The Willows Care Home

Heathercroft, Great Linford, Milton Keynes MK14 5EG
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9.6 128 Reviews
  • The Willows Care Home, Milton Keynes
The Willows Care Centre is located in Great Linford which is a village with the Grand Union Canal running through its centre just a few miles from central Milton Keynes.

Set in spacious, peaceful grounds the home has en-suite rooms and extensive communal areas and provides the highest standards of care and accommodation for people with residential, dementia, nursing or palliative care needs.

The Willows makes the most of the diverse local amenities. A short walk from the home there is a local centre which has shopping opportunities, eateries and a coffee shop. Two public houses offering food and refreshments are also within walking distance. The local duck pond is only a stone’s throw away form the home and provides a tranquil setting to watch the local wild life.

The Willows has lounge and dining areas with kitchenettes on each floor where meals are provided by a chef and their team who can cater for all specialist diets.

In addition, there are numerous quiet areas around the home, a conservatory and a hairdressing salon. There is also a large enclosed garden which is accessible to wheelchair users.

Reminiscence is key to wellbeing and The Willows has three reminiscence shops within the grounds to take the people living there on a trip down memory lane. The dynamic and engaging activities team provide wide and varied opportunities for social engagement tailored to the choices of the individual.

Due to the peaceful setting of the home it is difficult to imagine it is so close to the centre of a busy city. There is good public transport links to the home with a bus stop just outside the main gates.

A warm welcome awaits anyone at any time of day with no visiting restrictions, young and old alike the more the merrier.

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Care Provided by The Willows Care Home

  • Type of Service
    • Nursing Home
  • Privately Owned
  • For a maximum of 130 Service Users
  • Primary Care Categories
  • Dementia
  • Older Person Care
  • Physical Disability
  • Respite Care
  • Sensory Impairment
  • Care Offered
  • Alzheimer's
  • Other Care Provided
  • Own GP if required
  • Palliative Care
  • Separate Specialist Dementia Care Unit

Good to Know

  • Person in charge
  • Sahr Mosery (Home Manager)
  • Admission Criteria
    • Ages 60+
  • Room Information
    • Single Rooms (130)
  • Care Home Design/Build
    • Purpose Built: Yes

Funding & Fees Guide for The Willows Care Home

  • Weekly Charges per Person
    • RESPITE Self-Funded Nursing Care from £1,450
  • (these prices are only a guideline, please contact The Willows Care Home 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 welcome at any time.


  • Parking

  • On site parking for visitors.


The Willows Care Home Reviews (128)

Total of 128, showing 41-60
9.6

The Willows Care Home has a Review Score of 9.6 (9.644) out of 10, based on 47 reviews in the last 2 years. Over all time The Willows Care Home has 128 reviews.

Overall Experience

  • 98
  • 25
  • 2
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  • 2

Date Published

128
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47
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Review from S H (Daughter of Resident) published on 7 June 2023
Submitted via Postal Card • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 4.0 out of 5

The Willows Care Home have been wonderful with my mum. Excellent care. Thank you.

Reply from Gale Hills, Business Manager at The Willows Care Home

Thank you very much for the lovely review. We always value feedback and will be sure to let our team members know.


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Review from Jane D (Daughter of Resident) published on 17 May 2023
Submitted via Postal Card • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My father went into The Willows Care Home from the hospital for respite. He stayed for three weeks. The staff were amazing and Dad loved them all, they even all came out to say goodbye to him when he left today. I cannot thank the team enough for getting my dad back on his feet and able to go home after
three weeks of their care.

Reply from Gale Hills, Business Manager at The Willows Care Home

We very much appreciate your kind review and it's lovely to hear your dad is continuing to do so well.


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Review from J H (Resident) published on 10 May 2023
Submitted via Postal Card • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

I love my stay on the unit, they are all lovely.

Reply from Celia Hardill, Regional Director (Milton Keynes) at The Willows Care Home

Thank you for your review and it is lovely to hear that you are happy in the home.


