What is the difference between a residential care home and a nursing home?

A residential care home provides personal care such as help with washing, dressing, meals and medication prompts, along with company and daily activities. A nursing home offers all of that plus round the clock support from qualified nurses for people with more complex medical needs. If your relative has a condition that requires regular clinical input, such as advanced Parkinson's or unstable diabetes, nursing care may be more appropriate. A care needs assessment will confirm which type of setting is suitable.

How do I arrange a care needs assessment in Welwyn Garden City?

You can request a care needs assessment directly from Hertfordshire County Council, which is responsible for adult social care in Welwyn Garden City. The assessment is free and available to anyone who appears to need support, regardless of income. A social worker will look at daily routines, health and safety at home, and personal preferences before recommending options. You do not need a referral from a GP to start this process.

What should I ask when visiting a care home in Welwyn Garden City?

Ask how staff are trained, what the ratio of carers to residents is at different times of day, and how the home handles changes in health or mood. Enquire about activities, outings, visiting arrangements and how families are kept informed. It is also worth asking to see a sample care plan and a recent menu, and to sit in on a communal moment such as lunch or an activity. Trust your impression of how residents and staff interact.

Can Hertfordshire County Council fund a care home placement?

Yes, Hertfordshire County Council can contribute to residential care fees where a person's needs and finances meet the relevant thresholds. Following the care needs assessment, a financial assessment reviews savings, income and property to work out any contribution. If eligible, the council will fund part or all of the placement, though residents typically pay something from pensions or other income. Full details of the current thresholds are available from the council directly.

How far in advance should I start looking for a care home?

Where possible, begin exploring options two to three months before a move is likely, as popular homes in Welwyn Garden City can have waiting lists. Starting early gives time for visits, the care needs assessment and any financial arrangements without pressure. If care is needed urgently after a hospital stay, the local authority and hospital discharge team can help identify homes with immediate vacancies. Even in a crisis, try to visit at least two homes before making a decision.

Care Homes in Welwyn Garden City

Q: Which providers in Welwyn Garden City offer residential care?

Care Assura currently lists eight residential care homes serving Welwyn Garden City. These are Stanborough Lodge, Three Oaks Care Home Limited, St Andrews Care Home, Gombards, Sewells, Jubilee House Care Trust - 29 Jonquil Close, The Meadows Short Break Centre and St Michaels House. All eight are rated Good by the Care Quality Commission at their most recent inspection. Each has its own character and specialisms, so visiting a shortlist is the best way to compare.

Welwyn Garden City has 8 CQC registered care homes. 8 are rated Good. All 8 were last inspected more than three years ago.

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

Welwyn Garden City at a glance

What the local numbers say about care for older people in Welwyn Garden City, to help you judge the options below.

Hertfordshire County Council pays, residential care: £906 a week. Self-funders are typically asked £1,585 to £1,856, median £1,700
Care home beds filled across Hertfordshire: 86%. The 12 month average is 85%.
Care home beds per 1,000 people aged 75+: 90. Hertfordshire average is 79.
People aged 75 and over: 10,400. Rising to 12,200 by 2035, up 18%
Care homes, last 12 months: 0 opened, 0 closed. 1 changed owner, covering 7 beds.
Who pays, across Hertfordshire (estimate): 34% council, 49% self. The rest is NHS funded or other.
Living with dementia, aged 65 and over (estimate): 1,400. Rising to 1,700 by 2035, up 22%
People aged 85 and over: 3,100. Rising to 4,200 by 2035, up 34%

Planned and recent building work within 5 miles

Sandyhurst 1 Welwyn By Pass Road Welwyn. Application for a 66 bed care home. Submitted 12 June 2026. Decision pending. (0.4 miles away)

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

How to choose a residential care home in Welwyn Garden City

Care Assura currently shows eight residential care homes serving Welwyn Garden City, and all eight hold a Good rating from the Care Quality Commission. That consistency is reassuring, but families should still look beyond the headline rating to work out which setting genuinely suits their relative. The homes on the list, which include Stanborough Lodge, Three Oaks Care Home Limited, St Andrews Care Home, Gombards, Sewells, Jubilee House Care Trust - 29 Jonquil Close, The Meadows Short Break Centre and St Michaels House, vary in size, atmosphere and specialism, so a personal visit remains the best way to compare them.

What to look for on a visit

Pay attention to the small details: how staff greet residents by name, whether communal spaces feel lived in, and how mealtimes are handled. Ask about staff turnover, activity programmes, access to gardens, and how the home communicates with families when there is a change in health. If your relative has specific needs such as dementia support, mobility equipment or a preferred routine, ask to see how the home already accommodates similar residents.

Reading the CQC report properly

A Good rating is a strong baseline, but the full inspection report gives a richer picture. Look at the five key questions the CQC uses, particularly whether the service is safe and well led, and check when the last inspection took place. If a report highlights an area the provider was asked to strengthen, ask the manager during your visit what has changed since.

Arranging and funding a care home placement

Before a permanent move, most families begin with a care needs assessment. This is a free evaluation carried out by the local authority to identify the level and type of support required, and it forms the basis of any funded package.

Requesting an assessment

You can request an assessment through Hertfordshire County Council Adult Social Care, which is the body responsible for adult social care in Welwyn Garden City. A social worker will speak with your relative, and usually with family, to understand daily needs, health conditions and preferences. If residential care is recommended, a financial assessment then decides how much, if anything, the council will contribute.

