Ventress Hall

22/28 Trinity Road, Darlington DL3 7AZ
Submit a Review
9.5 87 Reviews
  • Ventress Hall, Darlington
The team at Ventress Hall offers nursing, residential and dementia care, as well as respite care, designed to ensure that life is engaging and fulfilling for residents.

Each bedrooms at Ventress Hall is unique; from high ceilings to direct access to the home's courtyards, each offers a point of interest for residents to enjoy. Bedrooms also feature a 24-hour nurse call system, and most have en-suite facilities. For couples wishing to reside together, Ventress Hall also offers a small number of shared or double rooms.

The Darlington care home and gardens are fully wheelchair accessible with a plethora of spaces to relax, socialise and enjoy activities, including cosy lounges, a café, hair and beauty salon and a bright conservatory. Outside, the courtyard gardens are ideal for enjoying a cup of tea.

Care Provided by Ventress Hall

  • Primary Care Categories
  • Dementia
  • Learning Disability
  • Mental Health Condition
  • Older Person Care
  • Physical Disability
  • Respite Care
  • Younger Adults
  • Care Types Provided
  • Dementia Residential Care
  • Nursing Care
  • Residential Care
  • For a maximum of 106 Service Users
  • Privately Owned
  • Care Offered
  • Cancer Care
  • Colitis & Crohn's Disease
  • Epilepsy
  • Hearing Impairment
  • Huntington's Disease
  • Motor Neurone Disease
  • Multiple Sclerosis
  • Parkinson's Disease
  • Speech Impairment
  • Stroke

Good to Know

  • Person in charge
  • Diane Encinias (Home Manager)
  • Admission Criteria
    • Ages 55+
  • Room Information
    • Single Rooms (106)
    • Single Rooms with ensuite Wet Room (84)
  • Care Home Design/Build
    • Purpose Built: Yes
    • Last Refurbishment: 2010

Funding & Fees Guide for Ventress Hall

  • 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 £975
    • Self-Funded Residential Dementia Care from £1,065
    • Self-Funded Nursing Care from £1,215
    • RESPITE Self-Funded Residential Care from £1,025
    • RESPITE Self-Funded Residential Dementia Care from £1,115
    • RESPITE Self-Funded Nursing Care from £1,265
  • Fees are subject to a pre-admission needs assessment which is required to fully understand the level
    of care and support required by each individual. Premium rooms normally require an additional charge.
    Nursing fees include the Funded Nursing Contribution (FNC) if you are eligible.


    What’s included?
    • All care and support including a monthly review of care plans
    • All meals, snacks and drinks freshly prepared every day by our chef
    • Activities and lifestyle programme
    • All utilities and other accommodation costs
    • Housekeeping and laundry services
    • WiFi internet access


    Please note, the weekly fee does not include hairdressing, chiropody or other healthcare visits or
    appointments not covered by the NHS, toiletries, newspapers or magazines, any over the counter
    medications that a GP wouldn’t normally prescribe such as paracetamol and indigestion relief, and any
    other privately arranged healthcare. Should you require an escort to hospital appointments, we may apply
    an agreed hourly charge for this service.


  • (these prices are only a guideline, please contact Ventress Hall to find out the exact price for your requirements)

Facilities

  • Gardens
  • Phone Point in own room
  • Residents Internet Access
  • Television point in own room
  • Wheelchair Access
Total of 87, showing 1-20
9.5

Ventress Hall has a Review Score of 9.5 (9.500) out of 10, based on 49 reviews in the last 2 years. Over all time Ventress Hall has 87 reviews.

Overall Experience

  • 59
  • 21
  • 4
  • 2
  • 1

Date Published

87
10
38
49
38
Overall Experience  Overall Experience 3.0 out of 5

My Mum doesn't get much interaction from carers, otherwise what is absolutely necessary. I feel that her basic needs are met but the carers could do more to make her life better. We often find carers sat in the lounge socialising between themselves or on their phones and I think that time could be better
spent with the residents.
Mum's room is often dirty and untidy.
We have raised issues with things not working in her room and they have not been resolved.

