Abbeyfield Friars Mead

Abbeyfield Friars Mead - Care Home Book a Visit
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Rockliffe Avenue
Kings Langley
Hertfordshire
WD4 8DR

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Digital Care Plan Digital Care Plan
Infection Control Infection Control
Choice Dining Choice Dining
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Care Type Care Home
Care Category Residential | Respite
Availability Yes
Live Rating
5.00
Weekly Prices From £1,413.50
Regulator's Rating Requires Improvement
Abbeyfield Friars Mead - Care Home
Meet The Manager

Ricardo Da Silva Freitas is Registered Manager at Abbeyfield Friars Mead.

Friars Mead, a 26-bed residential care home in Kings Langley, Hertfordshire, operated by Abbeyfield Hertfordshire Residential Care Society Ltd — a not-for-profit charity established to provide warm, dignified care for older people.

With responsibility for the home's day-to-day leadership, governance and regulatory compliance, Ricardo works closely with his team, trustees and external partners to ensure residents receive safe, person-centred care in a setting that feels like home. He has led significant investment in the home's infrastructure, strengthened its governance framework, and championed staff development across clinical, safeguarding and quality assurance practice.

Ricardo is an active voice in the wider care sector, sharing reflections on leadership, regulation and continuous improvement in residential care.

Ricardo Da Silva Freitas
  • Friars Mead is a 26-room residential care home in the heart of Kings Langley, Hertfordshire — purpose-built in 1992 and run by Abbeyfield Hertfordshire Residential Care Society Ltd, a registered charity (no. 225259) and an independent member of the national Abbeyfield Movement.
  • We are not a corporate group and we are not part of a chain. We are a single, independent, not-for-profit care home, governed by a local Board of Trustees, with every penny of surplus reinvested into the home, the residents and the team who care for them.
    Friars Mead is a 100% privately funded home. We do not currently accept Local Authority or NHS Continuing Healthcare placements. This allows us to focus our entire operation on delivering one consistent, high-quality standard of residential care to the families who choose us.
  • The home is laid out across two floors served by a passenger lift, with 26 generously sized en-suite bedrooms (one of which is a double room for couples — Room 25). Communal spaces include a main lounge, a quiet lounge, a dining room, a hairdressing area and a large first-floor balcony overlooking our extensive private gardens. The gardens are a real feature of the home: mature, sheltered, accessible from the ground floor, and used year-round.
  • We are a residential care home — we do not provide nursing care or specialist dementia care, and we are honest with families up front about that. What we do provide is calm, person-centred residential care for older people who value being known by name, eating well, getting outside, and living somewhere that feels like a home rather than an institution.
    Our care management is digital — we use Person Centred Software (PCS) for daily care planning, recording and family communication, and Famileo Pro for a private family newsletter that residents and relatives co-create. Families can stay genuinely connected, whether they live in Kings Langley or overseas.
  • Visiting is open. Doors really are always open — to family, friends, volunteers, the local school, the church, and the wider Kings Langley community.

Abbeyfield Friars Mead Abbeyfield Friars Mead 01923 270 304 Rockliffe Avenue, Kings Langley, Hertfordshire, WD4 8DR
Care Options We Can Provide
Support For Companionship, Convalescence, Daily Respite Care, Emergency Care, End of Life, High Dependency, Independent Living, Mental Healthcare, Palliative, Personal care, Physiotherapy, Reablement, Rehabilitation, Support for Couples.
Disability Support Bed Bound, Hearing Impairment, Physical Disability, Physically Frail, Requires Hoist , Speech Impairment, Visual Impairment, Walking Frame, Wheel Chair Bound.
Medication By Mouth, Change Catheter, Electronic Medication Management, Injection, Suppository.
Nursing Specialisms Aids, Alcohol and Drugs misuse, Bariatric care, Cancer, Cerebral Palsy, Crohns, Crohn's Disease, Depression, Diabetes, Epilepsy, Heart Disease, Huntington Disease, Liver Disease, Lung Disease, Motor Neurone Disease (MND), Multiple Sclerosis, Muscular Dystrophy (MD), Pain Management, Parkinson's Disease, Stroke, Traumatic Brain Injury.
Type Of Dementia Mild Dementia, Moderate Dementia.
Dementia Behaviour Agitation / Restlessness, Challenging Behaviour, Disrupted Sleep Patterns, Mild Forgetfulness, Wandering .
Respite Care Yes

Autumna has invited care providers to evidence the infection control measures they are carrying out, above and beyond those laid out by the government, in order to keep residents, staff and visitors safe.

