Nichols House
- Care home
- 3 beds
- No nursing
- Registered since 2021
- Bedford, East of England
Requires improvement
Rated on
Rating from the Care Quality Commission.
At a glance
1 rating
Only one rating on record, so there is no trend to show yet.
4 months
since the latest rating was published.
14 of 69
rated care homes in Bedford are rated Requires improvement, like this one.
Nichols House: inspection record
Rated Requires improvement in June 2026.
| 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: Danecroft (Outstanding, 0.8 miles away) and Elstow Manor (Good, 1.3 miles away).
Nearest care homes:
- – Hangar View Not yet rated, 0.8 miles away
- O Danecroft Outstanding, 0.8 miles away
- G Elstow Manor Good, 1.3 miles away
- RI Southway Requires improvement, 2.8 miles away
- G Bedford Lodge Good, 2.9 miles away
What inspectors found
From the Care Quality Commission's assessment published 8 June 2026 (assessment visit 24 April 2026). Quoted under the Open Government Licence.
Date of assessment: 27 April 2026 to 30 April 2026.
Nichols House is a care home supporting autistic people and people with a learning disability. At the time of our assessment, 2 people were using the service.
- Safe No rating
- Effective No rating
- Caring Good
- Responsive Good
- Well-led No rating
Read the rest of CQC's summary
We assessed the service against 'Right support, right care, right culture' guidance to make judgements about whether the provider guaranteed people respect, equality, dignity, choice and independence.
We identified breaches of the legal regulations relating to safe care and treatment, and governance. Systems were not always effective in identifying and managing risks associated with medicines, restrictive practices, environmental safety and care planning . We have asked the provider for an action plan in response to concerns found at this assessment.
However, we observed people received care from staff who knew them well and supported them in a person-centred way. Staff spoke positively about the service and told us they felt supported by leaders. A staff member said, “I enjoy working here. I feel the management are responsive, we have an open-door policy.”
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Safe
No rating
Safe – this means we looked for evidence that people were protected from abuse and avoidable harm. This is the first assessment for this service. This key question has been rated 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 people’s safe care. Medicines, the environment and risks people could experience were not always well managed.
-
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.
This is the first assessment for this service. This key question has been rated Requires Improvement. This meant the effectiveness of people’s care, treatment and support did not always achieve good outcomes or was inconsistent. -
Caring
Good
Caring – this means we looked for evidence that the provider involved people and treated them with compassion, kindness, dignity and respect. This is the first assessment for this service. This key question has been rated Good. This meant people were supported and treated with dignity and respect; and involved as partners in their care.
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Responsive
Good
Responsive – this means we looked for evidence that the provider met people’s needs.
This is the first assessment for this service. This key question has been rated 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. This is the first assessment for this service. This key question has been rated 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. The provider had not ensured their systems were always effective in ensuring care was safe and restrictions were managed in line with legal requirements.
Questions to ask when you visit
- Safe was rated Requires improvement on 8 June 2026. Ask how medicines are managed, how staffing levels are decided and how incidents are reviewed.
- Effective was rated Requires improvement on 8 June 2026. Ask about staff training and how health appointments are arranged.
- Well-led was rated Requires improvement on 8 June 2026. Ask about changes in management and what has changed since the report.
Registration details
- Registered manager
- Paulyn Brown
- Registered with the CQC since
- What it provides
- Care home service without nursing
- Who it supports
- Children 0-18 years, Learning disabilities or autistic spectrum disorder, Mental Health, Sensory Impairment, Younger Adults
Inspection report
Read the full inspection report (opens the Care Quality Commission website)The rating is the Care Quality Commission's. We show it as published and do not change it.
Who runs it
- Provider
- Harriston Homes Limited
- Ownership type
- Organisation
- Companies House number
- 06984728 (opens Companies House)
Harriston Homes Limited runs 2 services, all in the East of England. 1 is rated Good or Outstanding and 1 is rated Requires improvement or Inadequate.
Other services run by Harriston Homes Limited
- G Mansgrove Farm House Good. Care home, Central Bedfordshire
Getting help from Bedford Borough Council
The council can assess what care someone needs and tell them what help with the cost they may get.
- Adult social care at Bedford Borough Council
- Ask for a care needs assessment
- Phone: 01234 276168, Monday to Thursday 9am to 5pm, Friday 9am to 4pm
- Contact adult social care online
- Support for carers
- Paying for care: Bedford Borough Council
Checked on the council's website, November 2026.
Common questions
- Does Nichols House provide nursing care?
- No. The Care Quality Commission lists Nichols House as a care home without nursing.
- How many beds does Nichols House have?
- The Care Quality Commission's register lists 3 beds at Nichols House.
- When was Nichols House last inspected?
- The Care Quality Commission's latest rating for Nichols House was published on 8 June 2026.
- Who runs Nichols House?
- Nichols House is run by Harriston Homes Limited. It runs 2 services, all in the East of England.
- What is Nichols House's CQC rating?
- Its overall rating from the Care Quality Commission is Requires improvement, published on 8 June 2026.
Contact
- Phone
- 020 8355 4666
- Address
- 1a, Church Road, Wilstead, Bedford, MK45 3HH Map (opens Google Maps)
Compare nearby
Nearest rated Good or Outstanding: Danecroft (Outstanding, 0.8 miles away) and Elstow Manor (Good, 1.3 miles away).
Nearest care homes:
- – Hangar View Not yet rated, 0.8 miles away
- O Danecroft Outstanding, 0.8 miles away
- G Elstow Manor Good, 1.3 miles away
- RI Southway Requires improvement, 2.8 miles away
- G Bedford Lodge Good, 2.9 miles away