Reply from Samantha Debenham, Reviews Team at Ventress Hall

Thank you for sharing your concerns. I sincerely apologise for the experience you and your mother have been having at Ventress Hall. Your feedback is incredibly important to us, and we take your observations seriously.

I’m truly sorry to hear that the interaction your mother is receiving from the carers has not been to the standard you expect. At Care UK, we hold ourselves to high standards and I would like to sincerely apologise that these standards were not met; We strive to ensure that all of our residents feel supported, engaged, and valued.

I also apologise for the unresolved maintenance issues. This is not the experience we wish for any of our residents.

The Home Manager at Ventress Hall has an Open Door Policy and is always happy to discuss any concerns that may arise. Furthermore, we would like the opportunity to discuss your concerns with you to take learnings and make improvements where needed and implore you to please contact complimentsandcomplaints@careuk.com. We value your feedback and are committed to making sure your mother receives the best care possible.


Facilities

Care / Support

Cleanliness

Treated with Dignity

Food & Drink

Staff

Activities

Management

Safety / Security

Rooms

Value for Money

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My Aunt moved to Ventress Hall in October 2024. 4 months in she seems very settled and happy. I selected Ventress Hall based on the friendliness of the staff and the general atmosphere which felt welcoming and slightly informal - the main reception area always seems to be quite busy and bustling and
I like that. She is happy with the food, there have been quite a few outings for her - and if the staff are encouraging she is likely to join in activities and have some fun. It has been a weight off my mind that she is now somewhere and safe and is cared for - and not living alone where she was becoming increasingly anxious about everything.

Reply from Caprice Geisha, Home Manager at Ventress Hall

Thank you very much for taking the time to leave us feedback about your experience.
At Ventress Hall Care Home - Care UK we set a high standard for ourselves, so we are very pleased to hear that your experience with us has been a positive one.


Facilities

Care / Support

Cleanliness

Treated with Dignity

Food & Drink

Staff

Activities

Management

Safety / Security

Rooms

Value for Money

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Very pleased with the care provided for my sister. The whole team are friendly, helpful and supportive. My sister is treat as an individual, all her care needs are met and we also have a laugh with the staff and other residents. Plenty of activities to keep people busy and a very friendly atmosphere.
Thank
you to the whole team for all they do.

Reply from Caprice Geisha, Home Manager at Ventress Hall

Thank you very much for taking the time to leave us feedback about your experience.
At Ventress Hall Care Home - Care UK we set a high standard for ourselves, so we are very pleased to hear that your experience with us has been a positive one.


Facilities

Care / Support

Cleanliness

Treated with Dignity

Food & Drink

Staff

Activities

Management

Safety / Security

Rooms

Value for Money

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 4.0 out of 5

All the carers look after my mam well, and she gets along with them all. The only problem I have is that if there is anything wrong with mam (i.e. lately very sore legs, painful back and bum). I have to point it out to the seniors and ask for something to be done. I think this kind of problem should
be noticed more by the carers. In all other respects, I'm happy with her care.

Reply from Samantha Debenham, Reviews Team at Ventress Hall

Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback with us for Ventress Hall. We're so glad to read that your mum is receiving good care and that she gets along well with the team at Ventress Hall. We also appreciate you bringing the concerns about her sore legs, back, and bum to our attention. It's incredibly important that we notice and address such issues proactively, and we'll make sure to bring this to the attention of the Home Manager and to ensure this is reviewed for your mum. Your comments help us enhance the quality of care we provide, and we are grateful for your input. If there is anything further, you'd like to discuss or any other ways we can support your mum, please don't hesitate to reach out to the Home Manager or you can contact the Compliments and Complaints Team on complimentsandcomplaints@careuk.com. Best wishes.


Facilities

Care / Support

Cleanliness

Treated with Dignity

Food & Drink

Staff

Activities

Management

Safety / Security

Rooms

Value for Money

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Mum has been here for 9 months. She has such a good quality of life now with all the activities and trips out she has. The staff are warm and welcoming and will do anything to help. The only problem we encountered was around Mum's cleanliness, Mum has Alzheimer's and when staff asked if she needed any
help washing and dressing Mum always said she could manage even though she couldn't. But now things seem to be improving as Mum is accepting help and getting showered regularly, after asking the staff to use different wording when asking her.

