SafeAre people protected from abuse and avoidable harm?Good
EffectiveDoes care achieve good outcomes and a good quality of life?Good
CaringAre staff kind, compassionate and respectful?Good
ResponsiveAre services organised to meet people's needs?Good
Well-ledIs the home well managed, with a culture of high-quality care?Good
CQC hasn't inspected this home for more than 5 years. It re-inspects based on risk, so an old rating doesn't count against a home on this site, but it may not reflect the home today. ?
The home changed owner in September 2025. Its rating dates from before the change. ?
This rating was carried over from the home's previous registration, usually after a change of owner. ?
Desborough Care - The Firs is in the Good tier ?, with 121 other homes in Hertfordshire.
76% of rated homes here are Good or Outstanding (England: 82%).
Desborough Care - The Firs is an independent 9-bed residential care home in Potters Bar, Hertfordshire, registered with CQC under its own name. Its CQC registration covers younger adults, people with a physical disability, people with a learning disability or autism, people with mental health needs and people with a sensory impairment. The typical home in Hertfordshire has 30 beds, so this one is on the small side.
Its kitchen was rated 5 for food hygiene in February 2026. 92% of homes in Hertfordshire also score 5. 121 other homes in Hertfordshire share its tier, “Good”. Desborough Care Limited has run the home since September 2025, when it changed owner. Cooperscroft Care Home, 0.2 km away, is the closest home rated Outstanding.
Its CQC rating, from June 2019, is Good across the board: overall and for every key question. The rating was carried over from a previous registration, which usually happens when a home changes owner. It was also rated Good at the inspection before, in August 2016. CQC hasn't re-rated the home for over 5 years, like 53% of homes in Hertfordshire. Here is how rating age varies by council.
