Which care homes in Darlington are listed on this page?

Twenty one residential care homes serve Darlington on this listing, including Bewick House, The Avenue, Moorlands Residential Care Home and The Lawns Care Home. They differ considerably in size and character, from small homes to substantially larger ones. All of them are registered with the Care Quality Commission for accommodation with personal care. Open a profile to see the registration details and the most recent inspection outcome for any home that interests you.

How does a residential care home differ from a nursing home?

A residential care home provides a room, meals and personal care such as help with washing, dressing and medication. A nursing home holds a further registration allowing registered nurses to be employed on site, which matters when someone needs wound care, a feeding tube or regular clinical observation. Every home listed on this page is registered for residential care. If a nurse needs to be present around the clock, search specifically for nursing registration instead.

What should I ask when visiting a care home in Darlington?

Ask about staffing levels during the day and overnight, and how long the current team has been in post. Find out how the home responds when someone's health declines, how families are involved in reviewing care plans, and what actually happens on an ordinary weekday. Ask for the fees in writing, including anything billed on top such as hairdressing or chiropody. Calling in around a mealtime is particularly revealing, because it shows you both the food and the staffing at a busy hour.

How do I arrange a care needs assessment in Darlington?

Contact adult social care at Darlington Borough Council and explain what the person is struggling with day to day. Anyone who appears to need care and support has a right to an assessment, whatever their income or savings. A social care professional will discuss the difficulties and consider whether a residential home is the right setting. If the person is currently in hospital, the ward team can refer them so the assessment is completed before discharge.

Can Darlington Borough Council fund a care home place?

It can, provided the person meets both the care and the financial criteria. The care needs assessment decides whether residential care is appropriate, and a separate financial assessment considers income, savings and property to work out the council's contribution. Because support is means tested, anyone with assets above the national threshold usually pays for their own place initially. Speak to Darlington Borough Council early, as assessments and funding decisions are rarely quick.

How far ahead should we start looking for a care home?

Start as soon as it becomes apparent that home is no longer working, rather than waiting for a crisis to make the decision for you. Assessments take time, funding decisions take longer, and the better regarded homes often have waiting lists. Beginning early gives you space to visit, read inspection reports and involve the person who will be moving in. When a room is finally offered you will usually need to answer within days, so the preparation counts.

Care Homes in Darlington

Darlington has 22 CQC registered care homes. 17 are rated Good, 2 Outstanding, 1 Requires improvement, and 2 have not yet been rated. 14 of the 22 were last inspected more than three years ago.

Source: Care Quality Commission register, kept up to date as ratings change.

Darlington at a glance

What the numbers say about care for older people in Darlington.

Darlington Borough Council pays, residential care: £843 a week. Self-funders are typically asked £1,331 to £1,392, median £1,369
Care home beds filled across Darlington: 86%. The 12 month average is 89%.
Care home beds per 1,000 people aged 75+: 95
People aged 75 and over: 12,100. Rising to 14,700 by 2035, up 21%
Care homes, last 12 months: 0 opened, 0 closed
Who pays, across Darlington (estimate): 42% council, 39% self. The rest is NHS funded or other.
Living with dementia, aged 65 and over (estimate): 1,600. Rising to 2,000 by 2035, up 27%
People aged 85 and over: 3,200. Rising to 4,700 by 2035, up 47%

Powered by Orrery Intelligence. Market model built 22 October 2026 (ONS 2022 based population projections, CQC register), published care home prices, council planning records.

Choosing between the residential care homes in Darlington

A shortlist you can genuinely work through

A choice of twenty one homes is small enough to examine properly, which is an advantage families searching in bigger areas simply do not have. Each of these is registered with the Care Quality Commission to provide accommodation together with personal care, meaning help with washing, dressing, medication and meals from staff on site day and night. What separates them is size, atmosphere, the way days are structured and how well each one suits a particular person. Start by ruling out anything in the wrong location or the wrong price bracket, then look properly at what remains.

What the ratings do and do not tell you

Two homes here hold an Outstanding rating, seventeen are rated Good, and two have yet to be rated at all. A rating summarises a single inspection rather than describing daily life, so open the report itself and read which of the five key questions were answered well and which raised concerns. Check the date too, because a home inspected some years ago may have changed considerably since. An absent rating usually means the home is newly registered rather than poorly run, though it is fair to ask more about the manager's experience and how the staff team was recruited.