Reply from Samantha Debenham, Reviews Team at Ventress Hall

Thank you for taking the time to leave feedback for Ventress Hall. Thank you so much for sharing your kind words with us. We're thrilled to hear that your mum's quality of life has improved with the activities and trips and that she is enjoying her time here. We're also very happy to know that our staff have been able to provide the warm and welcoming care you expect. We appreciate you bringing up the concerns about your mum's cleanliness. We understand how challenging it can be when someone with Alzheimer's may be reluctant to accept help, and we're glad that things are improving now with the adjusted approach. It's wonderful to hear that your mum is more comfortable and accepting of the support she needs. Your feedback is valuable in helping us continually improve and provide the best care possible. If there's anything else we can do to support your mum or you, please don't hesitate to reach out. Best wishes.


Facilities

Care / Support

Cleanliness

Treated with Dignity

Food & Drink

Staff

Activities

Management

Safety / Security

Rooms

Value for Money

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Generally good but there are some things that could be improved upon. For instance, drinks are provided in the dementia lounge, sometimes without drinking glasses. No towels in the bathroom, things going missing, which is common in the dementia unit, and staff don't have time to look for them. Most
things do turn up eventually. Unsupervised residents in the lounge, especially when one of the carers is on a break. The carers are great but they are often rushing around trying to do two things at once. Although staffing levels meet the government standards I feel they could always do with more.
There could be more frequent activities to stimulate the dementia residents. On an afternoon some residents in the lounge are asleep. Maybe they are just tired, but it could be because they are bored. Last week there was music from a bagpipe player, which went down well.
Overall this is a good care home with good food. With a few tweaks, it could be great.

Reply from Samantha Debenham, Reviews Team at Ventress Hall

Thank you for taking the time to provide us with your detailed feedback for Ventress Hall. We’re pleased to hear that, overall, you feel your experience has been positive, and that you’re satisfied with the care provided, as well as the food and staff.
We truly appreciate your insights on areas where we can improve. We understand the importance of ensuring all details, such as drink glasses and towels, are consistently available, and we’ll work to address this to provide a more seamless experience for everyone. We also recognise the concerns about lost items and the pressure on our staff. While the dementia unit presents unique challenges, we will review our approach to ensure items are better tracked and that our team has the support they need to focus on all aspects of care without feeling rushed.
Your comment about unsupervised residents during breaks is also valuable, and we will assess how we can improve supervision, ensuring that all residents are safe and engaged.
We’re glad to hear that the bagpipe performance was well-received, and we agree that more frequent activities can help keep our residents stimulated and living a fulfilling lifestyle. We’ll take this into account when planning future events to ensure that there are always opportunities for our residents to engage and enjoy their time.
Thank you again for your feedback. It is incredibly helpful as we continue to refine our services and make improvements where necessary. Please don’t hesitate to reach out if there’s anything else we can do to support you and your loved one. Best wishes


Facilities

Care / Support

Cleanliness

Treated with Dignity

Food & Drink

Staff

Activities

Management

Safety / Security

Rooms

Value for Money

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Putting Mum into a care home was the hardest decision we have had to make but I am now so pleased we have. The worry and stress have gone away knowing that she is in such a caring environment with staff who genuinely care about her. Her social life is great with many opportunities to attend different
events or just to sit and chat with other residents.

Reply from Caprice Geisha, Home Manager at Ventress Hall

Thank you very much for taking the time to leave us feedback about your experience.
At Ventress Hall Care Home - Care UK we set a high standard for ourselves, so we are very pleased to hear that your experience with us has been a positive one.


Facilities

Care / Support

Cleanliness

Treated with Dignity

Food & Drink

Staff

Activities

Management

Safety / Security

Rooms

Value for Money

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 4.0 out of 5

My wife and I visit Ventress most days. There is always a calm atmosphere. Cleanliness is excellent, it is bright and homely. Always made to feel welcome. We feel residents are well cared for. We would certainly recommend.

Reply from Caprice Geisha, Home Manager at Ventress Hall

Thank you very much for taking the time to leave us feedback about your experience.
At Ventress Hall Care Home - Care UK we set a high standard for ourselves, so we are very pleased to hear that your experience with us has been a positive one.


