Fern Brook Lodge

Fern Brook Lane, Gillingham SP8 4QD
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9.8 57 Reviews
  • Fern Brook Lodge, Gillingham
Fern Brook Lodge in Gillingham, Dorset is a friendly, warm and welcoming residential home, where residents living with dementia are treated with dignity and respect. Individuals enjoy a safe, caring environment with all the home comforts and 24-hour specialist care from professionally trained staff.

Staff at Fern Brook Lodge pride themselves on providing the best possible care alongside relevant health and social care professionals tailored for individuals and their families.

Residents are accommodated in spacious single rooms which have en-suite wet room facilities along with a telephone point, high bedside lights and a flat screen television.

There are plenty of communal areas, including quiet seating spaces where residents can relax in comfort. The home also has a number of cosy lounges and dining rooms, offering views over the home’s large gardens and the beautiful surrounding countryside.

The home aims to maintain and improve the quality of life of residents by creating a happy, friendly and secure environment, with facilities that are designed to encourage residents to interact with others and make them feel comfortable and 'at home'.

On-site services at Fern Brook Lodge include laundry and hairdressing and there is a wide variety of optional organised entertainment for residents, including beauty and music sessions, minibus trips to local places of interest, coffee mornings and arts and crafts mornings.

Show Fern Brook Lodge on the Map

Care Provided by Fern Brook Lodge

  • Primary Care Categories
  • Dementia
  • Older Person Care
  • Respite Care
  • Care Types Provided
  • Dementia Residential Care
  • Residential Care
  • For a maximum of 75 Service Users
  • Voluntary / Not for Profit Owned

Good to Know

  • Person in charge
  • Deb Wiltshire (Home Manager)
  • Admission Criteria
    • Ages 65+
  • Room Information
    • Single Rooms (75)
    • Couples/Companion Rooms (0)
    • Single Rooms with ensuite Wet Room (75)
  • Care Home Design/Build
    • Purpose Built: Yes

Funding & Fees Guide for Fern Brook Lodge

  • 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 £1,385
    • Self-Funded Residential Dementia Care from £1,465
    • RESPITE Self-Funded Residential Care from £1,510
  • (these prices are only a guideline, please contact Fern Brook Lodge to find out the exact price for your requirements)

Facilities

  • Gardens
  • Near Public Transport
  • Own Furniture if required
  • Smoking not permitted
  • Television point in own room
  • Wheelchair Access

Fern Brook Lodge Reviews (57)

Total of 57, showing 1-20
9.8

Fern Brook Lodge has a Review Score of 9.8 (9.812) out of 10, based on 24 reviews in the last 2 years. Over all time Fern Brook Lodge has 57 reviews.

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Review from N M (Respite Resident) published on 6 March 2025
Submitted via Postal Card • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Lovely warm atmosphere. Home from Home.

Reply from Phil Smith, Director of Residential Care at Fern Brook Lodge

Thank you for your review - we will share this feedback with the home.


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Review from Mary S (Resident) published on 17 January 2025
Submitted via Postal Card • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 3.0 out of 5

First class. Feels like home from home.

Reply from Phil Smith, Director of Residential Care at Fern Brook Lodge

Thank you for your review. We are so pleased to read your review and that the home feels like home. We will share this with the team.


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Review from S R (Daughter of Resident) published on 17 January 2025
Submitted via Postal Card • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

All of the staff are patient, kind, and caring and always ensure that residents' needs are put first. We are impressed with the Events Team, which keeps the residents engaged with all of the various activities. We have noticed that mum loves the attention and has lots of fun with the staff, which makes
her happy. Fern Brook Lodge is a lovely care home, and we would like to thank all of the staff for everything that they do for the residents.

Reply from Phil Smith, Director of Residential Care at Fern Brook Lodge

Thank you for your review. We are so pleased your impressed with the events and activities at the home. We will share your review with the team.


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Review from Jacqueline W (Resident) published on 15 January 2025
Submitted via Postal Card • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

I recently moved here and I am very happy. All the staff are very kind and helpful. Home from home.

