Heron Hill Care Home

Esthwaite Avenue, Kendal LA9 7SE
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9.6 76 Reviews
  • Heron Hill Care Home, Kendal
At Heron Hill Care Home, the team take pride in a service that focuses on great care, all tailored to your loved one's needs.

The Care Home is conveniently located in Kendal, an historic town which stands at the entrance to the beautiful English Lake District that has excellent access to road, rail and bus links.

The 24/7 dedicated care team of experienced nurses, carers and support staff work to deliver a personalised care approach, helping your loved ones to retain their identity, independence, well-being and self-worth.

The care staff always take time to get to know residents by listening to stories, sharing moments with them and understanding their preferences, building stronger relationships so that residents never feel alone or misunderstood.

Heron Hill Care Home has an array of care packages to choose from, whether residential, nursing, dementia or end of life care, the team will support you and your loved one's needs, every step of the way.

The care home really is in the heart of the community where everyday life for residents is filled with something new. Whether it is being part of the town’s festivities and projects, sharing memories of the past with local school children, creating beautiful gardens for all to enjoy, or just a day of laughter and fun playing board games with new friends.

No description can equal a personal visit, so join the home, if you wish, for a cup of tea, a meal or to participate in social activities.

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Care Provided by Heron Hill Care Home

  • Primary Care Categories
  • Dementia
  • No Medical Intervention
  • Older Person Care
  • Physical Disability
  • Respite Care
  • Sensory Impairment
  • Care Types Provided
  • Dementia Nursing Care
  • Nursing Care
  • For a maximum of 86 Service Users
  • Privately Owned
  • Care Offered
  • AIDS/HIV
  • Alcohol Dependence (past or present)
  • Alzheimer's
  • Asperger Syndrome
  • Autism/ASD
  • Cancer Care
  • Cerebral Palsy
  • Challenging Behaviour/Psychosis
  • Colitis & Crohn's Disease
  • COPD/Pulmonary Disease
  • Down Syndrome
  • Epilepsy
  • Head/Brain Injury
  • Hearing Impairment
  • Huntington's Disease
  • Korsakoff Syndrome
  • Motor Neurone Disease
  • Multiple Sclerosis
  • Muscular Dystrophy
  • Orthopaedic
  • Parkinson's Disease
  • Prader-Willi Syndrome
  • Speech Impairment
  • Spina Bifida & Hydrocephalus
  • Stroke
  • Visual Impairment
  • Other Care Provided
  • Convalescent Care
  • End of Life Care
  • Own GP if required
  • Palliative Care
  • Separate Specialist Dementia Care Unit

Good to Know

  • Person in charge
  • Nicola Spedding (Manager)
  • Admission Criteria
    • Ages 50+
  • Room Information
    • Single Rooms (86)
    • Single Rooms with ensuite Wet Room (86)
  • Care Home Design/Build
    • Purpose Built: Yes
    • Last Refurbishment: 2022
    • Number of floors: 1

Funding & Fees Guide for Heron Hill 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 Nursing Care £1,395 – £1,600
    • Self-Funded Nursing Dementia Care £1,395 – £1,600
    • RESPITE Self-Funded Nursing Care £1,395 – £1,600
    • RESPITE Self-Funded Nursing Dementia Care £1,395 – £1,600
  • (these prices are only a guideline, please contact Heron Hill Care Home to find out the exact price for your requirements)

Facilities

  • Bar/Café
  • Close to Local shops
  • Gardens
  • Ground Floor Accommodation only
  • Lift
  • Minibus or other transport
  • Near Public Transport
  • Own Furniture if required
  • Pet Friendly (or by arrangement)
  • Phone Point in own room
  • Residents Internet Access
  • Residents Kitchenette
  • Smoking not permitted
  • Television point in own room
  • Wheelchair Access
  • Visiting

  • Currently have no visiting restrictions, although please avoid meal times.


  • Parking

  • On site parking


Heron Hill Care Home Reviews (76)

Total of 76, showing 21-40
9.6

Heron Hill Care Home has a Review Score of 9.6 (9.559) out of 10, based on 45 reviews in the last 2 years. Over all time Heron Hill Care Home has 76 reviews.

