The Firs Care Centre

251 Staplegrove Road, Taunton TA2 6AQ
Submit a Review
9.1 30 Reviews
  • The Firs Care Centre, Taunton
The Firs is a residential and Nursing home, situated in Taunton, Somerset.

The Firs is an individual home, registered to care for 40 elderly residents requiring nursing and non-nursing care, specialising in; early stages of dementia, palliative care, sensory impairment, Parkinson’s, stroke rehabilitation, couples wishing to remain together and bespoke services for families in crisis.

The Firs staff are highly trained to deliver person-centred care services to all residents, be it daycare, respite or permanent placement.

If looking to take the next step into residential/nursing care, please feel free to visit the home at any time.

Show The Firs Care Centre on the Map

Care Provided by The Firs Care Centre

  • Primary Care Categories
  • Dementia
  • Learning Disability
  • No Medical Intervention
  • 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 40 Service Users
  • Privately Owned
  • Other Care Provided
  • Convalescent Care
  • Day Care
  • End of Life Care
  • Own GP if required
  • Palliative Care
  • Physiotherapy

Good to Know

  • Person in charge
  • Nic Ciobanu (Manager)
  • Admission Criteria
    • No one is admitted without an assessment of needs first
    • Ages 65+
  • Room Information
    • Single Rooms (40)
    • Couples/Companion Rooms (0)
  • Care Home Design/Build
    • Purpose Built: No
    • Last Refurbishment: 2005
    • Number of floors: 2

Funding & Fees Guide for The Firs Care Centre

  • 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 £750 – £950
    • Self-Funded Residential Dementia Care £775 – £975
    • Self-Funded Nursing Care £980 – £1,180
    • Self-Funded Nursing Dementia Care £995 – £1,995
    • RESPITE Self-Funded Residential Care £825 – £1,025
    • RESPITE Self-Funded Residential Dementia Care £850 – £1,059
    • RESPITE Self-Funded Nursing Care £1,080 – £1,280
    • RESPITE Self-Funded Nursing Dementia Care £1,100 – £1,350

  • Fees are subject to the level of needs,care provided and type of room
  • (these prices are only a guideline, please contact The Firs Care Centre 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 Internet Access
  • Television point in own room
  • Wheelchair Access
  • Visiting

  • No set visiting times, only ask that if you are visiting at un-social times of the day that you call ahead first so to expect you.


  • Parking

  • Small area to the front of the Firs, also on road parking.


The Firs Care Centre Reviews (30)

Total of 30, showing 21-30
9.1

The Firs Care Centre has a Review Score of 9.1 (9.099) out of 10, based on 11 reviews in the last 2 years. Over all time The Firs Care Centre has 30 reviews.

Overall Experience

  • 9
  • 14
  • 5
  • 0
  • 2

Date Published

30
4
5
11
19

Review from C L (Son of Resident) published on 16 July 2020
Submitted via Postal Card • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Excellent care given to my dad in the 18 months he was in The Firs. When he was near the end, the staff kept me informed at each stage and was very helpful when the end came.

Facilities

Care / Support

Cleanliness

Treated with Dignity

Food & Drink

Staff

Activities

Management

Safety / Security

Rooms

Value for Money

Review from J C (Sister of Resident) published on 2 July 2020
Submitted via Postal Card • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 4.0 out of 5

My sister is unable to carry on a 'normal' conversation so I can only base my comments on her appearance and the standard of her room which is always clean and tidy. In other words, I am entirely satisfied with her present situation.

Reply from Meghann Bowden, Registered Manager at The Firs Care Centre

Thank you so much for your lovely review, it was a pleasure delivering care to your father, he is truly missed. We will strive to continue to deliver a high quality service to all our residents.
Thank you for the lovely review, the treats you brought in were also greatly received.


Facilities

Care / Support

Cleanliness

Treated with Dignity

Food & Drink

Staff

Activities

Management

Safety / Security

Rooms

Value for Money

Review from S E (Great-Niece of Resident) published on 29 June 2020
Submitted via Postal Card • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 4.0 out of 5

We as a family have been very satisfied with the care and support my great aunt has received, she always looks clean and tidy and she seems happy and well cared for - we can't ask for much else.

Reply from Meghann Bowden, Registered Manager at The Firs Care Centre

Thank you for your lovely review, we aim to treat every resident as a part of our extended family and the staff always go above and beyond to support them.
Thank you.


Facilities

Care / Support

Cleanliness

Treated with Dignity

Food & Drink

Staff

Activities

Management

Safety / Security

Rooms

Value for Money

Review from Louise (Daughter of Resident) published on 22 June 2020
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My mother is being very well cared for at The Firs Nursing Home and she is very happy there. The staff are very friendly, kind and gentle towards her. They ensure her needs are looked after, as well as fully supporting her to achieve her own independence as much as is possible. They are keeping her
safe and well and happy. They have been great in helping us with any administration tasks too. There is a very comprehensive and well-delivered programme of activities which help stimulate my mother, both mentally and physically. We get regular feedback on Mum’s activities including lots of photos which are lovely to see and to share with friends and wider family.
The Firs has helped my mother to keep connected with us by helping her to use Skype and we are now able to share in her life through our regular communication this way.
It is great to see my Mum looking so well physically and really enjoying life and the good company of the staff and residents.

