that I am very impressed with our new manageress and look forward to watching her new inspirations manifest.

Reply from Rozina Ali, General Manager at Barchester Austen House Care Home

We are very thankful to 'B O' for her wonderful feedback and reassure her that we will continue working hard to offer kindest care to our residents and all family members at Austen House.


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Too often, agency carers, some of whom don't quite understand what is required of them.


Rarely does a carer look in to see if the resident is alright. Meals can often be left on the bedside table out of the patient's reach - not all carers do this! Usually, a new carer just started.


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may have a long wait to be cleaned and made comfortable.

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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

We had to quickly find a care/nursing home for mum after a traumatic and life changing fall left her needing 24-hour care. My father is elderly too and needed somewhere close to their and my home. This fitted the bill. Mum is happy here, well fed and looked after by a team of carers who've taken the
time to get to know her and us. Dad, myself and other family members can visit mum whenever we wish knowing she is in a home she likes, safe, secure, well fed, clean and warm. What could any daughter ask of her much loved mum's care. Thank you.

Reply from Rozina Ali, General Manager at Barchester Austen House Care Home

Dear Elieen


Thank you very much indeed for your glowing feedback concerning the care that we are providing for your mother. Our team are committed to ensuring that our residents receive quality care and we are pleased that you, your family and your mother are happy with what we have been able to offer.


We are delighted that you have rated us excellent across all measures and our dedicated team are thrilled with this review showing your appreciation for all that we do. Thank you.


Kind regards


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 4.0 out of 5

The home is well run. It can be short of staff especially at weekends but this is a country problem as there are not many people who will do the job. Overall, all staff do a very good job in which is a very stressful occupation. The entertainment team work hard and fill as much time as they can.

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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 3.0 out of 5

Carers good. Could be better! Response to residents call varies depending on carer on duty. Has improved since new manager appointed.

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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 4.0 out of 5

My Father has been a resident at Austen House (Bourne Unit) since August 2015. He has Vascular Dementia... The care he receives is very good. Communication from Austen House to my family and I has much improved over the last 4/5 months in that we receive proactive updates on his well-being, health
etc. - through telephone calls and newly-commenced "Relatives Meetings". This was not the case when he first went there. There has been a large turnover of senior management staff and Dementia Nursing Staff (which is being addressed). Most, fortunately, the same wonderful Carers have been looking after my Father since his arrival there, so they know him and they know me and my Family.
Barchester Homes are finally investing in Austen House with planned (long overdue) redecoration in all Units. Alas, my Father's Unit will be the last one to be completely updated, although some walls in corridors have been painted thus making it brighter (& helpful & calming to the residents).

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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My father moved into Austen House in June of this year. From day one I have been impressed with the care and attention he receives. He is a very frail 96 year old with vascular dementia.
The staff in his section are helpful, caring and efficient. He has a choice of meals and tea and cakes are provided
throughout the day. They ensure he is fed, clean and shaved on a daily basis. For the past eight years, I had to look after him and after hospitalisation, the council suggested he went into a nursing home. This was the right decision and now I also have my life back.

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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 4.0 out of 5

My father was a resident in Loddon Unit for 20 months until his death on Christmas Eve 2015. His behaviour could be a little challenging at times, but he was cared for by the nurses and carers with kindness, patience and even a little gentle teasing and fun. He clearly grew to love them for this and
was known for the beaming smile he wore when interacting with staff. The atmosphere on the unit was almost like a family home and visitors (sadly he didn't have many) were made welcome. Dad was always dressed in clean clothes, he had a good choice of food and was fed by staff at mealtimes, and when he wanted to go to his room staff would select something for him to watch on his TV, as he was unable to do this for himself. I could think of him at any time at Austen House, warmly confident that he was being properly looked after. This had not been the case at the previous home (not a Barchester one) he had been in, so I visited often in order to check on his care. Dad's residence at Austen House became an immense relief to me and the rest of Dad's family. We are so grateful.

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Current Review Score: 9.7 (9.715)

Overview of Review Score

The Review Score of 9.7 (9.715) out of 10 for Barchester Austen House Care Home is based on a) the Average Rating and b) the number of positive Reviews.

  • a) The Average Rating is 4.7 out of 5 from 18 Reviews in the last 24 months.

  • b) The score for the number of positive Reviews is 5.0 out of 5 from 18 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 4.715 for Barchester Austen House Care Home is calculated as follows: ( (159 Excellents x 5) + (49 Goods x 4) + (6 Satisfactorys x 3) ) ÷ 214 Ratings = 4.715

  • 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 Austen House Care Home is based on 18 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 79 registered maximum number of service users is 15.8, which has been reached with 18 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: 4 Oct 2022

Overall
Requires improvement

  • Caring

    Good
  • Effective

    Requires improvement
  • 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 (80)

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Meet the Team (15)

Simona

Simona Cioinac

Job Title: Senior General Manager

Joined: 2023

Hello, my name is Simona and I am the Senior General Manager here at Austen House. I look forward to welcoming you to our home.


Thank you for taking the time to read this. I love to see prospective residents, families and friends, new members of staff and the local community taking an interest in our community.


My role is to ensure that we deliver what we say we do. I am responsible for overall service delivery to our residents and community, inspiring and leading the team and ensuring high standards of governance and compliance are achieved.


I trained as a nurse in Italy and worked there for 20 years in that capacity. In the last 7 years before leaving Italy, I had the privilege of serving the public healthcare sector by managing and leading frontline hospital services. In 2017 I came to the UK and joined the NHS, which I was particularly proud of. I have learnt a great deal from these colleagues along my career journey.


