The Orchards

2 Forsythia Road, Ely CB6 2FU
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9.7 35 Reviews
  • The Orchards, Ely
At The Orchards, the team knows that moving into a care home can be a bit daunting. So, you can be reassured that at this not-for-profit care home, you get to try your new home before committing longer term, support always comes with a smile, and you will never be asked to move out just because your funds run out.

In a stunning purpose-built home in the heart of Ely, The Orchards has developed a welcoming community where residents and their families enjoy around-the-clock award-winning residential and dementia care. Residents are cared for with a well-established methodology that is centred on keeping them as independent as possible for as long as possible. Care at The Orchards means highly-skilled and compassionate staff who also recognise when you just need a cup of tea and a listening ear.

The home is part of not-for-profit group Greensleeves Care. Named in the Top 20 in the country, as a charity, Greensleeves’ focus is on people and not pockets and any surplus from fees goes back into continuously improving care. The Orchards also offers Greensleeves’ Home for Life Commitment, which means residents will not be asked to move out if they run out of personal funds while in their care.

Along with specialist care and peace of mind, when you join the Orchards family, you also enjoy:
•        Stunning grounds and views
•        Modern, spacious bedrooms all with en-suite wetrooms
•        Comfortable lounges, dining areas, and library
•        Delicious and nutritious meals cooked daily on site

The Orchards’ promise to you is that, from the moment you get in touch a member of the team will be there to listen, answer your questions and help you make a care choice that feels right to you.

* CQC inspected in January 2021 and reviewed in July 2023

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Care Provided by The Orchards

  • Primary Care Categories
  • Dementia
  • Older Person Care
  • Physical Disability
  • Respite Care
  • Care Types Provided
  • Dementia Residential Care
  • Residential Care
  • For a maximum of 66 Service Users
  • Voluntary / Not for Profit Owned
  • Care Offered
  • Alzheimer's
  • Cancer Care
  • Colitis & Crohn's Disease
  • Epilepsy
  • Hearing Impairment
  • Parkinson's Disease
  • Speech Impairment
  • Stroke
  • Visual Impairment
  • Other Care Provided
  • Convalescent Care
  • End of Life Care
  • Palliative Care
  • Physiotherapy
  • Separate Specialist Dementia Care Unit

Good to Know

  • Person in charge
  • Elaine Cole (Registered Home Manager)
  • Admission Criteria
    • Ages 65+
  • Room Information
    • Single Rooms (66)
    • Single Rooms with ensuite Wet Room (66)
  • Care Home Design/Build
    • Purpose Built: Yes
    • Year Purpose Built: 2019
    • Number of floors: 3

Funding & Fees Guide for The Orchards

  • Funding Types Accepted
  • Self funding (Private)
  • Local Authority with Top-Up
  • Local Authority
  • NHS Continuing Healthcare (CHC) Funding

  • Fees are set based on the specific care needs of each individual. Fees come with Greensleeves Care's unique Home for Life financial assurance and, as a not-for-profit home, every penny goes towards high-quality care, never shareholders. Give the home a call today for more detail and indicative fees.

Facilities

  • Bar/Café
  • Gardens
  • Lift
  • Near Public Transport
  • Own Furniture if required
  • Pet Friendly (or by arrangement)
  • Phone Point in own room
  • Residents Internet Access
  • Residents Kitchenette
  • Television point in own room
  • Wheelchair Access

The Orchards Reviews (35)

Total of 35, showing 21-35
9.7

The Orchards has a Review Score of 9.7 (9.691) out of 10, based on 16 reviews in the last 2 years. Over all time The Orchards has 35 reviews.

Overall Experience

  • 25
  • 8
  • 2
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Date Published

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Review from Andrew C (Son of Resident) published on 1 December 2022
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

An elegant and spacious environment. Beautiful ensuite bedrooms with double beds. The staff are clearly well trained, hard-working and professional. They all have genuine caring attitudes toward the residents. My mother has made several good friends since arriving. They all support each other in a calm
and happy environment. There is a daily schedule of activities and entertainment.

Reply from Sam Humphreys, Home Manager at The Orchards

Thank you for your review, I will ensure that this is shared with the team at The Orchards.


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Review from Graham F (Son of Resident) published on 31 August 2022
Submitted via Postal Card • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 4.0 out of 5

New very good facilities. Good rooms. Friendly staff coping in difficult times. Communicates with family. Very good.

Reply from Sam Humphreys, Home Manager at The Orchards

Thank you for your review. We welcome reviews and I will ensure that this is passed to the team. Once again, thank you.


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Review from C H (Daughter of Resident) published on 15 August 2022
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 4.0 out of 5

I have been delighted with the standard of cleaning and the sensible Covid 19 precautions. The staff are friendly and caring and have dealt with a medical emergency for my father promptly and well. When I call or email, I get a prompt reply. I would definitely recommend this care home. I am a GP with
30 years' experience so I have visited many other homes and the Orchards must be in the top 1%.