Questions worth asking on a visit

Visit before you decide, and if possible visit twice at different times of day. Notice whether residents seem occupied and at ease, whether staff address people by name, and whether the building works for someone with limited mobility or poor eyesight. Ask how many staff are on duty overnight, what happens when a resident becomes unwell, and whether the home could continue to care for someone whose needs increase. The answers to plain questions about laundry, visiting and how families are kept informed often say more than the tour itself.

Arranging care and working out who pays in Darlington

Beginning with a care needs assessment

Anyone who appears to need care and support can ask for a care needs assessment, and the right does not depend on income or savings. The assessment establishes what help is required and whether a residential home is the appropriate answer rather than support delivered at home. Requesting one through Darlington Borough Council Adult Social Care is the usual route, and the council is also responsible for arranging funded support once eligibility has been agreed. Where someone is in hospital, ask the ward team to make the referral before discharge is planned.

Financial assessment and the cost of a place

A financial assessment follows, looking at income, savings and usually the value of a property, to decide what the council will contribute. People with assets above the national threshold generally fund their own care at first, but registering with the council is still worthwhile, since savings fall over time and support can become available later. Fees themselves vary according to the level of help needed, the room and the home, so ask for a written schedule showing what is included and what is charged separately. If a family chooses a home costing more than the council has agreed to pay, someone may be asked to meet the difference.

