Little Smugglers
Little Smugglers is a residential care home in Crawley Down, West Sussex (RH10 3EF). It holds a CQC rating of Requires Improvement.
About Little Smugglers
We at Little Smugglers are proud to offer specialist residential care in the peaceful village setting of Crawley Down, West Sussex. Our home provides a supportive place to live for younger adults with learning disabilities and autism, alongside respite care for families who need short term support. Nestled within the leafy surroundings of the RH postcode area, our home benefits from the calm, semi rural character that Crawley Down is known for. This gentle environment offers residents a real sense of community, with quiet lanes, open green spaces and the wider natural beauty of West Sussex on the doorstep. It is a setting we feel is ideally suited to encouraging confidence, independence and wellbeing for the people we support. Our focus is on personalised residential care for adults with learning disabilities and autistic adults, including younger people at important stages of their lives. In practice, this means we take time to understand each person as an individual, shaping daily routines, communication approaches and activities around their preferences, sensory needs and personal goals. Whether someone thrives on structure and predictability, enjoys creative pursuits, or is working towards greater independence in daily living skills, our team is here to walk that journey alongside them. For families considering respite care, we understand how important it is to know your loved one is somewhere safe, warm and welcoming, even for a short stay. Respite with us is more than a break for family carers. It is an opportunity for the person staying with us to enjoy new experiences, meet others and feel genuinely at home from the moment they arrive. Our most recent Care Quality Commission inspection, published in April 2023, gave us an overall rating of Requires Improvement. We believe in being open about this. The inspection also recognised real strengths in our home, with Good ratings across the Safe, Effective and Caring domains. This reflects the compassion, dignity and day to day quality of support that our team provides. In the areas identified for improvement, namely Responsive and Well led, we are committed to listening, learning and strengthening our practice so that every aspect of life here reaches the standard our residents and their families rightly expect. Choosing a care home is one of the most significant decisions a family can make, and we know it comes with many questions and understandable emotions. We warmly invite families to get in touch, ask anything that is on your mind and, when the time feels right, come and see our home for yourself. At Little Smugglers, we are here to listen, to reassure and to help you find the right way forward for your loved one.
Care provided at Little Smugglers
- Learning disability and autism support
- Younger adults care
- Respite care
- Last CQC inspection: 1 April 2023
Read the full inspection report on the CQC website.
How Little Smugglers compares in Mid Sussex
Measured against the 52 care homes registered in Mid Sussex. The dark dot is this home.
- Size
- 9 places. Smaller than 42 of the 52 homes. The local average is 35 places.
- CQC rating
- Requires improvement. 43 of the 52 homes (83%) are rated Good or Outstanding. Across West Sussex the figure is 78%.
- Latest report
- 1 April 2023. 18 of the 52 homes have published a newer inspection report since.
- Registered
- August 2011. 30 of the 52 homes registered more recently.
- Food hygiene
- 5 out of 5. The top rating, shared by 42 of the 46 homes that have one.
Powered by Orrery Intelligence. Data: CQC register and Food Standards Agency ratings. Counts cover registered care homes in Mid Sussex.
The local picture: Mid Sussex
What the numbers say about care for older people in Mid Sussex, in West Sussex.
What care costs in West Sussex, per week
| Type of care | What the council pays | What self-funders are typically asked |
|---|---|---|
| Residential care | £1,033 | £1,343 to £1,804 (Middle half of prices from 14 West Sussex homes. Median £1,579.) |
| Nursing care | £1,125 | £1,617 to £2,080 (South East figure, because too few West Sussex homes publish this price. 63 homes. Median £1,933.) |
| Residential dementia care | Not published separately | £1,571 to £1,942 (South East figure, because too few West Sussex homes publish this price. 82 homes. Median £1,709.) |
| Nursing dementia care | Not published separately | £1,975 to £2,226 (South East figure, because too few West Sussex 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: 18,500. Rising to 21,800 by 2035, up 17%
- People aged 85 and over: 5,100. Rising to 8,000 by 2035, up 55%
- Living with dementia, aged 65 and over (estimate): 2,400. Rising to 3,100 by 2035, up 27%
- Dementia diagnosis rate: 65%. The NHS ambition is 67%. West Sussex as a whole is 64%.
- Care home beds per 1,000 people aged 75+: 85. West Sussex average is 83.
- Care homes, last 12 months: 1 opened, 0 closed. 3 changed owner, covering 125 beds.
- Care home beds filled across West Sussex: 85%. The 12 month average is 84%.
- Who pays, across West Sussex (estimate): 34% council, 51% self. The rest is NHS funded or other.
Planned and recent building work within 5 miles
- 1.2 miles: Land West Of Turners Hill Road And North Of Huntsland Including Hurst Farm Turners Hill Road Crawley Down West Sussex. Application for a 70 bed care home. Submitted 5 March 2026. Approved 15 September 2026.
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 Little Smugglers
Facts from public registers, and what is close by.
- Registered with CQC
- 10 August 2011, so 15 years.
- Food hygiene rating
- 5 out of 5. Very good. Last inspected by the local council on 8 January 2026.
- Run by
- Consensus Support Services Limited, which runs 59 adult social care services in England. 53 of the 56 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 Little Smugglers
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
- East Surrey Hospital, Redhill, 6.5 miles away
It is about 6.5 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
- Modality Mid Sussex Surgery, 1.2 miles away
- Modality East Surrey Medical Practice, 2.7 miles away
- Moatfield Surgery, 3.1 miles away
Nearest dentists
- Elm House Dental Surgery, 1.3 miles away (NHS.uk details)
- Harvestfield (Dental Surgery), 2.4 miles away (NHS.uk details)
- St Faiths Dental Surgery, 2.5 miles away (NHS.uk details)
Nearest pharmacies
- Crawley Down Pharmacy, 1.4 miles away
- Copthorne Pharmacy, 1.6 miles away
- Day Lewis Pharmacy, 2.1 miles away
Nearest railway stations
- East Grinstead Station, 3 miles away
- Dormans Station, 3.6 miles away
- Gatwick Airport Station, 3.6 miles away
Around Little Smugglers
- H: Little Smugglers
- 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 Little Smugglers
Where is Little Smugglers located?
Little Smugglers is a residential care home in Crawley Down, West Sussex, RH10 3EF. You can view its exact location and get directions from the map on this page.
What type of care does Little Smugglers provide?
Little Smugglers 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 Little Smugglers's CQC rating?
Little Smugglers is registered with and inspected by the Care Quality Commission (CQC). Its most recent overall rating is Requires Improvement following its last inspection on 1 April 2023. You can read the full CQC report from the link on this page.
Does Little Smugglers offer respite or short-term care?
Yes. Little Smugglers offers respite and short-term care. Availability changes regularly, so it is best to enquire directly.
Questions families ask about Little Smugglers
Can Mum or Dad stay here if their dementia gets worse?
No. Little Smugglers 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. Little Smugglers 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. Little Smugglers 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. Little Smugglers 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
Little Smugglers 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 Little Smugglers. Actual fees depend on the room, the level of care and how it is funded.
Explore more
Browse all care homes in Crawley Down.