Water Mill House Care Home
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Rose Lane (off Red Lion Lane)
Hemel Hempstead
Hertfordshire
HP3 9BP
| Care Type | Care Home |
|---|---|
| Care Category | Residential | Nursing | Dementia | Respite |
| Availability | Yes |
| Regulator's Rating | Requires Improvement |
Meet The Manager
Victoria Forsythe is Home Manager at Water Mill House Care Home.
Victoria qualified as a registered nurse in 1993 and has worked in social care for more than 20 years.
Having worked initially for the NHS in Lancashire, and progressed quickly to the role of Ward Manager, Victoria made the move South for her first role as Deputy Manager in the care home sector and hasn’t looked back.
Victoria has a wealth of experience in managing and commissioning care services, for both large healthcare corporations and smaller proprietor-owned homes. With a track-record of favourable Care Quality Commission ratings for the homes she has managed, Victoria shares that: “I would absolutely love to achieve an Outstanding rating! That’s something that I one day hope to tick off my bucket list!”
At Water Mill House, we provide person-centred residential, nursing, rehabilitation and dementia care for adults, aged 18 or over, on a permanent or respite basis.
Our dedicated multidisciplinary team delivers care with love and kindness, holding platinum accreditation with the Gold Standards Framework for compassionate end-of-life care. We are proud to be a part of the UK’s Top 20 Mid-sized Care Group 2025, as rated by carehome.co.uk.
Our team focuses on gaining a deep understanding of each of our treasured residents, alongside their medical and emotional needs, to encourage independence and enable them to live fulfilled and meaningful lives. We also seek to establish positive relationships with residents’ loved ones, involving them in life at our home.
Water Mill House is a spacious, stimulating environment promoting independence and choice. Set over three floors, with a state-of-the-art gym, equipped with cardio machines, resistance equipment and stretching aids, this ensures a comprehensive approach to rehabilitation, enabling community clinicians, including physiotherapists and speech and language therapists, to work successfully alongside our expert care team. Together, we create and review personalised care plans that maximise each resident's rehabilitation potential, promote physical recovery, improve mobility, and enhance communication skills.
Our team receives comprehensive training, professional development, and support to deliver the high standards of holistic care that residents and families deserve. In November 2023, our home was a finalist in the Dignity in Care category at the East of England Great British Care Awards 2023.
With a focus on fun and friendship, our team supports residents in trying new activities and rediscovering former hobbies. From lively music and movement sessions, Namaste Care, to invigorating brain gym, and unique Make-a-Wish initiative, there is something for everyone. Residents enjoy frequent excursions to local places of interest on the minibus and visits from entertainers, musicians, schoolchildren and the ‘Newt Brigade’, our very own preschool group.
Families can relax and spend quality time together, whether getting pampered in the spa, taking in the stunning views of the Hertfordshire countryside, or going for a walk by the neighbouring canal. Water Mill House is a warm and vibrant community where every day is filled with purpose, joy and connection.
| Care Options | We Can Provide |
|---|---|
| Support For | Companionship, Complex Care, Convalescence, Daily Respite Care, Emergency Care, End of Life, High Dependency, Learning Disability (ALD), Nursing Dementia / EMI, 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, Bariatric care, Cancer, Cerebral Palsy, Crohns, Crohn's Disease, Depression, Diabetes, Epilepsy, Heart Disease, Huntington Disease, Korsakoff, Liver Disease, Lung Disease, Motor Neurone Disease (MND), Multiple Sclerosis, Muscular Dystrophy (MD), Pain Management, Parkinson's Disease, Stroke, Ulcerative Colitis. |
| Type Of Dementia | Mild Dementia, Moderate Dementia, Severe Dementia (EMI). |
| Dementia Behaviour | Agitation / Restlessness, Challenging Behaviour, Disrupted Sleep Patterns, Mild Forgetfulness, Wandering . |
| Dementia Specialisms | Alzheimer's, Frontotemporal, Lewy Body, Mixed Dementias, Picks Disease, Vascular Dementia. |
| 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 | ||
|---|---|---|
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We've taken the appropriate steps to ensure the safety of residents. |
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| Infection Control Initiatives in place | ||
|---|---|---|
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Independent Assessments | We have been independently assessed in our approach to infection control. |
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Infection Control Training | Our staff are trained to use measures which prevent and control infections. |
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Regulatory Assessment | We have been assessed by the care regulator in our approach to infection control. |
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Sterilisation & Disinfection Devices | We are using sterilisation and/or disinfection devices 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 | ||
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Use of PPE | The provider assured the regulator that it was using personal protective equipment effectively and safely. |
| View the provider’s latest Inspection Reports. | ||
| Safe Visiting Space | |||||
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| Connectivity for resident testing, monitoring & communications |
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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. |
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.
