Orchard Cottage
Orchard Cottage is a residential care home in Sittingbourne, Kent (ME9 8NE). It holds a CQC rating of Good.
About Orchard Cottage
Orchard Cottage is a residential care home in Sittingbourne, Kent. We support adults with learning disabilities and autistic adults, most of them younger adults who are building the kind of life they want with the right amount of help alongside them. We try to keep things ordinary here, in the best sense of the word. People get up when they choose, help with the shopping and cooking if they want to, keep their own routines and arrange their rooms as they please. Support is planned around each person and reviewed with them rather than about them. For autistic people in particular we pay close attention to sensory needs, predictability and clear communication, because getting those right removes a great deal of unnecessary stress. We encourage people to stay connected to family, friends, college, work and whatever they were doing before they came to us. Where someone wants to try something new, our job is to make that possible rather than to talk them out of it. We also provide respite care, giving families a planned break while their relative stays somewhere familiar and properly supported. The Care Quality Commission rated us good at our most recent inspection. If you would like to know whether Orchard Cottage might suit you or someone you care about, get in touch and arrange a visit. We are happy to answer questions honestly, including the awkward ones.
Care provided at Orchard Cottage
- Learning disability and autism support
- Younger adults care
- Respite care
- Last CQC inspection: 4 July 2023
Read the full inspection report on the CQC website.
How Orchard Cottage compares in Swale
Measured against the 44 care homes registered in Swale. The dark dot is this home.
- Size
- 3 places. Smaller than 38 of the 44 homes. The local average is 23 places.
- CQC rating
- Good. 34 of the 44 homes (77%) are rated Good or Outstanding. Across Kent the figure is 73%.
- Latest report
- 4 July 2023. 14 of the 44 homes have published a newer inspection report since.
- Registered
- February 2021. One of the newer homes in the area. Only 7 of the 44 have registered more recently.
- Food hygiene
- 5 out of 5. The top rating, shared by 31 of the 35 homes that have one.
Powered by Orrery Intelligence. Data: CQC register and Food Standards Agency ratings. Counts cover registered care homes in Swale.
The local picture: Swale
What the numbers say about care for older people in Swale, in Kent.
What care costs in Kent, per week
| Type of care | What the council pays | What self-funders are typically asked |
|---|---|---|
| Residential care | £1,187 | £1,409 to £1,600 (Middle half of prices from 22 Kent homes. Median £1,500.) |
| Nursing care | £1,378 | £1,550 to £1,865 (Middle half of prices from 11 Kent homes. Median £1,605.) |
| Residential dementia care | Not published separately | £1,500 to £1,619 (Middle half of prices from 18 Kent homes. Median £1,500.) |
| Nursing dementia care | Not published separately | £1,975 to £2,226 (South East figure, because too few Kent homes publish this price. 37 homes. Median £2,050.) |
Published prices are often starting prices, and come from homes that publish fees, so treat them as a guide. Ask the home for its own price.
- People aged 75 and over: 15,500. Rising to 17,400 by 2035, up 12%
- People aged 85 and over: 3,700. Rising to 5,600 by 2035, up 51%
- Living with dementia, aged 65 and over (estimate): 2,000. Rising to 2,400 by 2035, up 24%
- Dementia diagnosis rate: 57%. The NHS ambition is 67%. Kent as a whole is 62%.
- Care home beds per 1,000 people aged 75+: 58. Kent average is 77.
- Care homes, last 12 months: 0 opened, 0 closed
- Care home beds filled across Kent: 88%. The 12 month average is 88%.
- Who pays, across Kent (estimate): 35% council, 43% self. The rest is NHS funded or other.
Powered by Orrery Intelligence. Market model built 22 October 2026 (ONS 2022 based population projections, dementia estimates, CQC register), published care home prices, council planning records.
Good to know about Orchard Cottage
Facts from public registers, and what is close by.
- Registered with CQC
- 11 February 2021, so 5 years.
- Food hygiene rating
- 5 out of 5. Very good. Last inspected by the local council on 17 May 2021.
- Run by
- Insight Specialist Behavioural Service Ltd, which runs 8 adult social care services in England. All 7 that have a rating are rated Good or Outstanding.
Sources: CQC register, Food Standards Agency, OpenStreetMap contributors. Distances are in a straight line from the postcode, not walking or driving routes.
Local services near Orchard Cottage
The closest places to this home, measured in a straight line from its postcode. They are the nearest, not necessarily the ones the home uses. Ask the home which GP, dentist and pharmacy its residents are registered with.
