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?★Outstanding
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. ?
Orchard House is in the Good, with Outstanding areas tier ?, with 11 other homes in County Durham.
92% of rated homes here are Good or Outstanding (England: 82%).
Orchard House is one of 142 care homes in County Durham: a 7-bed residential care home in Seaham, run by Education and Services for People with Autism Limited. Its CQC registration covers people with a learning disability or autism. The typical home in County Durham has 40 beds, so this one is on the small side.
The kitchen has a food hygiene rating of 5 (very good), from September 2025. 84% of homes in County Durham also score 5. In County Durham, 92% of rated care homes are Good or Outstanding (England 82%). It is one of 14 homes run by Education and Services for People with Autism Limited. 14 of those with a rating are Good or Outstanding. Of the 6 closest rated homes, none is rated above it.
CQC last rated the home in April 2023, giving it Good overall. It was Good for safe, effective, caring and well-led as well. For responsive, the rating was Outstanding. It was also rated Good at the inspection before, in October 2017.