Reply from Phil Smith, Director of Residential Care at Fern Brook Lodge

Thank you for your 5* review. We are so pleased you are are very happy and feel at home.


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Review from C D (Daughter-in-law of Resident) published on 15 January 2025
Submitted via Postal Card • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Excellent Christmas Fete. The activity team work so hard with very limited funds. So many festive activities are planned. The new chef appears to be providing good food. The staff are dedicated and have the right amount of respect and love.

Reply from Phil Smith, Director of Residential Care at Fern Brook Lodge

Thank you for your review. We are so pleased you enjoyed the Christmas Fete and are enjoying the home cooked food at Fern Brook.


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Review from R J (Brother of Resident) published on 31 December 2024
Submitted via Postal Card • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My brother has been a resident of Fern Brook Lodge for the past 6 months. He is being cared for well, the food is good. The staff are always friendly, courteous and helpful whenever we visit. Personal hygiene is good.

Reply from Phillip Smith, Director of Residential Care at Fern Brook Lodge

Thank you for such a positive review, I am so glad to read your comments, which of course I will be sharing with the team.


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Review from R S (Relative of Resident) published on 23 December 2024
Submitted via Postal Card • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

It was very hard to accept the fact that the time had come to look for a care home for a much loved family member, who now needed more care and support than we were able to provide. Fern Brook Lodge came highly recommended to us by a friend who's father was a contented resident, because of this we were
keen to include it in our choices. It was very clear from our first visit what a kind and caring home Fern Brook is, this wasn't always evident at other establishments and made a difficult choice so much easier. 4 months into his new home, we have a very happy, contented resident, who's life has been made so much easier. We are always met by smiling friendly staff who genuinely care and look to enrich the residents life.

Reply from Phil Smith, Director of Residential Care at Fern Brook Lodge

Thank you so much for this lovely 5 star review. We are all so pleased to hear how your feeling about the care at Fern Brook.


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Review from G B (Daughter of Resident) published on 13 November 2024
Submitted via Postal Card • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Excellent trip to Poole, my mother really enjoyed her day out, and the trip and the trip was exceptionally well planned.

Reply from Phil Smith, Director of Residential Care at Fern Brook Lodge

Thank you for your review - we are so pleased your mother enjoyed the trip to Poole.


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Review from J A (Resident) published on 16 September 2024
Submitted via Postal Card • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

A first-class care home with excellent, kind and helpful staff which I would certainly recommend.

Reply from Phil Smith, Director of Residential Care at Fern Brook Lodge

Thank you for your review and lovely words. We will share this with the team.


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Review from A B (Daughter of Resident) published on 16 August 2024
Submitted via Postal Card • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

I was very nervous about placing my mother in a care home. The home has been fantastic in settling my mother. She has been in Fern Brook for 4 weeks and has been better with each week. Everyone is very friendly and helpful. Seems to be understaffed. The activities staff are very good and friendly. The
manager has been very helpful with the process of making the placement.

Reply from Phil Smith, Director of Residential Care at Fern Brook Lodge

Thank you for taking the time to leave a review and for rating the overall experience at Fern Brook Lodge as 5 stars! I understand our Home Manager has been in touch with you to discuss your review and we hope to see you again. All the best.


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Review from A B (Daughter of Resident) published on 25 July 2024
Submitted via Postal Card • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

This is the third month my father has been living at Fern Brook. From the first day my sisters, my father's brother and I visited Fern Brook Lodge we knew he would be well cared for. All the staff are absolutely wonderful. The food is fantastic and there is always something for my father to eat who
is a meat and veg man!

Reply from Phil Smith, Director of Residential Care at Fern Brook Lodge

Thank you for your wonderful 5* review of Fern Brook Lodge, I am so pleased that your father has settled into life so well. Wishing you and your family all the best.