Understanding the costs

Residential care home fees in and around Welwyn Garden City typically sit above the national average, reflecting property and staffing costs in Hertfordshire. Where savings and assets fall below the national threshold, Hertfordshire County Council may fund part or all of the placement, though residents usually contribute from income such as pensions. Self funding families should ask each home for a full written breakdown covering the weekly fee, what is included, and how and when charges may rise.

8 care homes in Welwyn Garden City

Gombards · 6 London Road, Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire, AL6 9EL
Care home · CQC Good · Run by United Response
We at Gombards are proud to offer a welcoming residential care home in the heart of Welwyn Garden City, providing specialist support for adults living with learning disabilities, autism and physical disabilities. Our Hertfordshire setting...
Specialisms: Learning Disability / Autism, Physical Disability, Respite Care
Stanborough Lodge · Great North Road, Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire, AL8 7TD
Care home · CQC Good · Run by R.M.D. Enterprises Limited
Here at Stanborough Lodge, we provide residential and dementia care for older people in the heart of Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire. Whether someone is joining us for a longer term stay or coming to us for a short respite break, we aim...
Specialisms: Older Person Care, Dementia Care, Respite Care
Three Oaks Care Home · 14 Gwynfa Close, Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire, AL6 0PR
Care home · CQC Good · Run by Three Oaks Care Home Limited
Three Oaks Care Home is in Welwyn Garden City, and we provide residential care for adults with a learning disability, autistic adults and people with a physical disability. We also offer respite stays. We work on the principle that this is...
Specialisms: Learning Disability / Autism, Physical Disability, Respite Care
St Andrews Care Home · Great North Road, Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire, AL8 7SR
Care home · CQC Good · Run by Colleycare Limited
Here at St Andrews Care Home, we are proud to be a trusted part of the Welwyn Garden City community, providing residential and dementia care for older people, younger adults, and those who need a short respite stay. We understand that...
Specialisms: Older Person Care, Dementia Care, Younger Adults, Respite Care
Jubilee House Care Trust - 29 Jonquil Close · 29 Jonquil Close, Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire, AL7 3HX
Care home · CQC Good · Run by The Jubilee House Care Trust Limited
We are a small residential home on Jonquil Close in Welwyn Garden City, supporting adults with learning disabilities and autistic people, including people with physical disabilities and people with loss of sight or hearing. Because we are...
Specialisms: Learning Disability / Autism, Physical Disability, Visual / Hearing Impairment, Younger Adults, Respite Care
Sewells · 6 Sewells, Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire, AL8 7AQ
Care home · CQC Good · Run by Royal Mencap Society
Here at Sewells, we provide residential care for adults in the heart of Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire. We are a care home that specialises in supporting people with learning disabilities and autism, as well as younger adults who need a...
Specialisms: Learning Disability / Autism, Younger Adults, Respite Care
The Meadows Short Break Centre · 19-21 Grove Meadow, Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire, AL7 2BE
Care home · CQC Good · Run by The Jubilee House Care Trust Limited
We are a short break centre in Welwyn Garden City, providing residential support for adults with learning disabilities, autistic adults, people with physical disabilities and younger adults. Short breaks are what we do, and we think they...
Specialisms: Learning Disability / Autism, Physical Disability, Younger Adults, Respite Care
St Michaels House · 71 Holwell Road, Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire, AL7 3SF
Care home · CQC Good · Run by Hertfordshire County Council
St Michaels House is a residential care home in Welwyn Garden City. We support older people and younger adults, including people with learning disabilities, autistic people, people with physical disabilities and people with sight or...
Specialisms: Older Person Care, Learning Disability / Autism, Physical Disability, Visual / Hearing Impairment, Younger Adults, Respite Care

What care costs in Hertfordshire, per week

Type of care	What the council pays	What self-funders are typically asked
Residential care Middle half of prices from 12 Hertfordshire homes. Median £1,700.	£906	£1,585 to £1,856
Nursing care East of England figure, because too few Hertfordshire homes publish this price. 17 homes. Median £1,935.	£1,036	£1,800 to £2,126
Residential dementia care Middle half of prices from 12 Hertfordshire homes. Median £1,766.	Not published separately	£1,678 to £1,874
Nursing dementia care East of England figure, because too few Hertfordshire homes publish this price. 10 homes. Median £1,940.	Not published separately	£1,870 to £2,100

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

Sewells, 17 March 2023, Good
St Michaels House, 18 August 2021, Good
St Andrews Care Home, 14 May 2021, Good

Longest since a report

The Meadows Short Break Centre, 22 December 2017, Good
Stanborough Lodge, 5 March 2019, Good
Three Oaks Care Home Limited, 7 November 2019, Good

Frequently asked questions about care homes in Welwyn Garden City

How many care homes are there in Welwyn Garden City?

Welwyn Garden City has 8 CQC registered care homes: 8 Good. Counts come from the CQC register and are kept up to date as ratings change.

How much does a care home cost in Welwyn Garden City?

Hertfordshire County Council pays an average of £906 a week for residential care. Self-funders are typically asked £1,585 to £1,856 a week. Middle half of prices from 12 Hertfordshire homes. Median £1,700. 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 Welwyn Garden City were inspected most recently?

Sewells (17 March 2023), St Michaels House (18 August 2021) and St Andrews Care Home (14 May 2021) have the most recent CQC reports.

Local care news in Hertfordshire

CQC register adds a new care home in North Hertfordshire: Monread Lodge (5 November 2026)

More local care news for Hertfordshire