Overall Experience

  • 44
  • 30
  • 2
  • 0
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Date Published

76
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Review from Evelyn P (Wife of Resident) published on 8 January 2024
Submitted via Postal Card • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

I knew from the moment we walked through the doors of Heron Hill that everything was going to be alright.
There was such a lovely warm atmosphere and the staff were so welcoming; they gave me confidence that they would care for my husband.
There's a great programme of activities that would help him
to engage and communicate. Nothing is too much trouble. Thank you everyone.

Reply from Nicola Spedding, Registered Manager at Heron Hill Care Home

Thank you so much for your kind words, we are so glad that you and your husband are happy with us at Heron. I will make sure the team are aware of your comments.


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Review from C D (Wife of Resident) published on 4 January 2024
Submitted via Postal Card • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 4.0 out of 5

Happy caring atmosphere, and carers and management are very approachable. The care of the resident is good, patient and friendly.
Rooms got a bit shabby but clean.
Food; vegetarian options are sometimes a bit basic, vegetables are sometimes rather overcooked and not much flavour but varied and my
husband is generally content with his food.
Activities; my husband is very limited in what he can do and/or wants to respond to, so not applicable, really.
But overall, very content with care at Heron Hill.

Reply from Nicola Spedding, Registered Manager at Heron Hill Care Home

Thank you for your feedback, we will pass this on to the teams and look to rectify some of the areas you have raised.


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Review from J B (Daughter of Resident) published on 29 December 2023
Submitted via Postal Card • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 4.0 out of 5

My sisters and I have been visiting our mother regularly for the past seven years, and feel the home has been very caring and supportive over that time. As our mother's health has declined, she has become unable to take part in any activities so I do not feel able to comment about that aspect. The staff
are always very approachable and pleasant, and look after our mother with great care.

Reply from Nicola Spedding, Registered Manager at Heron Hill Care Home

Thank you for your kind words, we will pass them on to the team on Cavell.


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Review from Linda L (Wife of Resident) published on 17 November 2023
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

We would just like to thank all the team of the Wheawall Unit, especially the senior members for the care my husband receives. He is always clean and well presented and he seems happy around staff and other residents alike. As visits are not as often as we would like (living an hour away) we know he
is being well looked after and his welfare is the team's priority.
Many thanks to you all.

Reply from Nicola Spedding, Registered Manager at Heron Hill Care Home

Thank you so much for your kind words, we will pass these on to the team.


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Review from S G (Son of Resident) published on 9 November 2023
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Dad has settled into the home far better than we expected and is always looked after and is clean and shaven when we visit. His room is of a good size and is clean and well decorated coupled with a recently refurbished en-suite. The home appears very well run with a stable staff base that is of great
benefit to dementia patients. The home has very much a family feel to it.
Initially was nervous about using a larger care home but they have the systems and infrastructure in place to offer strong levels of care. Also really good to see continued investment in the building fabric.

Reply from Nicola Spedding, Registered Manager at Heron Hill Care Home

Thank you for your kind feedback, we will pass this on to the team. We also look forward to your visits.


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Review from Gail H (Daughter of Resident) published on 18 October 2023
Submitted via Postal Card • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My brother and I are very happy with the care our dad receives. He is well looked after. We have no concerns. The staff keep us up-to-date re Dad and if he had to have the doctor. We are kept well informed.
It gives the family peace of mind knowing Dad is being well cared for. The staff are lovely
and very helpful.

Reply from Nicola Spedding, Registered Manager at Heron Hill Care Home

Hi and thank you for your kind words, I will pass these on to the team.


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Review from Barbara B (Partner of Resident) published on 18 October 2023
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 4.0 out of 5

I would just like to say how well my beloved partner is being looked after. He is always very clean and tidy. His room is always clean and tidy. The staff from reception to the unit are very polite and always greet me with a smile. He looked very happy when I visited him today and he gave me his usual
lovely smile and was very pleased to see me with a kiss. I would like to say a big “thank you” to all the staff for all your hard work and wonderful care.

Reply from Nicola Spedding, Registered Manager at Heron Hill Care Home

Hi and thank you so much for your kind words, I will share them with the team.