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Review from Susie H (Wife of Resident) published on 4 May 2023
Submitted via Postal Card • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My husband has used The Willows for respite care for many years. The staff are so kind to him. and he doesn't mind going for his regular two-week stay. The new room he had this time was beautiful; you have done a great job for an overdue refurb. The furniture and the new floor, the bed, the curtains
and the colours on the walls... superb! Thank you.

Reply from Gale Hills, Business Manager at The Willows Care Home

Thank you so much for your kind review; it's our pleasure to welcome your husband on his short stays with us and are very pleased that you like the new room.


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Review from J M (Husband of Resident) published on 4 May 2023
Submitted via Postal Card • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

The home had a friendly feel and all the staff were caring and helpful, nothing was too much trouble.

Reply from Gale Hills, Business Manager at The Willows Care Home

Many thanks for your review, I will be sure to pass on your kind comments to our team.


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Review from A G (Resident) published on 20 April 2023
Submitted via Postal Card • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

The staff are ready and helpful. The manager is always helpful and caring.

Reply from Gale Hills, Business Manager at The Willows Care Home

Thank you for your lovely review. I shall ensure your kind words are passed on to all of our team members.


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Review from S M (Resident) published on 20 April 2023
Submitted via Postal Card • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

I have been very comfortable here. The staff and carers etc have been lovely, very caring, helpful and always cheerful. Everything is kept very clean. The food is nice. Overall, nothing but good.

Reply from Gale Hills, Business Manager at The Willows Care Home

Thank you so much for your kind review. It is our greatest pleasure to ensure you are comfortable and well cared for.


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Review from Daphne H (Sister of Resident) published on 25 March 2023
Submitted via Postal Card • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My sister has been in the excellent care of The Willows Care Home for several weeks now. I do not live in Milton Keynes so cannot visit easily but when I phone, all the staff are extremely helpful and pleasant. I would just like to say a very big thank you to you all for looking after her so well. I
am very grateful.

Reply from Gale Hills, Regional Administration Manager at The Willows Care Home

Many thanks for such a lovely review. It is so rewarding for the team to receive such great feedback, which will be duly passed on. Kindest regards.


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Review from Adam W (Son of Resident) published on 27 February 2023
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

I went in over Christmas to spend time with my dad, and I was really pleased with how lovely and festive the home looked and how great the staff were. They'd put him in the Christmas jumper we'd sent in, and he was really tidy and happy. As we're not local, it's comforting to know he's being so well
looked after. Thank you, The Willows.

Reply from Celia Hardill, Regional Director (Milton Keynes) at The Willows Care Home

Thank you for your review of The Willows, it was lovely to hear that you are happy with the team there and that your dad was happy in the home. Thanks again. Kind regards.


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Review from Claire M (Daughter-in-law of Resident) published on 13 February 2023
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My family member has been a resident for four months now and is being very well cared for. They are happy and regaining their confidence. They have a great social life, there is always something going on. The Willows Care Home has a lovely vibe, so friendly. The rooms are extremely comfortable, well
decorated and always so clean. The staff are excellent and so caring, I have not seen my family member so happy and relaxed for a long time.

Reply from Gale Hills, Business Manager at The Willows Care Home

Thank you so much for your kind words; it is always lovely to receive positive feedback and I shall relay this to our team members. Thank you for your time in completing this review.


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Review from Jacqueline L (Daughter of Resident) published on 9 February 2023
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My dad was in the Heather unit as he had medical conditions that needed to be cared for. He was very well looked after while he was there.
There was so much support for my dad and me from the staff. I knew that Dad was getting the care and medical attention that he needed which meant that I could be
confident that he was safe.
As his essential caregiver, I was able to visit him anytime which helped my dad enormously.
From the reception staff to the nursing staff and the carers, the friendliness and attention to detail were excellent.
While Dad was living at home, we struggled to keep him well enough to stay out of hospital. From the moment that he was in the care of The Willows Care Home, he was only admitted to hospital twice in eighteen months, instead of every couple of weeks, while he was in his own home. It was such a relief to know that he had everything he needed to keep him as well as possible.
Dad passed away in hospital in December 2022.
Thank you for all you did for Dad.