Reply from Sam Humphreys, Home Manager at The Orchards

Thank you for your review, I will ensure that the team at The Orchards are made aware of your positive feedback.


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Review from John P (Resident) published on 25 January 2022
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 4.0 out of 5

The Orchards care home is both modern and pleasing. The rooms are very functional and cleaned on a regular basis. The staff are lovely and very compassionate with the residents who love them in return. The meals are in the main good but I do feel that another meal option would be beneficial. I would
thoroughly recommend The Orchards for those wishing to place their loved ones in a 'home from home'.

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Review from Jane B (Wife of Resident) published on 24 January 2022
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My husband first visited The Orchards for two weeks of respite care some months before becoming a resident. We were delighted with the friendliness, care and compassion that both of us received. When his dementia and increased frailty became too much for me to manage at home, he entered The Orchards
as a permanent resident. I have nothing but praise for the staff who are so kind and nothing is too much trouble. They seem to enjoy working at The Orchards and appear to have very few changes. They always have time to speak to me if I wish to discuss a situation and make me feel we are managing my husband's illness together. The new building is spacious, warm and welcoming with communal lounges and quieter rooms for those who wish for privacy. My husband has settled in well and is relaxed and contented because of the loving care of the staff. I am completely satisfied with The Orchards.

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Review from Terry W (Friend of Resident) published on 24 August 2021
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My wife's best friend move to The Orchards two years ago. She has two sons both of whom live with their families in the U.S.A. Covid has meant that they have not seen their mum for a long time. We visited regularly until the various lockdowns and have now been able to do so again.
The first thing to
say is that the frontline staff are amazing. They are relaxed and good-humoured and our friend sees them as her friends.
Secondly, The Orchards has taken great pains to set up protocols which keep the residents safe. These have been successful.
Thirdly, the care home itself is very like a top hotel. The facilities are excellent and the garden room, cinema, library and dining rooms are excellent.
Fourthly, the emergency procedures and medical care are faultless. Our friend has, unfortunately, had to have short hospital stays whilst in The Orchards. Things have been handled very efficiently with no fuss.
A care home is only as good as its staff. Excellent.

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Review from Elizabeth B (Friend of Resident) published on 23 August 2021
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

An elderly friend of mine was living at home with carers going in and out 4 times a day, had not been out of bed since Christmas and was been given drinks out of cups with lids etc. After 10 days in Ely I went to see her yesterday and found her up in a wheelchair, dressed and spotlessly clean drinking
coffee from a cup and saucer. It was wonderful to see that some of her dignity is being given back to her and to notice that everyone knew her name, all about her and was treating her with kindness and empathy.

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Review from Anne C (Daughter of Resident) published on 2 July 2021
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 3.0 out of 5

When my mum first went into the Orchards I was singing your praises as my initial impressions were highly favourable.
However, I feel that a lot of promises were made as to the facilities on offer that have not been lived up to. Furthermore, there have been and still are a lot of issues with the home
that cause me concern. I am hopeful that these issues will be resolved with the new management.
As far as actual care goes the carers themselves are lovely and treat mum with the utmost respect and kindness. I am truly grateful to them.

Reply from Kirsty Price, General Manager at The Orchards

Dear Anne, thank you for your feedback. We greatly appreciate your comments and we will take on board what you have suggested. I am glad you are happy with the suggested outcomes which we covered during our chat and look forward to making the home even better for our residents.


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Review from Janis B (Daughter of Resident) published on 24 June 2021
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Every time I visit my father, he tells me how happy he is to be in such a lovely, friendly place. All the carers are kind and cheerful and he values their upbeat conversation. He chooses to spend much of his time in his room which has a door directly into the garden. The room and en-suite are always
beautifully clean. He is invited to all the social events and activities but has not been well enough to go to many. The maintenance team recently helped me to install a Hearing Loop that improves the TV sound through his hearing aids. I visit frequently and always feel welcome.

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Review from Mark B (Son of Resident) published on 9 June 2021
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My Mum took time to settle in due to her dementia, but the staff were very patient and caring from day one. She has been there eighteen months now and I couldn't be happier with the standard of care etc that she is getting.

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Review from Val B (Daughter of Resident) published on 3 June 2021
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My parents both went into the Orchards in March 2021. My dad was suffering from terminal cancer and my mum from dementia. Unfortunately, my dad's condition deteriorated quickly but he couldn't have been better cared for in this difficult time. He died just over 6 weeks after he arrived. The staff were
great, in the final few days they held his hand day and night when we were unable to be at his bedside. Following his death they have been taking good care of my Mum, urging her to join in any activities. They supported Mum on the day of the funeral, doing her hair and makeup so she could look her best for the day. I am very pleased that we chose the Orchards and would certainly recommend them.