Facilities

Care / Support

Cleanliness

Treated with Dignity

Food & Drink

Staff

Activities

Management

Safety / Security

Rooms

Value for Money

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 1.0 out of 5

We had a very poor experience at Ventress Hall. We often struggled to access the building due to lack of staff on reception. My Dad was not looked after well in the specialist dementia unit, and staff were not very caring or attentive. Some of the staff were very rude to me, and lacked the patience
and professionalism to be in this line of work. We moved Dad to another home and have had an infinitely better experience.

Reply from Samantha Debenham, Reviews Team at Ventress Hall

Thank you for taking the time to leave feedback for Ventress Hall. I am very sorry to read of your experience. At Care UK, we hold ourselves to high standards and I am sorry to read that we did not meet your expectations. We are open to feedback whether that be positive or constructive and we will take this opportunity to take learnings and make improvements where needed. So we are able to understand your concerns in more detail please can I ask you to contact the Compliments and Complaints Team on complimentsandcomplaints@careuk.com. We would like to be able to look into this further for you. Please be assured that we have taken on the feedback you have provided, and we will look to implement further training. I hope that your Dad is settled in his new home, and I am pleased to read that you had a better experience. Thank you once again for taking the time to leave your review. Best wishes.


Facilities

Care / Support

Cleanliness

Treated with Dignity

Food & Drink

Staff

Activities

Management

Safety / Security

Rooms

Value for Money

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Excellent care received from start to finish. My brother passed away peacefully and was cared for up until the end of his life by all the staff.

Reply from Caprice Geisha, Reviews Team at Ventress Hall

Thank you very much for taki ng the time to leave us feedback about your experience.At Ventress Hall Care Home - Care UK we set a high standard for ourselves, so we are very pleased to hear that your experience with us has been a positive one.


Facilities

Care / Support

Cleanliness

Treated with Dignity

Food & Drink

Staff

Activities

Management

Safety / Security

Rooms

Value for Money

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 4.0 out of 5

Staff warm and friendly, welcoming, look after the whole family - not just the residents.
Nothing is too much trouble, on hand to answer questions any time. Calm and relaxed atmosphere. Would recommend.

Facilities

Care / Support

Cleanliness

Treated with Dignity

Food & Drink

Staff

Activities

Management

Safety / Security

Rooms

Value for Money

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 4.0 out of 5

Been into visit a couple of times and both times staff have been lovely and helpful.

Facilities

Care / Support

Cleanliness

Treated with Dignity

Food & Drink

Staff

Activities

Management

Safety / Security

Rooms

Value for Money

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

All the staff are very friendly and make you feel welcome.

Facilities

Care / Support

Cleanliness

Treated with Dignity

Food & Drink

Staff

Activities

Management

Safety / Security

Rooms

Value for Money

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 4.0 out of 5

This is a happy and caring home. I'm very pleased that my sister has moved here.

Facilities

Care / Support

Cleanliness

Treated with Dignity

Food & Drink

Staff

Activities

Management

Safety / Security

Rooms

Value for Money

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 4.0 out of 5

From entering the building, security is safe for both residents, family and staff using the building. A varied range of activities are available which stimulates the residents. All staff appear to be enthusiastic and dedicated to looking after the residents. The cleanliness is of a high standard. It's
good to see residents encouraged to sit together for meal times, with a wide range of meal options. Would recommend Ventress Hall to others who are looking for care for their family member.

Facilities

Care / Support

Cleanliness

Treated with Dignity

Food & Drink

Staff

Activities

Management

Safety / Security

Rooms

Value for Money

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Dad has been here for a few weeks now and we are happy with all aspects of the home.

Facilities

Care / Support

Cleanliness

Treated with Dignity

Food & Drink

Staff

Activities

Management

Safety / Security

Rooms

Value for Money

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Excellent service, staff, and facilities have been first-rate. The patient is treated with dignity and care. Visitors are also looked after.

Reply from Caprice Geisha, Reviews Team at Ventress Hall

Thank you very much for taking the time to leave us feedback about your experience. At Ventress Hall Care Home - Care UK we set a high standard for ourselves, so we are very pleased to hear that your experience with us has been a positive one.