I truly believe in the values of responsibility, integrity, kindness, compassion and doing what I can for others. The care sector has afforded me the opportunity to ‘live’ these values in the workplace, for which I am truly grateful.


After serving in the NHS I was immediately drawn to Barchester because of the culture and principles the organisation aspires to.


I am now passionately working with the community and my team here at West Oak to take the home’s services forward. My team and I are fully committed to embedding the Barchester Values: RESPECT, INTEGRITY, PASSION, EMPOWERMENT and RESPONSIBILITY.


My door is always open to the community, family, residents and staff: do not hesitate to come and talk to me should you need anything or if I can assist in any way.


Thank you for your interest in our lovely home.


Zulekha

Zulekha Omar

Job Title: Clinical Deputy Manager

Joined: 2024

Hello,
I am thrilled to introduce myself as the new Clinical Deputy Manager at Austen House. My name is Zulekha Omar, and I am truly honoured to be joining such a dedicated and passionate team.


My primary goal in this role is to support each of you in delivering the highest quality of care to our residents. I firmly believe in the power of collaboration and support in achieving extraordinary results. I am committed to creating an atmosphere where each team member feels empowered to contribute their unique skills and ideas.


I am excited to be a part of this team and am confident that together, we will achieve great things. Let us work together to continue providing exceptional care to our patients and making a positive impact in their lives.


I look forward to getting to know each of you and working together to make Austen House a place of excellence.


Lind

Lind Immaculate

Job Title: Home Administrator

Joined: 2015

I'm Lind, and I have been a part of the team since 2015. I am very passionate about my role at Austen House and love spending time with the residents and getting to know their relatives. During my time at Austen House, I have developed my skills and completed the Level 2 Accounting course.


I am always around to help and happy to assist wherever possible.


Charlie

Charlie Burns

Job Title: Senior Activities Lead

Joined: 2017

Hello, I'm Charlie and I am the Senior Activities Lead here at Austen House.
I have proudly worked at for Barchester since 2017. As Senior Activities Lead, I tailor enriching, engaging and individualised activities for our wonderful residents here at Austen. I am supported by my amazing team of Activity Coordinators to deliver activities on a daily basis across the home.
I look forward to welcoming you and your family to Austen House!


Daniel

Daniel Cazacu

Job Title: Head Maintenance

Joined: 2019

Hello! My name is Daniel, and I have been part of the team since 2019.


I have a passion for creating a safe and comfortable environment for our residents, staff and relatives. With several years of expertise in facilities management and leadership, I bring a wealth of knowledge and keen eye for detail to Austen House.


I look forward to meeting you all.


Ainsworth

Ainsworth Brown

Job Title: Chef

Joined: 2015

Ainsworth started working in the hospitality industry in 2004 as a second chef at a different care home. He gained further experience as a Chef De Partie, preparing various English, Asian and French authentic dishes, before being promoted to Head Chef.


Miracle

Miracle Ainembabazi

Job Title: Administration Assistant

Joined: 2023

Hello! My name is Miracle, I am the backbone of our daily operations, ensuring smooth functioning and exceptional service delivery. With a blend of organisational prowess, interpersonal finesse, and a deep sense of compassion, I am dedicated to upholding Austen House's reputation for excellence in elder care. Committed to professionalism and driven by a genuine desire to make a positive difference, I take pride in contributing to the well-being and happiness of our residents and their families.


Tulika

Tulika Paul

Job Title: Admin Assistant

Joined: 2019

Tulika has been part of the team here at Austen House since 2019 when she joined our activities team, moving to reception initially on a bank basis she is now with us every weekend and knows our residents and relatives very well.


Soniya

Soniya Sharma

Job Title: Head of Unit

Joined: 2019

Hello, my name is Sonyia and I am a young, dedicated, committed nurse, willing to explore and develop my knowledge and skills.


I enjoy working with a variety of people and enjoy a challenge, using my initiative to solve a problem. It is important to me to ensure that within the care home, my residents are comfortable and satisfied with their surroundings and care.


Josephine

Josephine Shingwele

Job Title: Head of Unit/Care Practioner

Joined: 2005

Joesphine has been employed by Barchester Austen House since/02/2023 and ever since she has been a very valued member of staff, she is reliable and flexible and her committed to her role as she helps other staff members to deliver possible person-centred care to our residents.


Prathistha

Prathistha Karhi

Job Title: Registered Nurse

Joined: 2021

Hello, my name is Prathistha and I have joined the nursing team at Austen House, I moved from the Nepal to qualify as a nurse and really enjoying getting to know and caring for our residents


Karen

Karen Lay

Job Title: Laundry Assistant

Joined: 1998

Karen has worked with us for over 20 years! She is a Laundry Assistant within Austen House.


Domestic Team

Domestic Team

Job Title: Hostess Team

Joined: 2016

Hello! Meet some of our hostesses who are very passionate about the art of hosting and creating unforgettable experiences at Austen House.


Sunita

Sunita Biyani

Job Title: Activities Assistant

Joined: 2008

I joined the team at Austen House in 2008 and passionate about fulfilling residents lives by getting to know each individual on a personal level and supporting them to continue enjoying their hobbies, I hold this very close to my heart 


Jo

Jo Austin

Job Title: Hairdresser

Jo is our home hairdresser at Austen House, appointments with her are available two days a week and she is very flexible over what time residents would like, we all love a pamper and she also visits residents in their rooms if they prefer!