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Review from L B (Friend of Resident) published on 12 October 2023
Submitted via Postal Card • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Very pleasant staff on every floor. They are very kind to the residents. Very clean. The dining room is beautiful.

Reply from Nicola Spedding, Registered Manager at Heron Hill Care Home

Thank you for your kind comments, I will pass these on to the teams.


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Review from M B (Wife of Resident) published on 12 October 2023
Submitted via Postal Card • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My experience of Heron Hill Care Home is excellent. The staff can't do enough for you. They are all very pleasant and helpful. They also have lovely smiles from the carers to the management, maintenance, cleaners etc. They all do a great job, especially considering the difficult nature of the work.

Reply from Nicola Spedding, Registered Manager at Heron Hill Care Home

Thank you for your lovely words. We love your visits and the joy you also bring to the unit! I will pass your comments on to the team.


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Review from Roger B (Husband of Resident) published on 11 October 2023
Submitted via Postal Card • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 4.0 out of 5

All staff caring and when asked any questions about the patient there is an answer and if not will seek the answer.
The main downfall to the establishment is laundry and care of. Although clothing is tagged I have had to go to laundry on occasion to find my wife's clothing or have seen other patients
wearing items of clothing or found item in unclaimed box or rack even though they are marked. Plus items can go missing from rooms i.e. personal cushions and blankets etc.

Reply from Nicola Spedding, Registered Manager at Heron Hill Care Home

Thank you for your comments, we are aware that the laundry systems need reviewing, and value any suggestions that you may have in relation to this.


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Review from Suzanne M (Niece of Resident) published on 11 October 2023
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 4.0 out of 5

All the staff on Wheawall are amazing. They do a great job. It's a weight off my shoulders knowing that my uncle is so well looked after. He always seems so happy and content when I visit. The staff are great at keeping me up to date on how he is doing as I live a long distance away and can't visit
as often as I would like to.

Reply from Nicola Spedding, Registered Manager at Heron Hill Care Home

Thanks for your kind comments. I will pass these on to the team.


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Review from Kevin M (Friend of Resident) published on 9 October 2023
Submitted via Postal Card • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My friend seems very happy with the care she is receiving and likes the carers very much. She is a touch wary of a few other residents but knows just to steer clear of them. She seems content with her room and conscious of her surroundings. The food is described as edible but surely this is a requirement
of all meals.

Reply from Nicola Spedding, Registered Manager at Heron Hill Care Home

Thanks for your comments, we will pass this on to the teams.


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Review from Dan G (Grandson of Resident) published on 6 October 2023
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Both my grandparents are in Heron Hill Care Home and ever since they’ve been there they’ve been very happy and very well looked after by all the amazing staff.

Reply from Nicola Spedding, Registered Manager at Heron Hill Care Home

Thank you for your review, I will share this with the teams. We love caring for your grandparents and look forward to all family visits.


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Review from Graham P (Son of Resident) published on 4 October 2023
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

We are in a unique position as both of our parents are now residents of Heron Hill.
Both parents are well cared for by all the staff at Heron Hill, and all the staff are very professional, caring and thoughtful to our parents. One comment we always hear from people visiting my parents is how clean
it is (it does not smell like a care home), which is a compliment in itself.
We are all, as a family, happy that both parents are in a good place and are being well looked after in difficult times.

Reply from Nicola Spedding, Registered Manager at Heron Hill Care Home

Thank you for your kind words. We love caring for your parents; they are such characters. We also look forward to your visit.


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Review from D D (Daughter of Resident) published on 4 October 2023
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 4.0 out of 5

The care given by the hard-working team to Mum is carried out to the best of the team's ability sometimes when there are staffing issues the team always provide the care needed. The front-of-house reception does a brilliant job too as does the Management team. Well done everyone.

Reply from Nicola Spedding, Registered Manager at Heron Hill Care Home

Thank you for your kind words, we love caring for mum. Here singing keeps us smiling.


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Review from D S (Stepdaughter of Resident) published on 3 October 2023
Submitted via Postal Card • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Staff have been amazing over the last three years looking after my family member. They cared and I believed loved him as much as we did. They always treated him with dignity and respect but were always light-hearted. As a family, we could not have coped without their guidance, kind words and care. Thank
you.