What we're doing to keep residents & visitors safe
  • Friars Mead operates a comprehensive Infection Prevention & Control framework built around the ten compliance criteria of the 2022 Code of Practice on the prevention and control of infections, issued under the Health and Social Care Act 2008.
  • The home benefits from a purpose-built environment — all 26 bedrooms are en-suite, enabling effective single-room isolation when clinically indicated. Industrial laundry equipment operates sluice and thermal-disinfection cycles, and the home maintains dedicated dirty- and clean-utility areas with clearly defined clinical, offensive, sharps and domestic waste streams.
  • Our IPC Lead (Sharon Bell, Care Manager) reports monthly to the Registered Manager and quarterly to the Board of Trustees. Hand-hygiene compliance is audited monthly against the WHO 5-Moment framework. PPE is held in continuous stock with weekly par-level checks. Mandatory IPC training is completed by every member of staff at induction and refreshed annually.
  • Visitors sign in via Digital Reception with built-in infection pre-screening, and families stay connected through Famileo Pro and in-room video calling. Outbreak management follows current UKHSA guidance, with proactive family communication and statutory notifications to CQC, the local authority Public Health team and the Hertfordshire and West Essex ICB, where applicable.
Infection Control Initiatives in place
safe-tick Independent Assessments We have been independently assessed in our approach to infection control.
safe-tick Infection Control Training Our staff are trained to use measures which prevent and control infections.
safe-tick Infection Screening We are using technology to screen for infections & monitor symptoms.
safe-tick Regulatory Assessment We have been assessed by the care regulator in our approach to infection control.
safe-tick Sterilisation & Disinfection Devices We are using sterilisation and/or disinfection devices within our care setting.
safe-tick Virus Testing We are testing for viral infection when symptoms present within our care setting.
Infection Prevention & Control (IPC) - Regulator’s Assessment
In response to the coronavirus pandemic, regulators have assessed the preparedness of care providers in relation to infection prevention and control. Details of the regulator’s latest findings can be found below.
Regulator: CQC
safe-tick Admission The provider assured the regulator that it was admitting people safely to the service.
safe-tick Policies The provider assured the regulator that its infection prevention and control policy was up to date.
safe-tick Premises The provider assured the regulator that it was promoting safety through the layout and hygiene practices of the premises.
safe-tick Shielding The provider assured the regulator that it was using personal protective equipment effectively and safely.
safe-tick Staffing The provider assured the regulator that it was making sure infection outbreaks can be effectively prevented or managed.
safe-tick Testing The provider assured the regulator that it was accessing testing for people using the service and staff.
safe-tick Use of PPE The provider assured the regulator that it was using personal protective equipment effectively and safely.
safe-tick Visitors The provider assured the regulator that it was preventing visitors from catching and spreading infections.
View the provider’s latest Inspection Reports.
Safe Visiting Space
safe-tick We have a safe visiting space
Connectivity for resident testing, monitoring & communications

Infection control and the safety of both residents and staff often requires quarantine measures and the isolation of care home residents. To test, monitor and allow residents to communicate with relatives, the prevalence of room-level connectivity within the home is becoming increasingly relevant.

Wireless Internet access (WiFi)

Yes, our care home has WiFi in all our resident’s rooms.

Mobile Phone Network Coverage (mobile “signal”)

Yes, our care home has mobile phone signal in all our resident’s rooms.

Telephone for external calling

Yes, our care home provides a telephone in all our resident’s rooms.

Family Portal

Yes, our care home has provides families with a family portal. Find out more about Family Portals.

Social media provides an up to date window on the activities within a provider's setting.

With the restrictions on visiting during the pandemic, social media platforms such as these offer real insight when you are choosing a provider.

