Eastbourne Care Home
- Care home
- 41 beds
- Nursing care
- Dementia care
- Registered since 2016
- Central Darlington, Darlington, North East
Requires improvement
Rated on
Rating from the Care Quality Commission.
At a glance
3 ratings
Its last inspection improved it from Inadequate to Requires improvement.
1 month
since the latest rating was published.
4 of 27
rated care homes in Darlington are rated Requires improvement, like this one.
Eastbourne Care Home: inspection record
Rated Requires improvement in September 2026, up from Inadequate.
| 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: Eden Cottage Care Home (Good, less than 0.1 miles away) and Willow Green Care Home (Good, 0.2 miles away).
Nearest care homes:
- G Eden Cottage Care Home Good, less than 0.1 miles away
- G Willow Green Care Home Good, 0.2 miles away
- G The Lawns Care Home Good, 0.2 miles away
- RI Rydal Care Home Requires improvement, 0.4 miles away
- G Darlington Manor Good, 0.4 miles away
What inspectors found
From the Care Quality Commission's assessment published 17 September 2026 (assessment visit 2 June 2026). Quoted under the Open Government Licence.
Date of Assessment: 18 June to 17 July 2026. The service is a residential nursing home providing support to older people and people living with a dementia.
- Safe No rating
- Effective No rating
- Caring No rating
- Responsive No rating
- Well-led Inadequate
Read the rest of CQC's summary
At our last assessment the service was rated requires improvement and a breach of regulation was found in relation to good governance. This related to oversight of premises safety, risk management, failure to involve people in care planning and governance. This assessment was carried out to review progress made by the provider, and because we had received concerns from healthcare partners about risks at the service. We found that the provider remained in breach of regulation in relation to governance, and identified an additional breach of regulation in relation to supporting people to maintain their independence and engage with the community.
Some safety aspects relating to the premises had been addressed since our last assessment, but in other areas new risks had not been identified or addressed. Care records did not always contain consistent or detailed information, including managing risk. Consent to care was not consistently obtained or recorded. Records did not always evidence that an effective system was in place to ensure medicines were safely managed. Healthcare partners did not always feel that the service worked in effective partnership with them. Staff told us they did not always feel supported in their roles or informed of ongoing changes at the service. The provider’s governance processes had not consistently introduced or sustained improvement. In addition, people were not always supported to maintain their independence and engage with the community.
Staff were supported with regular training, but supervisions and appraisals were not always effective in assisting their ongoing development. Infection prevention and control systems were in place, though some areas of the home needed a more thorough clean.
Some bedrooms and communal areas had been personalised in line with people’s choices, but this had not been done consistently.
Systems were in place to investigate and respond to complaints. Staff were able to communicate with people effectively. People were encouraged to think about and discuss their future plans.
We have asked the provider for an action plan in response to the concerns found at this assessment. Full information about CQC's regulatory response to the more serious concerns found during assessments is added to reports after any representations and appeals have been concluded.
-
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 requires improvement. At this assessment the rating has remained 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 governance at the service.
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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 requires improvement. At this assessment the rating has remained 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 governance at the service.
-
Caring
No rating
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 changed to requires improvement. This meant people did not always feel well-supported, cared for or treated with dignity and respect.
The service was in breach of legal regulation in relation to supporting people to maintain their independence and engage with the community.
-
Responsive
No rating
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 changed to requires improvement. This meant people’s needs were not always met.
The service was in breach of legal regulation in relation to governance at the service.
-
Well-led
Inadequate
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 changed to inadequate. This meant there were widespread and significant shortfalls in leadership. Leaders and the culture they created did not assure the delivery of high-quality care.
The service was in breach of legal regulation in relation to governance at the service.
Questions to ask when you visit
- Safe was rated Requires improvement on 17 September 2026. Ask how medicines are managed, how staffing levels are decided and how incidents are reviewed.
- Effective was rated Requires improvement on 17 September 2026. Ask about staff training and how health appointments are arranged.
- Caring was rated Requires improvement on 17 September 2026. Ask how staff protect dignity and how residents are involved in decisions about their care.
- Responsive was rated Requires improvement on 17 September 2026. Ask to see how care plans are kept up to date, how complaints are handled and what activities are on offer.
Registration details
- Registered with the CQC since
- What it provides
- Care home service with nursing
- Who it supports
- Dementia, Older People, Physical Disability, Sensory Impairment, Younger Adults
Inspection report
Read the full inspection report (opens the Care Quality Commission website)2 inspection reports, latest 8 January 2021. Latest assessment published 17 September 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
- Eastbourne House Ltd
- Ownership type
- Organisation
- Companies House number
- 9565812 (opens Companies House)
Getting help from Darlington 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 Darlington Borough Council
- Ask for a care needs assessment
- Phone: 01325 406111, Monday to Thursday 8.30am to 5pm, Friday 8.30am to 4.30pm
- Contact adult social care online
- Support for carers
- Paying for care: Darlington Borough Council
Checked on the council's website, November 2026.
Common questions
- Does Eastbourne Care Home provide nursing care?
- Yes. The Care Quality Commission lists Eastbourne Care Home as a care home with nursing.
- How many beds does Eastbourne Care Home have?
- The Care Quality Commission's register lists 41 beds at Eastbourne Care Home.
- When was Eastbourne Care Home last inspected?
- The Care Quality Commission's latest rating for Eastbourne Care Home was published on 17 September 2026.
- Who runs Eastbourne Care Home?
- Eastbourne Care Home is run by Eastbourne House Ltd.
- What is Eastbourne Care Home's CQC rating?
- Its overall rating from the Care Quality Commission is Requires improvement, published on 17 September 2026.
Contact
- Phone
- 01325 384646
- Address
- 5-7 Cobden Street, Darlington, DL1 4JF Map (opens Google Maps)
Compare nearby
Nearest rated Good or Outstanding: Eden Cottage Care Home (Good, less than 0.1 miles away) and Willow Green Care Home (Good, 0.2 miles away).
Nearest care homes:
- G Eden Cottage Care Home Good, less than 0.1 miles away
- G Willow Green Care Home Good, 0.2 miles away
- G The Lawns Care Home Good, 0.2 miles away
- RI Rydal Care Home Requires improvement, 0.4 miles away
- G Darlington Manor Good, 0.4 miles away