Facilities

Care / Support

Cleanliness

Treated with Dignity

Food & Drink

Staff

Activities

Management

Safety / Security

Rooms

Value for Money

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Mother is exceptionally well cared for and settled. The care team go above and beyond to ensure the well-being of my mother. Initially, my mum was apprehensive about going into full-time care but now is enjoying a social life that she has not enjoyed for years. She is happy and content and myself and
my family cannot praise Ventress Hall highly enough.

Reply from Caprice Geisha, Reviews Team at Ventress Hall

Hi, thank you very much for taking the time to leave us feedback about your experience. At Ventress Hall Care Home - Care UK we set a high standard for ourselves, so we are very pleased to hear that your experience with us has been a positive one.


Facilities

Care / Support

Cleanliness

Treated with Dignity

Food & Drink

Staff

Activities

Management

Safety / Security

Rooms

Value for Money

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My mother is so happy at this care home. All the staff are pleasant and helpful, they always have a smile on their face. My mother is well looked after.

Reply from Caprice Geisha, Reviews Team at Ventress Hall

Hi, thank you very much for taking the time to leave us feedback about your experience. At Ventress Hall Care Home - Care UK we set a high standard for ourselves, so we are very pleased to hear that your experience with us has been a positive one.


Facilities

Care / Support

Cleanliness

Treated with Dignity

Food & Drink

Staff

Activities

Management

Safety / Security

Rooms

Value for Money

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

All the staff are really helpful and kind, will do anything for you. No problem at all.

Facilities

Care / Support

Cleanliness

Treated with Dignity

Food & Drink

Staff

Activities

Management

Safety / Security

Rooms

Value for Money

Current Review Score: 9.5 (9.500)

Overview of Review Score

The Review Score of 9.5 (9.500) out of 10 for Ventress Hall is based on a) the Average Rating and b) the number of positive Reviews.

  • a) The Average Rating is 4.5 out of 5 from 49 Reviews in the last 24 months.

  • b) The score for the number of positive Reviews is 5.0 out of 5 from 46 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 4.500 for Ventress Hall is calculated as follows: ( (351 Excellents x 5) + (169 Goods x 4) + (41 Satisfactorys x 3) + (9 Poors x 2) + (2 Very Poors x 1) ) ÷ 572 Ratings = 4.5

  • 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 Ventress Hall is based on 46 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 106 registered maximum number of service users is 21.2, which has been reached with 46 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 Feb 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

Please Contact Us for Latest Vacancies

Awards / Recognitions (87)

Loading...

Loading

Loading
Loading

Loading

Loading

Loading

Loading

Loading events

Loading

Meet the Team (1)

Diane

Diane Encinias

Job Title: Home Manager

I joined Ventress Hall back in the 1990s, progressing from a carer to a senior and then to become the deputy manager. I became Home Manager in November 2019. 


All of my experience enables me to challenge our practices, improve what we do and strengthen our relationships with the local CCG and healthcare team – all for the benefit of our residents.


I love seeing the residents happy, and I enjoy seeing the positive impact of the work we do. We often have residents join us for short term respite care as they convalesce after an illness or operation. It’s wonderful to see them recover and return home. 


I’ve worked with many of the team here for many years. I have a profound respect for them and recognise each of their contributions. It’s safe to say that this home has a special place in my heart and I’m looking forward to developing Ventress Hall even further so we can deliver even greater outcomes for residents and their families.


Frequently Asked Questions about Ventress Hall

What types of Care is Ventress Hall registered for?

Older Person Care, Dementia, Respite Care, Learning Disability, Mental Health Condition, Physical Disability & Younger Adults are the registered (by the Care Quality Commission) categories of Care.

How many Rooms does Ventress Hall have?

There are 106 Single Rooms.

What are the Facilities & Services at Ventress Hall?

Wheelchair Access, Gardens, Phone Point in own room, Television point in own room & Residents Internet Access are some of the Facilities & Services.

How far is Ventress Hall to the centre of Darlington?

0.5 mile(s) as the crow flies, distance by road may be significantly further.