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Review from Elizabeth I (Wife of Resident) published on 15 March 2021
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My husband went to live at The Orchards on February 1st having previously spent a month there while I was ill during the autumn. He was welcomed back like an old friend, and there was even a box of chocolates and flowers in his room!
The whole admittance procedure was masterminded by the family liaison
manager, who is wonderful at her job and couldn't have been more sensitive and helpful in what was a difficult transition for us both.
Since he has been at The Orchards, my husband has been cared for with great kindness, and attention to all his needs; he has settled in well to his new way of life. I feel that he has rapidly become a member of a large loving family.
The Orchards is a lovely place for him to be, and I have been met with nothing but kindness on all occasions.

Reply from Donna Mills, Interim Home Manager at The Orchards

Dear Elizabeth, thank you very much for your lovely review and kind words. We will share your nice comments with our staff.


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Review from Peter N (Son-in-law of Resident) published on 25 February 2021
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Last August I had to find a care home for my mother-in-law, and after a lot of searching found, The Orchards. The home is very new and has the highest standard and facilities. The standard of cleanliness is exceptional. The in-house chef prepares a wide range of freshly prepared food to meet the resident's
needs. During the last months as I have got to know the staff, they have impressed me. They treat the residents with respect and care. (As a person, not just a number). When I was able to visit my mother-in-law, she was always smartly dressed and looked well cared for. They keep the relatives fully informed of the weekly activities by way of an email and a newsletter keeping you up to date with what is happening in the home. During the lockdown, I have been able to phone and enquire how she is, and nothing has been too much trouble. If they were not available, they will always call back. The manager has an open-door policy and will always speak to you. To sum it up, well done, The Orchard!

Reply from Donna Mills, Home Manager at The Orchards

Dear Peter, thank you very much for your lovely review and kind words. We will share your nice comments with our staff.


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Review from B F (Son of Resident) published on 6 November 2020
Submitted via Postal Card • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Although my father was only resident here for a little over a week - unfortunately, he became poorly and passed away - he truly had a wonderful few days in The Orchards. He settled in immediately, the staff were wonderful, Dad said (after a day), I should have moved here weeks ago!

Reply from Donna McCormick, Home Manager at The Orchards

Thank you for your lovely review. We will share your kind comments with our staff at The Orchards.


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Review from Lorna B (Granddaughter of Resident) published on 8 June 2020
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

The Orchards Ely is a lovely home, staff are all so welcoming and caring towards the residents and visitors. The care my Grandad receives is amazing they couldn’t have cared for him better. They have many areas in the home that you can go sit in a tea room, cinema room, hairdressers, bar room, a garden
room and lovely outside areas to sit in. Great activities are offered too. The home is kept really clean and tidy. Thank you for all you do. I highly recommend to anyone that is looking for a care home.

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Current Review Score: 9.7 (9.691)

Overview of Review Score

The Review Score of 9.7 (9.691) out of 10 for The Orchards 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 16 Reviews in the last 24 months.

  • b) The score for the number of positive Reviews is 5.0 out of 5 from 15 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 4.691 for The Orchards is calculated as follows: ( (140 Excellents x 5) + (30 Goods x 4) + (7 Satisfactorys x 3) + (4 Poors x 2) ) ÷ 181 Ratings = 4.691

  • 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 Orchards is based on 15 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 66 registered maximum number of service users is 13.2, which has been reached with 15 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: 20 Feb 2021

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

Please Contact Us for Latest Vacancies

Awards / Recognitions (10)

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Meet the Team (8)

Lisa

Lisa Brooks

Job Title: Healthcare assistant

Joined: 2019

We have a good team working together to care for the residents.


Barbara

Barbara Shaw

Job Title: Healthcare assistant

Joined: 2021

A good place to work


Michelle

Michelle Crick

Job Title: Healthcare assistant

Joined: 2021

I enjoy looking after people.
I like to make sure their needs are met.
I am devoted to my job.


Krisha

Krisha Jaya

Job Title: Healthcare assistant

Joined: 2022

I like caring for people


Tony

Tony Brooks

Job Title: Maintenance Manager

Joined: 2022

I work in a family-style environment, also the job role covered my skills in compliance and maintenance.


Ivan

Ivan Heviamoovima

Job Title: Care and Compliance Manager

Joined: 2022

I enjoy getting to know the residents and I enjoy that I can speak to several residents in French.


Knowing that you are making a difference in a person's daily life is always rewarding.


Victoria

Victoria Wood

Job Title: Activities Assistant

Joined: 2021

I love working at The Orchards because of the great team that I am part of.


My background in teaching was with Health and Social Care so this seemed a natural progression.


I enjoy the varied nature of each day of working with the wonderful residents.


I enjoy being active and involved in their everyday lives.


Erin

Erin Huggins

Job Title: Activities Assistant

Joined: 2021

I enjoy working at The Orchards because it is a great space to learn new things.


It is interesting to hear about our lovely resident's life stories and not to mention how good the team here is.