Friars Mead
- Care home
- 27 beds
- No nursing
- Registered since 2010
- Hertfordshire, East of England
Requires improvement
Rated on
Rating from the Care Quality Commission.
At a glance
4 ratings
Its last inspection moved it down from Good to Requires improvement.
4 months
since the latest rating was published.
46 of 210
rated care homes in Hertfordshire are rated Requires improvement, like this one.
Friars Mead: inspection record
Rated Requires improvement in June 2026, down from Good.
| 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | ||||||||||||
| Safe | ||||||||||||
| Effective | ||||||||||||
| Caring | ||||||||||||
| Responsive | ||||||||||||
| Well-led |
Ratings published by the Care Quality Commission.
Compare nearby
Nearest rated Good or Outstanding: St Lauras (Good, 0.3 miles away) and Arden House Nursing Home (Outstanding, 1.2 miles away).
Nearest care homes:
- G St Lauras Good, 0.3 miles away
- – Manor View Not yet rated, 0.6 miles away
- O Arden House Nursing Home Outstanding, 1.2 miles away
- RI Water Mill House Care Home Requires improvement, 1.2 miles away
- G Tanners Wood Good, 1.3 miles away
What inspectors found
From the Care Quality Commission's assessment published 11 June 2026 (assessment visit 6 February 2026). Quoted under the Open Government Licence.
Friars Mead is a care home. It provides accommodation with personal care for up to 27 people across 2 floors. At this inspection 15 people were living at the service. Inspection activity took place between 26 February 2026 and 31 March 2026. We visited the service on 26 February 2026 and 11 March 2026. This was an unannounced inspection completed by 2 inspectors and 1 expert by experience. We received feedback from 14 people, 11 relatives, 26 staff and 4 professionals. We found the service was in breach of regulations in relation to recruitment, consent, and governance.
- Safe No rating
- Effective No rating
- Caring Good
- Responsive Good
- Well-led No rating
Read the rest of CQC's summary
The provider had not ensured there was an open, transparent culture. The manager had not reported incidents and safeguarding concerns to external organisations and safe recruitment procedures were not always followed. People’s risk assessments did not always include clear guidance for staff and mental capacity assessments were not completed.
People’s needs were assessed to include their physical and mental health needs. People’s feedback about food was positive. However, we found the mealtime experience was task-focused and monitoring charts were not used for people at risk of low food and drink intake.
People received care from kind staff by who treated them as individuals and supported them to maintain their independence.
Staff supported people with meaningful activities tailored to their interests and encouraged independence. Staff supported people to access healthcare, with regular input from GPs and other professionals.
The provider had not ensured there were effective governance processes. Incidents, safeguarding concerns and complaints were not collated for analysis. Their audit process had not identified all the issues we found.
Staff described a supportive environment and positive relationships with managers.
Partnership working with visiting professionals was positive. The provider had invested in modernising systems, and the manager had introduced electronic care records and planned further improvements.
In instances where CQC has begun a process of regulatory action, we may publish this information on our website after any representations and/or appeals have been concluded, if the action has been taken forward.
-
Safe
No rating
Safe – this means we looked for evidence that people were protected from abuse and avoidable harm. At our last assessment we rated this key question good. At this assessment the rating has changed to requires improvement. This meant some aspects of the service were not always safe and there was limited assurance about safety. There was an increased risk that people could be harmed.
The service was in breach of legal regulation in relation to staff recruitment.
-
Effective
No rating
Effective – this means we looked for evidence that people’s care, treatment and support achieved good outcomes and promoted a good quality of life, based on best available evidence.
At our last assessment we rated this key question good. At this assessment the rating has changed to requires improvement: This meant the effectiveness of people’s care, treatment and support did not always achieve good outcomes or was inconsistent.
The service was in breach of legal regulation in relation to consent.
-
Caring
Good
Caring – this means we looked for evidence that the provider involved people and treated them with compassion, kindness, dignity and respect.
At our last assessment we rated this key question good. At this assessment the rating has remained good. This meant people were supported and treated with dignity and respect; and involved as partners in their care.
-
Responsive
Good
Responsive – this means we looked for evidence that the provider met people’s needs.
At our last assessment we rated this key question good. At this assessment the rating has remained good. This meant people’s needs were met through good organisation and delivery.
-
Well-led
No rating
Well-led – this means we looked for evidence that service leadership, management and governance assured high-quality, person-centred care; supported learning and innovation; and promoted an open, fair culture.
At our last assessment we rated this key question requires improvement. At this assessment the rating has remained requires improvement. This meant the management and leadership was inconsistent. Leaders and the culture they created did not always support the delivery of high-quality, person-centred care.
The service was in breach of legal regulation in relation to governance.
Questions to ask when you visit
- Safe was rated Requires improvement on 11 June 2026. Ask how medicines are managed, how staffing levels are decided and how incidents are reviewed.
- Effective was rated Requires improvement on 11 June 2026. Ask about staff training and how health appointments are arranged.
- Well-led was rated Requires improvement on 11 June 2026. Ask about changes in management and what has changed since the report.
Registration details
- Registered with the CQC since
- What it provides
- Care home service without nursing
- Who it supports
- Older People
Inspection report
Read the full inspection report (opens the Care Quality Commission website)7 inspection reports, latest 13 February 2020. Latest assessment published 11 June 2026; the Care Quality Commission's newer assessments are published on its website rather than as reports.
The rating is the Care Quality Commission's. We show it as published and do not change it.
Who runs it
- Provider
- Abbeyfield Hertfordshire Residential Care Society LimitedBrand: Abbeyfield Society
- Ownership type
- Organisation
- Companies House number
- IP24428R (opens Companies House)
Getting help from Hertfordshire County Council
The council can assess what care someone needs and tell them what help with the cost they may get.
- Adult social care at Hertfordshire County Council
- Ask for a care needs assessment
- Phone: 0300 123 4042, Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 5.30pm (closed weekends and public holidays)
- Support for carers
- Care home fee rates published by the council
Checked on the council's website, November 2026.
Common questions
- Does Friars Mead provide nursing care?
- No. The Care Quality Commission lists Friars Mead as a care home without nursing.
- How many beds does Friars Mead have?
- The Care Quality Commission's register lists 27 beds at Friars Mead.
- When was Friars Mead last inspected?
- The Care Quality Commission's latest rating for Friars Mead was published on 11 June 2026.
- Who runs Friars Mead?
- Friars Mead is run by Abbeyfield Hertfordshire Residential Care Society Limited.
- What is Friars Mead's CQC rating?
- Its overall rating from the Care Quality Commission is Requires improvement, published on 11 June 2026.
Contact
- Phone
- 01923 270304
- Address
- Rockliffe Avenue, Kings Langley, WD4 8DR Map (opens Google Maps)
Compare nearby
Nearest rated Good or Outstanding: St Lauras (Good, 0.3 miles away) and Arden House Nursing Home (Outstanding, 1.2 miles away).
Nearest care homes:
- G St Lauras Good, 0.3 miles away
- – Manor View Not yet rated, 0.6 miles away
- O Arden House Nursing Home Outstanding, 1.2 miles away
- RI Water Mill House Care Home Requires improvement, 1.2 miles away
- G Tanners Wood Good, 1.3 miles away