Requires improvementSafe: Requires improvementEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Requires improvementRated 1 year ago↓ Down from Good
SafeAre people protected from abuse and avoidable harm?56%Requires improvement
See the breakdownHide the breakdown6 of 8 below good
Involving people to manage risksSome shortfalls
Learning cultureSome shortfalls
Medicines optimisationSome shortfalls
Safe and effective staffingSome shortfalls
Safe environmentsSome shortfalls
SafeguardingSome shortfalls
Infection prevention and controlGood
Safe systems, pathways and transitionsGood
EffectiveDoes care achieve good outcomes and a good quality of life?75%Good
See the breakdownHide the breakdownAll 6 good
Assessing needsGood
Consent to care and treatmentGood
Delivering evidence-based care and treatmentGood
How staff, teams and services work togetherGood
Monitoring and improving outcomesGood
Supporting people to live healthier livesGood
CaringAre staff kind, compassionate and respectful?75%Good
See the breakdownHide the breakdownAll 5 good
Independence, choice and controlGood
Kindness, compassion and dignityGood
Responding to people's immediate needsGood
Treating people as individualsGood
Workforce wellbeing and enablementGood
ResponsiveAre services organised to meet people's needs?75%Good
See the breakdownHide the breakdownAll 7 good
Care provision, integration and continuityGood
Equity in accessGood
Equity in experiences and outcomesGood
Listening to and involving peopleGood
Person-centred careGood
Planning for the futureGood
Providing InformationGood
Well-ledIs the home well managed, with a culture of high-quality care?57%Requires improvement
See the breakdownHide the breakdown4 of 7 below good
Governance, management and sustainabilitySignificant shortfalls
Capable, compassionate and inclusive leadersSome shortfalls
Learning, improvement and innovationSome shortfalls
Shared direction and cultureSome shortfalls
Freedom to speak upGood
Partnerships and communitiesGood
Workforce equality, diversity and inclusionGood
Percentages are CQC scores from its newer way of assessing homes. ?
CQC scored 33 standards: 23 good, 10 below good. Use “See the breakdown” on each key question for its standards. ?
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 Gardens Care Home is in the Requires improvement tier ?, with 3 other homes in Darlington.
86% of rated homes here are Good or Outstanding (England: 82%).
Run by Ascot Care North East Limited, The Gardens Care Home is a nursing home in Darlington with 60 registered beds. Its CQC registration covers older people, younger adults, people with a physical disability and people with mental health needs. Most homes in Darlington are smaller: the median there is 40 beds.
CQC last rated the home in February 2025, giving it Requires improvement overall. It was Requires improvement for safe and well-led as well. For effective, caring and responsive, the rating was Good. Its previous rating, in May 2018, was Good, so the home has slipped. Ratings in Darlington are typically about 4 years old, which makes this one newer than most. Of the 33 standards CQC scored, 10 fell below good. The lowest was “governance, management and sustainability” (significant shortfalls).
Wilton House Nursing Home, 0.8 km away, is the closest home rated Good. It is one of 2 homes run by Ascot Care North East Limited. 1 of those with a rating are Good or Outstanding. 3 other homes in Darlington share its tier, “Requires improvement”. Its kitchen was rated 4 for food hygiene in September 2026. 92% of homes in Darlington score the top mark of 5.