Reply from Celia Hardill, Regional Director (Milton Keynes) at The Willows Care Home

Our sincerest condolences to you and your family. Thank you for your kind words for The Willows, it is heartwarming to read for us all in the Excelcare family. Kind regards, Celia.


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Review from Daniel R (Friend of Resident) published on 14 December 2022
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

The most fantastic care home, friendliest staff around, a warm welcome as soon as you enter and nothing but smiles from there on out. Keep up the good work Willows! I hope when my time comes, I'll be cared for by people this lovely!

Reply from Gale Hills, Business Manager at The Willows Care Home

That's so very kind thank you, it's so rewarding for the team to receive such a lovely and positive review.


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Review from Barry H (Friend of Resident) published on 13 December 2022
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

On entering The Willows, I felt an instant calm and kindness in the home with very polite, friendly and professional staff. All questions were answered and nothing seemed too much effort. The decor was well kept and the cleanliness was noticeable. A friend that I was visiting, was notably comfortable
considering the poor health she now finds herself in.

Reply from Larysa Koss, Deputy Manager at The Willows Care Home

Many thanks for your kind words; It is always lovely to receive positive feedback. Thank you for your time in completing this review. Kindest regards, Larysa Koss.


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Review from Anne P (Daughter of Resident) published on 30 November 2022
Submitted via Postal Card • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

On visiting my mother at The Willows care home, it is always spotlessly clean and has a calm and homely atmosphere. Mum is encouraged to join in the activities provided and enjoys them. She is happy and seems content. All the staff are very friendly, helpful, kind and attentive to both the residents
and their relatives.

Reply from Larysa Koss, Operations Support Lead at The Willows Care Home

Thank you so much for your comments. We are delighted to have received such a wonderful review. The team members do work really hard to support both the people who live here and their families. Thank you for taking the time to submit your comments. Kindest regards.


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Review from Hayley S (Daughter of Resident) published on 28 November 2022
Submitted via Postal Card • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Only a short visit for my dad but the staff and facility were amazing.

Reply from Gale Hills, Regional Administration Manager at The Willows Care Home

Thank you for your kind review of the Willows Care Home. Glad to hear you were more than happy with your dad's stay. Kind regards.


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Review from Maria T (Daughter of Resident) published on 24 November 2022
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 4.0 out of 5

My dear Mother was discharged from hospital to a step-down bed in the 12 bedded unit at Lavender Lodge which is opposite the main building of The Willows. The accommodation I cannot fault. It appears to have been geared for our specific needs as the rooms are in the form of a bedsit with a small kitchenette
area allowing me to spend the lengthy time that I wanted to spend with Mum as she was palliative and deteriorating quickly. The carers are friendly although the motivation to provide all the care required did differ amongst the staff, as some staff would refuse to hoist Mum out into an armchair on some pretext which didn't seem at all logical to me. The expertise of end-of-life care was not robust so I felt unsupported. For example, I was the one who discovered that mum had oral thrush when I took the initiative to contact the Marie Curie nurse support line, which was hugely helpful. I alerted the staff to the pressure care of her heels. I am glad I was able to spend the time I could there.

Reply from Gale Hills, Business Support Manager at The Willows Care Home

We would like to thank you for taking the time to bring your experience to our attention. Please be assured that we take all feedback extremely seriously, and believe learning from feedback enables us to continually develop our team and care home. We do always welcome and encourage the opportunity to discuss any concerns in person to enable us to identify possible issues and improve where necessary.


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Review from Gordon F (Wife of Resident) published on 8 November 2022
Submitted via Postal Card • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

I feel that my wife has improved a great deal since being in this very comfortable home. The staff are very good to her.

Reply from Celia Hardill, Regional Director (Milton Keynes) at The Willows Care Home

Good afternoon, thank you for your kind words to the home and we are very pleased to hear that your wife has improved since being at The Willows. Kind regards.


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Review from Ann S (Partner of Resident) published on 25 October 2022
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Very, very welcoming and put my partner at ease. A few problems were resolved very quickly, kindly and efficiently. Although his stay was a very short respite stay, all staff were so very kind and caring and made his stay a happy experience. We would certainly have no hesitation in coming again or recommending
this home.