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Review from Livvy W (Friend of Resident) published on 25 July 2024
Submitted via Postal Card • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

The staff of Fern Brook are very dedicated, caring, friendly and respectful. They care for each client with dignity and respect, and no task is ever too much trouble. The meals are lovely and nutritious. Activities are always taking place and encouragement for the clients to join in as much as possible.

Reply from Phil Smith, Director of Residential Care at Fern Brook Lodge

Thank you for your wonderful five star review, the team at Fern Brook Lodge will be absolutely thrilled. I will be sure to pass on your kind feedback to the team.


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Review from A C (Daughter of Resident) published on 24 July 2024
Submitted via Postal Card • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Mum has been a resident here now for two years although very sceptical initially she settled in really quickly. She especially loves the staff. They go above and beyond to make her feel like part of a big family. The care and attention are excellent. The food is fabulous and made better by the great
chef. Mum is always looking her best and never feels lonely anymore. The team definitely makes the dream work.

Reply from Phil Smith, Director of Residential Care at Fern Brook Lodge

Thank you for taking the time to leave a review of Fern Brook Lodge. The team will be absolutely delighted to read your comments and subsequent 5* rating. Wishing you all the best.


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Review from David R (Son-in-law of Resident) published on 24 June 2024
Submitted via Postal Card • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

This refers to the cake sale of 29th May 2024 but applies generally across the board to all the staff all the time.
Everyone does all they can to make life as pleasant as possible and are caring, thoughtful and kind.

Reply from Phil Smith, Director of Residential Care at Fern Brook Lodge

Thank you so much for your wonderful five-star review of Fern Brook Lodge; the team will be so pleased to read your wonderful comments. Wishing you all the best.


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Review from J S (Daughter of Resident) published on 11 March 2024
Submitted via Postal Card • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

The staff at Fern Brook Lodge made the process of moving Mum to a care home so much easier than we feared.
Everyone has made her welcome, showing her extraordinary care and understanding. She enjoys the wonderful activities, and the room is just perfect for her. We can't wait to be able to sit in
the garden in the spring when visiting.

Reply from Phil Smith, Director of Residential Care at Fern Brook Lodge

Thank you for your wonderful review of Fern Brook Lodge; I am so pleased that Mum is enjoying life with us. Wishing you both all the best.


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Review from Kay P (Daughter of Resident) published on 26 February 2024
Submitted via Postal Card • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

I would just like to say every time I have visited Fern Brook Lodge I have always been welcomed in and always been treated lovely by all staff, gold stars. I saw my mum before Christmas and just enjoyed the day and wanted to stay. The Lodge is such a lovely home. My mum is so well looked after as is
everyone else, can't say anything more really but just keep up with the good work.

Reply from Phil Smith, Director of Residential Care at Fern Brook Lodge

Thank you for your lovely review, I will pass on your wonderful feedback to the team at Fern Brook Lodge. Wishing you all the best.


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Review from Julie O (Daughter of Resident) published on 18 January 2024
Submitted via Postal Card • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

I have been coming to the memory cafe every Thursday for a few months. The staff are extremely welcoming and spend quality time with my father who has dementia. It is a wonderful service to help get people out of the home and surroundings. It has made my father feel more comfortable in the environment
so may be able to settle for respite care in the future.

Reply from Phil Smith, Director of Residential Care at Fern Brook Lodge

Thank you so much for leaving a review, feedback like this is so important to the team. I am delighted that your Father is enjoying his regular visits. All the very best.


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Review from Sharon S (Daughter of Resident) published on 9 January 2024
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

One year on from moving Mum to Fern Brook Lodge and I can honestly say it is the best decision we ever made for her.
She settled quickly and has been cared for with such affection and gentleness that she continues to thrive despite her dementia. With an activities coordinator now in place there have
been numerous opportunities for Mum to enjoy her lifetime love of music, thanks so much to one member of staff in particular for all her hard work in organising so many lovely events, especially over Christmas.
Any minor issues have been dealt with immediately by the equally caring leadership team. I cannot recommend Fern Brook Lodge highly enough and would like to thank everyone there for all their continued efforts with Mum.