Infection Control Safe We are on Facebook

Minimum Age
65

LGBTQ Welcome
Yes
Contract
FriarsMead_Key_Terms_of_Admission_v1.0.pdf
Our Building and Facilities
  • Friars Mead is a purpose-built residential care home for up to 27 older people, set in the heart of the village of Kings Langley, Hertfordshire. The home opened in 1992 and is provided by Abbeyfield Hertfordshire Residential Care Society Ltd, a registered charity (no. 225259) and an independent member of the national Abbeyfield Movement.
  • The building is arranged across two floors served by a passenger lift, with 26 generously sized en-suite bedrooms (including one double room for couples). Every bedroom has its own en-suite WC and wash basin, a nurse-call system, a personal telephone point and Wi-Fi. Residents are encouraged to bring their own furniture, photographs and pictures to make their room feel like home.
  • Communal spaces include a main lounge, a quiet lounge, a dining room, a hairdressing area and a large first-floor balcony overlooking our extensive private gardens. The gardens are a real feature of the home — mature, sheltered, fully accessible from the ground floor, with raised beds, a vegetable plot tended by residents, and seating for year-round enjoyment.
  • The home is residential, not nursing — designed for older people who value being known by name, eating well, getting outside, and living somewhere that feels like a home rather than an institution. Care is delivered by a stable, predominantly directly-employed team, supported by Person Centred Software (PCS) digital care planning, Famileo Pro for family communication, and a Digital Reception system at the front door.

Is Our Home Purpose Built
Yes

How Many Floors We Have
2

Who Owns Our Building
Private

Communal Rooms
Activities Room, Dining Rooms, Sitting Rooms, TV Lounges.

What Else Do We Provide
Assisted Bathroom, Chiropodist, Dentist, GP, Hairdressers, Lift, Minibus, Optician, Stairlift.

Our Garden
Communal Garden, Communal Patio, Greenhouse, Private Garden(s), Scenic Views, Seating, Secure Garden, Vegetable Plot, Wheelchair Friendly Access.

How 'Smart' Are We?
Electronic Visitor Register, Individual Heating Controls, Reduce Plastic Use.

Our Photos

Description

Friars Mead has has 25 single bedrooms with en-suite facilities and 1 double bedroom also with en-suite.

About Our Rooms
Number Of Rooms 27
Number Of Ensuite Rooms 26
We offer these types of ensuite rooms: Shower Rooms, Wet Rooms.

Type Of Room
Double Room, Single Room.

Room Features
Furnished, Garden View, Step Free Access.

Room Facilities
Alarm, Catch up TV, Freeview TV, Internet Access, Telephone Point, Wifi.

Our Photos
Weekly Fees Start From Fee
Residential Fees From / Price Per Week £1,413.50

Funding Types
Local Authority Hertfordshire
Region East
We Accept Self-Funding Clients Yes
We Accept Local Authority Funding Yes
We Accept NHS Continuing Healthcare Yes
We Accept Local Authority funding with a Third Party Top-Up Yes

Choice Dining Logo

Choice Dining is a food-focused accreditation designed to give care-seekers like yourself the ability to consider and compare the dining experience within different care settings.

To be awarded the Choice Dining badge, a care home will have committed to delivering exceptional dining experiences with a strong focus on preference, individuality, hygiene and the environment. You can explore the specifics of all participating homes in the tab below to learn more about the food on offer, how it is served and presented and what they’re doing to cater for your personal taste. Find out more about Choice Dining.

Dining Locations Pink tick icon Bedroom Dining Pink tick icon Lounge/Diner
Dining Styles Pink tick icon Hot Trolley Pink tick icon Room Service
Hospitality Pink tick icon Guests are welcome for dinner (Covid permitting)
Our Photos

The preparation, nutritional value and presentation of food.

Pink tick icon Attractive drinks and adaptive cups/glasses are available and accessible where needed.

Pink tick icon Individual dietary needs are person centred.

Pink tick icon Meals reflect the nutritional needs of the residents.

Pink tick icon Our menu has been verified by a registered nutritional therapist or dietitian.

Pink tick icon Our menu is balanced.

Pink tick icon Snacks are provided for residents that require texture-modified food.

Pink tick icon Sweet and savoury foods are provided between meals (this does not just include cakes and biscuits).