Reply from Larysa Koss, Operations Support Lead at The Willows Care Home

Thank you so much for your comments. The team members and people who live in the home always like to hear what has been written about the home. We will certainly look at how we currently do this to try to achieve a better service for all. Thank you for taking the time to review us. Kindest Regards, Larysa


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Review from Nicholas F (Son of Resident) published on 3 September 2022
Submitted via Postal Card • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Mum was transferred from hospital. The care staff at The Willows Care Home made her feel very welcome and happy as soon as she arrived. Very professional.

Reply from Larysa Koss, Operations Support Lead at The Willows Care Home

Lovely comments, thank you for feeding back to us. It is always nice to read and share with our teams.
Kindest regards, Larysa.


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Review from Helen W (Daughter of Resident) published on 23 August 2022
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My mum spent quite a few weeks at Lavender Lodge upon being discharged from the hospital. All the staff were extremely attentive and patient with her. The kindness I witnessed from some staff was exceptional and it felt like they were caring for their own relative which was extremely reassuring. Some
issues around laundry and clothing going missing but this was resolved. There was always lots of food and drink to encourage mum to eat and drink and she did start to put on the weight she had lost in the hospital. I can’t thank the staff enough for how they treated mum.

Reply from Larysa Koss, Acting Manager at The Willows Care Home

Many thanks for your review, we really do appreciate your feedback. We will certainly look at how we currently do this to try to achieve a better service for all. Regards Larysa.


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Current Review Score: 9.6 (9.644)

Overview of Review Score

The Review Score of 9.6 (9.644) out of 10 for The Willows 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 47 Reviews in the last 24 months.

  • b) The score for the number of positive Reviews is 5.0 out of 5 from 44 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 4.644 for The Willows Care Home is calculated as follows: ( (432 Excellents x 5) + (83 Goods x 4) + (13 Satisfactorys x 3) + (5 Poors x 2) + (18 Very Poors x 1) ) ÷ 551 Ratings = 4.644

  • 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 Willows Care Home is based on 44 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 130 registered maximum number of service users is 26, which has been reached with 44 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: 30 Dec 2024

Overall
Good

  • Caring

    Requires improvement

  • 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

Please Contact Us for Latest Vacancies

Awards / Recognitions (8)

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Meet the Team (4)

Sahr

Sahr Moseray

Job Title: Home Manager

Joined: 2022

Sahr join The Willows Care Home in October 2022 as a Home Manager. He has worked in the care sector for over 18 years and held various roles from carer to Home Manager; he brings with him a wealth of knowledge of caring for older people.


Sahr is passionate about delivering a high standard of person-centred care and transformational leadership. Sahr has completed Level 7 Diploma in Health and Social Care Management, Level 4 NVQ in Leadership and Management for Care Services and Level 3 NVQ in Health and Social Care.


Sahr’s primary responsibilities include managing day to day smooth running of the home. Supervising and motivating team members to deliver high-quality services and ensuring the needs and aspirations of people who use the services are being met.


Justyna

Justyna Blajerska

Job Title: Operations Support Manager

Joined: 2022

Justyna joined Excelcare in October 2022 in the role of Residential Manager.


She is responsible for leading and managing the residential unit and Lavender lodge on all aspects of day-to-day business deliverables, including performance monitoring in relation to quality and best outcome for people who live in the home.


She has recently become our Operations Support Manager.


Gale

Gale Hills

Job Title: Business Manager

Joined: 2010

Gale has been with Excelcare for 14 years, appointed as Regional Administration Manager.


Gale was promoted to Business Manager in 2022. She is responsible for developing and engaging with team members to include Admin, Care, Domestic, Laundry and Catering services to the Home.


Suzanne

Suzanne Bennett

Job Title: Home Administrator

Joined: 2023

Suzanne joined Excelcare in 2023.
She works closely with the management team, receptionist to ensure the smooth running of administration within the home and help to ensure high standards are maintained throughout the home.