22 care homes in Darlington

Bewick House · 86 Whinfield Road, Darlington, Darlington, DL1 3HW
Care home · CQC Outstanding · Run by Voyage 1 Limited
We at Bewick House are proud to offer a warm, welcoming residential care home in Darlington, providing specialist support for adults living with learning disabilities and autism. Nestled within the friendly North East community, our home...
Specialisms: Learning Disability / Autism, Younger Adults, Respite Care
Clervaux Trust · 11 Abbey Road, Darlington, Darlington, DL3 7RA
Care home · CQC Good · Run by Clervaux Trust Limited
We at Clervaux Trust are proud to offer a nurturing residential care home nestled in the welcoming community of Darlington. Our home has been thoughtfully designed as a place where adults with learning disabilities, autism, and mental...
Specialisms: Learning Disability / Autism, Mental Health, Younger Adults, Respite Care
Clervaux Trust · 10 Cleveland Terrace, Darlington, Darlington, DL3 7HA
Care home · Run by Clervaux Trust Limited
Here at Clervaux Trust, we provide residential care for younger adults with learning disabilities and autism, based in Darlington. We know that choosing the right care home is one of the most significant decisions a person or their family...
Specialisms: Learning Disability / Autism, Younger Adults, Respite Care
Eden Cottage Care Home · 37 Cobden Street, Darlington, Darlington, DL1 4JF
Care home · CQC Good · Run by Eden Cottage Care Home Limited
Eden Cottage Care Home is a residential home in Darlington. We are a permanent home to older people, and we also offer respite stays for those needing care for a short period or whose family carer needs a break. Most of our residents need...
Specialisms: Older Person Care, Dementia Care, Physical Disability, Respite Care
Elderwood Residential Home · Westmoreland Street, Darlington, Darlington, DL3 0FB
Care home · CQC Good · Run by Anchor Hanover Group
Elderwood Residential Home is in Darlington, providing a settled and comfortable home for older people who can no longer manage easily on their own. Much of our work is with people living with dementia. Our approach rests on patience and...
Specialisms: Older Person Care, Dementia Care, Respite Care
Grosvenor Park Care Home · Burnside Road, Darlington, Darlington, DL1 4SU
Care home · CQC Good · Run by Marton Care Ltd
Here at Grosvenor Park Care Home in Darlington, we provide a warm and supportive environment where the people in our care genuinely feel at home. We offer residential care, dementia care, and support for older people as well as younger...
Specialisms: Older Person Care, Dementia Care, Younger Adults, Respite Care
Holicote · 93 Newton Lane, Darlington, Darlington, DL3 9HH
Care home · CQC Good · Run by Darlington Borough Council
Holicote is a residential care home in Darlington, supporting adults with a learning disability or autism alongside older people who need residential care. It is a home rather than a service somebody has been referred into, and we want it...
Specialisms: Older Person Care, Learning Disability / Autism, Younger Adults, Respite Care
Manor · 70 Falmer Road, Darlington, Darlington, DL1 4AZ
Care home · CQC Good · Run by Manor Care Home Group
Darlington Manor is a residential care home in Darlington. We are home to older people, including many living with dementia, and we support younger adults too. Respite stays are part of what we do. We keep our attention on the parts of the...
Specialisms: Older Person Care, Dementia Care, Younger Adults, Respite Care
Middleton Hall Retirement Village · Middleton Hall Limited, Darlington, Darlington, DL2 1HA
Care home · CQC Good · Run by Middleton Hall Limited
Middleton Hall Retirement Village sits on the edge of Darlington, and residential care is part of what we offer here. The people who move into our care setting are older adults who need help with daily living, whether that is with washing...
Specialisms: Older Person Care, Respite Care
Middleton Lodge · Station Road, Darlington, Darlington, DL2 1JA
Care home · CQC Good · Run by Potensial Limited
We at Middleton Lodge are proud to offer a warm and welcoming residential care home in Darlington, where every resident is supported to live a full and meaningful life. Nestled in the heart of the North East, our home provides a calm and...
Specialisms: Learning Disability / Autism, Mental Health, Respite Care
Moorlands Residential Care Home · 57-61 Stanhope Road North, Darlington, Darlington, DL3 7AP
Care home · CQC Good · Run by Mrs Michelle Smith & Mr David Hodgson Smith
Moorlands Residential Care Home provides residential care in Darlington for older people, along with shorter respite stays. We are a straightforward sort of place. There is no elaborate philosophy behind what we do beyond looking after...
Specialisms: Older Person Care, Respite Care
North Park · L'Anson Street, Darlington, Darlington, DL3 0SW
Care home · CQC Good · Run by Barchester Healthcare Homes Limited
We are North Park, a residential care home in Darlington. We support older people who need help with everyday living, including people living with dementia, people living with mental ill health and people with a physical disability,...
Specialisms: Older Person Care, Dementia Care, Mental Health, Physical Disability, Younger Adults, Respite Care
Oak Lodge · Stockton Street, Darlington, Darlington, DL1 2RY
Care home · CQC Good · Run by Care Homes UK Ltd
Oak Lodge is a residential care home in Darlington caring for older people and younger adults, including those living with dementia or mental health conditions, people with physical disabilities and people with sight or hearing loss....
Specialisms: Older Person Care, Dementia Care, Mental Health, Physical Disability, Visual / Hearing Impairment, Younger Adults, Respite Care
Redlands Residential Care Home · 122 Woodland Road, Darlington, Darlington, DL3 9LP
Care home · CQC Good · Run by Cygnet (OE) Limited
Redlands Residential Care Home is in Darlington. We provide residential care for older people and for younger adults, including adults with learning disabilities and autism and people living with mental health conditions. Because the...
Specialisms: Older Person Care, Learning Disability / Autism, Mental Health, Younger Adults, Respite Care
River View · 30 - 31 Victoria Embankment, Darlington, Darlington, DL1 5JR
Care home · Run by Cygnet (OE) Limited
River View is a residential care home in Darlington. We care for older people and younger adults, including people living with mental health conditions. Our aim is a settled household where people are known properly. That means staff who...
Specialisms: Older Person Care, Mental Health, Younger Adults, Respite Care
Riverside View Care Home · Hutton Avenue, Darlington, Darlington, DL1 2AQ
Care home · CQC Good · Run by Marton Care Ltd
Riverside View Care Home is in Darlington. We provide residential care for older people and younger adults, including people living with dementia and those with physical disabilities. Respite stays are available. We aim to run a household...
Specialisms: Older Person Care, Dementia Care, Physical Disability, Younger Adults, Respite Care
Springfield Care Home · Wylam Avenue, Darlington, Darlington, DL1 2QA
Care home · CQC Good · Run by Springfield Care Home Limited
Springfield Care Home is a residential home in Darlington for older people, including those living with dementia, and we also support some younger adults whose needs suit a home of this kind. We help with washing and dressing, medication,...
Specialisms: Older Person Care, Dementia Care, Younger Adults, Respite Care
St John of God Care Services Lindisfarne · Lindisfarne Court, Darlington, Darlington, DL1 2DZ
Care home · CQC Good · Run by Saint John of God Hospitaller Services
Here at St John of God Care Services Lindisfarne, we are a care home based in Darlington, and we are proud to support the people who live with us every single day. We specialise in residential care for adults with learning disabilities and...
Specialisms: Learning Disability / Autism, Respite Care
The Avenue · 72 Bates Avenue, Darlington, Darlington, DL3 0TU
Care home · CQC Outstanding · Run by John Michael Leitch and Miss Sharon Elizabeth Keelan
The Avenue is a residential care home in Darlington. Those living here include older people and adults with learning disabilities and autistic adults. We also offer respite stays. We treat this as where people live rather than where they...
Specialisms: Older Person Care, Learning Disability / Autism, Respite Care
The Gardens Care Home · Pondfield Close, Darlington, Darlington, DL3 8LH
Nursing home · Care home · CQC Requires improvement · Nursing on site · Run by Ascot Care North East Limited
We are The Gardens Care Home in Darlington. We provide both residential and nursing care for older people and younger adults, including people managing mental health conditions and people with physical disabilities, and we also offer...
Specialisms: Older Person Care, Mental Health, Physical Disability, Younger Adults, Respite Care
The Grange · Whinbush Way, Darlington, Darlington, DL1 3PT
Care home · CQC Good · Run by Highgate Care Services Ltd
We are a residential care home in Darlington, providing a home for older people and younger adults who need help with daily living, including those living with dementia, people with physical disabilities and people with loss of sight or...
Specialisms: Older Person Care, Dementia Care, Physical Disability, Visual / Hearing Impairment, Younger Adults, Respite Care
The Lawns Care Home · Ridsdale Street, Darlington, Darlington, DL1 4EG
Care home · CQC Good · Run by Highgate Care Services Ltd
The Lawns Care Home is in Darlington. We provide residential care for older people and younger adults, including people living with dementia, people with physical disabilities and people with sight or hearing loss, and we offer respite...
Specialisms: Older Person Care, Dementia Care, Physical Disability, Visual / Hearing Impairment, Younger Adults, Respite Care