Pink tick icon Hot Trolley

Pink tick icon Room Service

A critical component for good health.

Rating badge

Pink tick icon 5 Star Rated by UK Food Standards.

Pink tick icon Hand hygiene for both residents and staff.

Pink tick icon We are following best practice including NICE guidelines as a standard.

Pink tick icon We are conducting internal and/or 3rd party food safety audits.

Pink tick icon We have allergen management policies in place.

A freedom to eat the food you want, when you want it.

Pink tick icon A Private Dining room is bookable for residents and their families.

Pink tick icon Families are invited for meals [Covid permitting].

Pink tick icon Residents dining in their own room have the same food options as elsewhere.

Pink tick icon Residents dining in their own room have their food presented to same standard as elsewhere.

Pink tick icon Residents have the option of dining in their own room.

Pink tick icon Staff also dine themselves with the residents they support.

Pink tick icon Staff sit with the residents they support when they dine.

Pink tick icon Residents can order food not on the menu, or have access to an ‘evergreen menu’.

Pink tick icon Residents have access to a flexible meal service beyond defined times.

Pink tick icon More than one option is available at mealtimes for all residents, including those with special and theraputic diets.

Pink tick icon Residents with dementia are shown food or visual menus to help them decide.

Pink tick icon There is a weekly menu.

Pink tick icon We offer catering for special events.

Pink tick icon Residents are involved in the creation of the menu.

Pink tick icon The best interest choices are made for residents unable to make their own choices.

Understanding the wants and requirements of every individual be it cultural, religious or dietary.

Pink tick icon Gluten-free food can be served.

Pink tick icon Vegan food can be served.

Pink tick icon Vegetarian food can be served.

Pink tick icon We can support people with Diabetes.

Delivering a respectful and quality service.

Pink tick icon Residents are given appropriate and dignified crockery / glassware and cutlery.

Pink tick icon Staff are hospitality trained to present / serve meals.

Pink tick icon Tables are well laid.

Pink tick icon We have food theme days/nights.

Pink tick icon Staff understand and pre-empt potential meal-time behaviours which can impact nutritional intake.

Pink tick icon Staff always use appropriate and dignified language (e.g. it is an ‘apron’ not a ‘bib’).

Pink tick icon We promote an inclusive dining experience.

Pink tick icon There are no unnecessary disruptions during mealtimes.

Being environmentally and socially responsible and thoughtful.

Pink tick icon We correctly dispose of our waste.

Pink tick icon We have a waste management system.

Pink tick icon We monitor our food waste.

Pink tick icon We use locally sourced and locally grown or reared food.

Pink tick icon We use organically grown food.

Pink tick icon Our energy usage is well maintained.

Pink tick icon We are actively reducing food mileage.

Activities Are So Important

Two dedicated activity coordinators run a daily morning and afternoon programme, distributed weekly to every resident. 

Regular sessions include:
• Arts & crafts
• Reminiscence and life-story work
• Singalongs and live music
• Gentle exercise / chair-based exercise
• Indoor bowls and skittles
• Quizzes and word games
• Gardening (residents have their own raised beds)
• Flower arranging
• Trolley shop
• Baking
• Pet therapy visits
• Visiting clergy (Anglican, Catholic, Free Church)
• Community visits (local school, church, choir)
• Outings in the village
• Birthday and anniversary celebrations
• Family events (summer BBQ, Christmas, Canal Boat Trip)

We recognise and respect that residents will have differing lifestyle preferences and that the need for social and leisure activities will vary from one person to another. Some residents will have an active social life while others will want a level of privacy and independence from others. We will seek to respond to these unique differences and we will ensure that each resident has the opportunity to pursue hobbies and leisure interests, and participate in social activities as they wish. 

A morning and afternoon activity takes place daily with the timetable delivered to all residents at the beginning of the week. Regular sessions range from arts & crafts, quizzes, singalongs, reminiscence, trolley shop, exercises, flower arranging, bowls, gardening. Driven by the needs and interests of our residents we continually work with individuals providing time and resources to suit their current requests and interests. Regular discussions on personal challenges and experiences take place and shape our timetable.