Reply from Meghann Bowden, Registered Manager at The Firs Care Centre

Thank you so much for kind words, the team are going above and beyond to care for the residents, it what can only be described as one of the toughest challenges the health sector has experienced. We are so honoured by your thoughtful words and comments, and we will continue to do our best for your loved one.
Thank you.


Facilities

Care / Support

Cleanliness

Treated with Dignity

Food & Drink

Staff

Activities

Management

Safety / Security

Rooms

Value for Money

Review from J B (Daughter of Resident) published on 28 November 2019
Submitted via Postal Card • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 4.0 out of 5

Very homely. Residents well looked after. Very friendly and caring staff.

Reply from Meghann Bowden, Registered Manager at The Firs Care Centre

Thank you, Jill, for your kind words. We are very proud of the service we deliver and the improvements we are all making together. I will share your kind words with the team. Thank you.


Facilities

Care / Support

Cleanliness

Treated with Dignity

Food & Drink

Staff

Activities

Management

Safety / Security

Rooms

Value for Money

Review from Bob A (Friend of Resident) published on 23 June 2019
Submitted via Postal Card • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

I have been involved in helping residents since my mother moved in, in September 2007. She died in March 2011. For the last 12 years I have provided musical memories via an iPhone at least twice a month (285 times to date for 2 hours). I have introduced myself to 3 residents in The Firs, other than
my mother. My experience in dealing with the staff is very positive, with a very caring attitude and patience.

Facilities

Care / Support

Cleanliness

Treated with Dignity

Food & Drink

Staff

Activities

Management

Safety / Security

Rooms

Value for Money

Review from C P (Wife of Resident) assisted by family/friend published on 27 May 2019
Submitted via Postal Card • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 4.0 out of 5

I am finding we are having an awful lot of problems with different aspects of my husband's care - I feel that the communication between myself and management is very difficult and I feel as though I am getting nowhere with getting any answers.


Carers have difficulties due to understaffing and don't

have the time to spend with residents.

Facilities

Care / Support

Cleanliness

Treated with Dignity

Food & Drink

Staff

Activities

Management

Safety / Security

Rooms

Value for Money

Review from J B (Niece of Resident) published on 27 July 2018
Submitted via Postal Card • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 4.0 out of 5

The new Manager has been like a breath of fresh air. The Manager is professional, approachable and always cheerful. A situation has occurred but I was listened to and have confidence that my concerns will be acted upon. As a relative, this is most reassuring.

Reply from Michael Strickland, Manager at The Firs Care Centre

Thank you for those kind word, as a manager my door is always open.


Facilities

Care / Support

Cleanliness

Treated with Dignity

Food & Drink

Staff

Activities

Management

Safety / Security

Rooms

Value for Money

Review from W C (Niece of Resident) published on 8 June 2018
Submitted via Postal Card • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

The care staff are so lovely and kind. My Aunt is very happy, in fact, I have not seen her so happy in years. The Manager and his admin are always there to help with a smile on their faces.

Reply from Michael Strickland, Manager at The Firs Care Centre

Thank you so much for your kind words.


Facilities

Care / Support

Cleanliness

Treated with Dignity

Food & Drink

Staff

Activities

Management

Safety / Security

Rooms

Value for Money

Review from R C (Son of Resident) published on 4 May 2018
Submitted via Postal Card • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 4.0 out of 5

I need to thank the manager of the Firs for showing myself and my family around. When we visited we were unsure of the best place for Mum in her last few weeks, but when we met the manager, he took all our concerns and talked them through. The Firs is very homely and is under-going decoration but it
only took us 10 minutes as a family to pick The Firs for Mum. She was there 2 weeks and I can't thank the staff enough. I know mum was happy there.

Reply from Michael Strickland, Manager at The Firs Care Centre

I would like to thank the family for these kind words.
I will pass these onto the staff.


Facilities

Care / Support

Cleanliness

Treated with Dignity

Food & Drink

Staff

Activities

Management

Safety / Security

Rooms

Value for Money

Current Review Score: 9.1 (9.099)

Overview of Review Score

The Review Score of 9.1 (9.099) out of 10 for The Firs Care Centre is based on a) the Average Rating and b) the number of positive Reviews.

  • a) The Average Rating is 4.3 out of 5 from 11 Reviews in the last 24 months.

  • b) The score for the number of positive Reviews is 4.8 out of 5 from 8 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 4.299 for The Firs Care Centre is calculated as follows: ( (59 Excellents x 5) + (47 Goods x 4) + (21 Satisfactorys x 3) ) ÷ 127 Ratings = 4.299

  • 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 4.8 Points relating to the number of positive Reviews for The Firs Care Centre is based on 8 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 = 3.8

    • 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 8 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

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 (0)

Loading

Loading

Loading

Loading

Loading

Loading

Loading events

Meet the Team (1)

No image found

Tamsin Forde

Job Title: Registered Manager

Joined: 2021

Tamsin is a Registered Nurse with many years experience in the Nursing/Care home environment. Tamsin commenced her career in management in 2013 and has continued to develop and share her knowledge and skills with her colleagues ensuring the best possible care standards are provided and maintained within the team at The Firs.