What care costs in Darlington, per week

Type of care	What the council pays	What self-funders are typically asked
Residential care North East figure, because too few Darlington homes publish this price. 13 homes. Median £1,369.	£843	£1,331 to £1,392
Nursing care England figure, because too few Darlington homes publish this price. 140 homes. Median £1,916.	£953	£1,600 to £2,071
Residential dementia care North East figure, because too few Darlington homes publish this price. 14 homes. Median £1,458.	Not published separately	£1,268 to £1,548
Nursing dementia care England figure, because too few Darlington homes publish this price. 75 homes. Median £2,050.	Not published separately	£1,890 to £2,221

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. Powered by Orrery Intelligence.

Inspected most recently

Clervaux Trust, 4 September 2026, Good
Springfield Care Home Limited, 6 August 2026, Good
Riverside View Care Home, 30 July 2025, Good

Longest since a report

Moorlands Residential Care Home, 25 October 2018, Good
Eden Cottage Care Home, 22 February 2019, Good
Redlands Residential Care Home, 31 August 2019, Good

Frequently asked questions about care homes in Darlington

How many care homes are there in Darlington?

Darlington has 22 CQC registered care homes: 2 Outstanding, 17 Good, 1 Requires improvement, 2 not yet rated. Counts come from the CQC register and are kept up to date as ratings change.

How much does a care home cost in Darlington?

Darlington Borough Council pays an average of £843 a week for residential care. Self-funders are typically asked £1,331 to £1,392 a week. North East figure, because too few Darlington homes publish this price. 13 homes. Median £1,369. 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.

Which care homes in Darlington were inspected most recently?

Clervaux Trust (4 September 2026), Springfield Care Home Limited (6 August 2026) and Riverside View Care Home (30 July 2025) have the most recent CQC reports.