Nearest 24 hour A&E
- Medway Maritime Hospital, Gillingham, 6.6 miles away
It is about 6.6 miles in a straight line from the postcode. The drive is usually longer. In an emergency call 999; the ambulance may take you elsewhere.
Nearest GP practices
- The Meads Medical Practice, 1.3 miles away
- London Road Medical Centre, 1.8 miles away
- Green Porch Medical Partnership, 2.3 miles away
Nearest dentists
- Chopra Dental Ltd, 1.8 miles away (NHS.uk details)
- The London Road Dental Practice, 1.9 miles away (NHS.uk details)
- Milton Regis Dental Clinic, 2 miles away (NHS.uk details)
Nearest pharmacies
- Newington Pharmacy, 0.8 miles away
- Kamsons Pharmacy, 1.3 miles away
- Kamsons Pharmacy, 1.8 miles away
Nearest railway stations
- Newington Station, 0.8 miles away
- Sittingbourne Station, 2.1 miles away
- Kemsley Station, 2.3 miles away
Around Orchard Cottage
- H: Orchard Cottage
- A: 24 hour A&E
- G: GP practice
- D: Dentist
- P: Pharmacy
- S: Railway station
Straight line distances, not routes. Places very close to the home are spread out slightly so they can be told apart.
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Practice and pharmacy details from the NHS England Organisation Data Service. A&E sites from NHS England A&E data and the Organisation Data Service. Railway stations from the Department for Transport NaPTAN dataset. Distances are straight line and approximate.
Common questions about Orchard Cottage
Where is Orchard Cottage located?
Orchard Cottage is a residential care home in Sittingbourne, Kent, ME9 8NE. You can view its exact location and get directions from the map on this page.
What type of care does Orchard Cottage provide?
Orchard Cottage is registered to provide residential personal care, with support that includes Learning disability and autism support, Younger adults care, Respite care. The full list of services is shown on this page.
What is Orchard Cottage's CQC rating?
Orchard Cottage is registered with and inspected by the Care Quality Commission (CQC). Its most recent overall rating is Good following its last inspection on 4 July 2023. You can read the full CQC report from the link on this page.
Does Orchard Cottage offer respite or short-term care?
Yes. Orchard Cottage offers respite and short-term care. Availability changes regularly, so it is best to enquire directly.
Questions families ask about Orchard Cottage
Can Mum or Dad stay here if their dementia gets worse?
No. Orchard Cottage is not listed for dementia care on the CQC register. If dementia is likely, choose a home that is, so a second move is not needed later.
Is there a nurse on site if health needs change?
No. Orchard Cottage is a residential care home without on-site nursing. District nurses and GPs visit, but someone who needs daily nursing may have to move to a nursing home.
Can they try a short stay before deciding?
Yes. Yes. Orchard Cottage offers respite and short stays, which is a good way to see whether the home is the right fit.
Will they support end of life care, so there is no move at the hardest time?
Ask the home. End of life care is not listed on the register. Ask the manager whether residents can remain in the home with hospice or district nurse support.
Can she bring her cat or dog?
Ask the home. The home has not told us its pet policy yet. Ask directly; some homes allow small pets in residents' rooms or welcome visiting dogs.
Can a couple stay together?
Ask the home. We do not know whether the home has rooms for couples. Ask about shared or adjoining rooms if this matters.
Will the council help pay, or is it self funded only?
Ask the home. The home has not told us which funding it accepts. Most homes take both council funded and self funded residents; ask about council rates and any top up.
Do they take younger adults as well as older people?
Yes. Yes. Orchard Cottage supports younger adults as well as older people.
Can I visit before deciding, and are there visiting hours?
Ask the home. Every home should welcome a visit. Call to arrange one, ideally at a mealtime or during an activity, and ask about visiting hours for family.
Typical weekly fees in the South East
Orchard Cottage has not published its fees yet. These are typical weekly fees for the South East, so you know roughly what to expect before you call.
- Residential care: £1,100 to £1,450 per week per person, typical range
Indicative figures for the South East, not a quote from Orchard Cottage. Actual fees depend on the room, the level of care and how it is funded.
Explore more
More care homes in Sittingbourne
- Aspley House — CQC Outstanding
- Insight SBS 201 London Road — CQC Outstanding
- 6a Sheerstone — CQC Good
- Beechfields — CQC Good
- Blair Park Residential Care Home — CQC Good
- Bridge House — CQC Good
Browse all care homes in Sittingbourne.