We are committed to the involvement of family, friends and the external community where this is important to the resident.

Our Photos

Timetables
example weekly activity sheet.pdf

Activities At Home
1 to 1 Activities, Bingo, Birthday Celebrations, Board Games, Card Games, Cooking, Crafts, Crosswords, Dancing, Excursions, Exercise Class, Flower Arranging, Gardening, Knitting / Embroidery, Music Entertainment, Music Therapy, Painting, Quiz Games, Religious Services, Reminiscence, Singing, Themed Events, Word Games.

Activities Outside Our Home
Garden Centre, Local Tourist Attractions, Park, Pub, Shopping.
go green logo

The Go Green badge is designed to give care-seekers like yourself the ability to consider and compare a care home’s sustainability and green practices.

The below statements are changes that the care provider has acknowledged they have implemented towards a more sustainable future.

The operation, maintenance, and repair of a property

safe-tick Do you use LED light bulbs? Yes
safe-tick Are your windows double glazed? Yes
safe-tick Do you use motion sensors? Yes
safe-tick Is your boiler less than 15 years old? Yes
safe-tick Do you have an EPC rating? Yes
safe-tick Do you use eco-friendly cleaning products? Yes

The sourcing of goods and the landfill/recycling journey

safe-tick Do you monitor your waste? Yes
safe-tick Do you train your team on recycling practices? Yes
safe-tick Do you have systems for recycling throughout the home? Yes

Energy reduction and renewable energy usage

safe-tick Do you measure your energy consumption? Yes
safe-tick Is your boiler less than 15 years old? Yes

Using digital rather than paper based processes

safe-tick Do you use digital payslips? Yes
safe-tick Do you use online rotas? Yes
safe-tick Do you use digital care plans? Yes

In-home and community projects that protect the environment

safe-tick Do you carry out projects that support wildlife? Yes
safe-tick Do you compost? Yes
Our Pets

Unfortunately, we do not allow pets to live on site. We do however encourage Pets to visit and come into the home. Currently we have Triptan - French Bulldog who can often be found visiting the home. We also have a Volunteer Dog - who comes in to code Friars Mead.

Can You Bring Your Pet
No

Rockliffe Avenue
Kings Langley
Hertfordshire
WD4 8DR

Regulator: CQC

Current Ratings
Overall Requires Improvement
Safe Requires Improvement
Well Led Requires Improvement
Caring Good
Responsive Good
Effective Requires Improvement
Inspection Reports
Assessment Date 6th February 2026
Published Date 11th June 2026
Current Report

Abbeyfield Friars Mead Care Home - Care Quality Commission (cqc.org.uk)

Historic Reports

Abbeyfield Friars Mead Care Home - Care Quality Commission (cqc.org.uk)

Registration Date 23rd November 2010
Service Provider Abbeyfield Hertfordshire Residential Care Society Limited, WD4 8DR
Transport
Bus Stop nearby, Car Park, Car Park on-site, Train Station nearby.

Places of Worship
Anglican Cathedral, Anglican Church, Buddhist Temple, Catholic Church, Gurdwara Temple, Methodist Church, Mosque, Synagogue.

Nearby Services
Chemist, Church, Garden Centre, Hospital, Library, Local Walks & Bike Rides, Park, Post Office, Pub, Restaurant, Shops, Surgery.

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Frequently asked questions about Abbeyfield Friars Mead

Abbeyfield Friars Mead was given an overall rating of "Requires Improvement" by the CQC in June 2026.
Abbeyfield Friars Mead provides Residential and Respite care.
Abbeyfield Friars Mead has 27 rooms.
Prices for Abbeyfield Friars Mead start from £1,413.50 per week.
Yes. Abbeyfield Friars Mead does offer Residential care.
Yes. Abbeyfield Friars Mead does offer Respite care.
No. Abbeyfield Friars Mead does not provide care for people with Dementia.
Abbeyfield Friars Mead comes under Hertfordshire.
Abbeyfield Friars Mead accepts Local Authority clients.
Abbeyfield Friars Mead accepts NHS Continuing Healthcare clients.
Ricardo Da Silva Freitas is the manager of Abbeyfield Friars Mead.

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