Reply from Nicola Spedding, Registered Manager at Heron Hill Care Home

Thank you for your kind words, I have passed these on to the team. And you are right, we love your dad.


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Review from Eileen J (Daughter of Resident) published on 28 June 2023
Submitted via Postal Card • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 4.0 out of 5

My observation is that the staff of Heron Hill Care Home in Kendal are exemplary. Staff are polite, kind and responsive. My dad is treated with such warmth, kindness, patient and respectful. Staff attend to his needs quickly, sensitively and positively. They show genuine interest in his well-being and
happiness and are familiar with his likes and dislikes. He presents clean, tidy and neatly dressed. I also notice that the other residents are treated and present likewise when I visit. Staff are welcoming and supportive to my family when we visit in person or connect remotely. I feel reassured my dad is in a safe place and well looked after by excellent staff in a well-managed home. I feel very grateful for this.

Reply from Tina Johnstone, Director at Heron Hill Care Home

Thank you very much indeed for taking the time to write such positive comments of your experiences within Heron Hill. The staff team are dedicated in all areas and strive to make a real difference for the individuals they support.


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Review from Mark H (Son of Resident) published on 23 June 2023
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My mum is really well cared for. The building is always clean and pleasant to visit. The staff are all fantastic and I have no worries about leaving her in their capable hands.
There are lots of activities going on, which I know she really appreciates.
Our only slight grumble is that the food isn't
brilliant, but I guess that catering for a large number of residents is always going to be difficult.
Overall, I'd have no hesitation in recommending Herron Hill Care Home to anyone.

Reply from Nicola Spedding, Registered Manager at Heron Hill Care Home

Thank you Mark for your review. We love caring for your mum, she is a real character! We are in the process of address the food with the catering team and hopefully you will see some changes in the future.


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Review from Irene M (Friend of Resident) published on 22 June 2023
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 4.0 out of 5

I have been visiting now for 15 months and find the staff very caring and helpful to both myself and the friend I visit. I particularly like that she was allowed to make her room as homely as possible with things that were especially dear to her and the staff take an interest in them with her.

Reply from Nicola Spedding, Registered Manager at Heron Hill Care Home

Thank you Irene for your kind words, we love caring for your friend. I will share your comments with the team.


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Review from M B (Son of Resident) published on 22 June 2023
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Mum has been at Heron Hill Care Home since Christmas last year. She is well looked after and cared for. She is happy there and we feel that her needs are being well met. The staff are kind and sympathetic to our mother's feelings and needs.

Reply from Nicola Spedding, Registered Manager at Heron Hill Care Home

Thank you for your kind words. These will be shared with the team.


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Current Review Score: 9.6 (9.559)

Overview of Review Score

The Review Score of 9.6 (9.559) out of 10 for Heron Hill 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 45 Reviews in the last 24 months.

  • b) The score for the number of positive Reviews is 5.0 out of 5 from 45 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 4.559 for Heron Hill Care Home is calculated as follows: ( (345 Excellents x 5) + (128 Goods x 4) + (43 Satisfactorys x 3) + (4 Poors x 2) + (1 Very Poors x 1) ) ÷ 521 Ratings = 4.559

  • 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 Heron Hill Care Home is based on 45 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 86 registered maximum number of service users is 17.2, which has been reached with 45 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: 18 Mar 2023

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

7 Bed Vacancies

posted 26 Feb 2025

Please contact the Home Manager Nicola Spedding. We currently have 7 x beds available and would enjoy showing you around our beautiful home.


Awards / Recognitions (16)

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Meet the Team (1)

Nicola

Nicola Spedding

Job Title: Home Manager

Joined: 2019

Nicola started her career in the care sector in 1992 as a carer in a nursing home. She worked her way up to her current position of Registered Home Manager. Along the way, Nicola has studied to gain the knowledge required to become a good home manager. She has her NVQ level 4 in Health and Social care and Management, along with the Registered Managers level 4 award. Nicola has worked in both residential and nursing homes for the elderly.


Nicola is passionate about promoting a high quality of care for her residents, their families and her team. Nicola supports her team to achieve this through training, supervision and guidance. She also encourages open and honest discussions with her residents and their families to help her and her team to perform the best they can.