Reply from Phil Smith, Director of Residential Care at Fern Brook Lodge

Thank you for taking the time to leave your review, your wonderful comments are much appreciated. I will of course pass your review onto the team at Fern Brook Lodge. All the best.


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Review from Yvonne H (Daughter of Resident) published on 1 December 2023
Submitted via Postal Card • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Mum has been a resident at Fern Brook Lodge for 18 months now. There is always something going on to keep the residents busy, from bingo to sing-a-longs and trips out.
The care given by the staff is first class, all the residents are always treated with genuine love and affection. I witnessed this,
particularly at the concert. The carers were so attentive throughout. The residents tend to get restless and the care and guidance given was exemplary.
Thank you team.

Reply from Phil Smith, Director of Residential Care at Fern Brook Lodge

Thank you for leaving a review - the team at Fern Brook Lodge will be thrilled. It is wonderful to read how well mum is enjoying life with us. Thank you again.


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Review from C T (Daughter of Resident) published on 24 November 2023
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My mother came in for an initial period of respite care during the summer and then moved in permanently in October. I am very happy with how well she has settled and how her health, both mental and physical, has improved since moving into an environment where she receives exemplary care, a daily structure
and lots of stimulation from an excellent programme of activities. The staff (with perhaps one minor exception) are all kind, friendly, caring and seem to really enjoy their work. I visit 3-4 times a week, often with our dog (who is also made very welcome!) and we always receive a friendly reception and help with any queries or concerns. Mum really enjoys the food and often tells me how kind everyone is. I am so relieved to have found such a lovely home in Gillingham and it's a great comfort to know that my mum is so well cared for at a time of great difficulty for her family.

Reply from Phil Smith, Director of Residential Care at Fern Brook Lodge

Thank you so much for taking the time to leave a review, it's wonderful to see how highly you rate the service the team provides at Fern Brook Lodge. Wishing you all the best.


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Current Review Score: 9.8 (9.812)

Overview of Review Score

The Review Score of 9.8 (9.812) out of 10 for Fern Brook Lodge is based on a) the Average Rating and b) the number of positive Reviews.

  • a) The Average Rating is 4.8 out of 5 from 24 Reviews in the last 24 months.

  • b) The score for the number of positive Reviews is 5.0 out of 5 from 22 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 4.812 for Fern Brook Lodge is calculated as follows: ( (239 Excellents x 5) + (33 Goods x 4) + (10 Satisfactorys x 3) ) ÷ 282 Ratings = 4.812

  • 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 Fern Brook Lodge is based on 22 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 75 registered maximum number of service users is 15, which has been reached with 22 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 Mar 2020

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 (5)

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Meet the Team (1)

Deb

Deb Wiltshire

Job Title: Home Manager

Joined: 2022

“I have been in care for 40 years and have been a Home Manager for ten. Prior to this, I was a Senior Lecturer teaching student nurses in Cambridge. I originally trained as a nurse at Addenbrooke’s Hospital where I specialised in district nursing. I am incredibly passionate about palliative care and continence which is reflected in my qualifications.


“I love making a difference, particularly when someone is in the latter part of their life, it is just so important to make this time as special as we possibly can for them and to make every day count.


“I adore my two dogs, both are rescues, and I spend most of my free time walking them or trying to stay upright on my newly acquired paddle board – although not too successfully!”


Frequently Asked Questions about Fern Brook Lodge

What types of Care is Fern Brook Lodge registered for?

Older Person Care, Dementia & Respite Care are the registered (by the Care Quality Commission) categories of Care.

How many Rooms does Fern Brook Lodge have?

There are 75 Single Rooms.

What are the Facilities & Services at Fern Brook Lodge?

Own Furniture if required, Smoking not permitted, Near Public Transport, Wheelchair Access, Gardens & Television point in own room are some of the Facilities & Services.

How far is Fern Brook Lodge to the centre of Gillingham?

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