We are on Facebook| Minimum Age |
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| 18 |
| LGBTQ Welcome |
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| Yes |
| Our Building and Facilities |
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In addition to offering the highest level of quality care, Water Mill House Care Home has exceptional facilities that make life enjoyable and engaging for all residents, whatever their hobbies and personal preferences. |
| Is Our Home Purpose Built |
|---|
| Yes |
| How Many Floors We Have |
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| 3 |
| Who Owns Our Building |
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| Private |
| Communal Rooms |
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| Bistro, Dining Rooms, Library, Sitting Rooms, TV Lounges. |
| What Else Do We Provide |
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| Assisted Bathroom, Beauty Salon, Cinema, Gym, Hairdressers, Library, Lift, Minibus, Physiotherapy, Smoking Area. |
| Our Garden |
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| Communal Garden, Communal Patio, Private Garden(s), Scenic Views, Seating, Secure Garden, Sensory Garden, Vegetable Plot, Wheelchair Friendly Access. |
| Our Photos |
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| Description |
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We have a selection of beautifully furnished and decorated bedrooms complete with an en-suite wetroom to support convenience and independence. All ground floor rooms have doors leading out onto private gardens whilst others are large enough for couples and come with a kitchen and lounge area. |
| About Our Rooms | |
|---|---|
| Number Of Rooms | 70 |
| Number Of Ensuite Rooms | 70 |
| We offer these types of ensuite rooms: WC and Basin. | |
| Type Of Room |
|---|
| Single Room. |
| Room Features |
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| Furnished, Garden View, Step Free Access. |
| Room Facilities |
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| Telephone Point. |
| Our Photos |
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| Funding Types | |
|---|---|
| Local Authority | Hertfordshire |
| Region | East |
| We Accept Self-Funding Clients | Yes |
| We Accept Local Authority Funding | No |
| We Accept NHS Continuing Healthcare | Yes |
| We Accept Local Authority funding with a Third Party Top-Up | Yes |
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.
| Styles of Food |
 Pureed
Vegetarian
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|---|---|
| Dining Locations |
Bedroom Dining
Lounge/Diner
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| Dining Styles |
Hot Trolley
Room Service
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| Our Photos |
The preparation, nutritional value and presentation of food.
Attractive drinks and adaptive cups/glasses are available and accessible where needed.
Individual dietary needs are person centred.
Meals reflect the nutritional needs of the residents.
Our menu is balanced.
Snacks are provided for residents that require texture-modified food.
Sweet and savoury foods are provided between meals (this does not just include cakes and biscuits).
Hot Trolley
Room Service
A critical component for good health.
5 Star Rated by UK Food Standards. Hand hygiene for both residents and staff.
We are following best practice including NICE guidelines as a standard.
We are conducting internal and/or 3rd party food safety audits.
We have allergen management policies in place.
A freedom to eat the food you want, when you want it.
Families are invited for meals [Covid permitting].
Residents dining in their own room have the same food options as elsewhere.
Residents dining in their own room have their food presented to same standard as elsewhere.
Residents have access to Dining Room.
Staff sit with the residents they support when they dine.
Understanding the wants and requirements of every individual be it cultural, religious or dietary.
Vegetarian food can be served.
We can support people with Diabetes.
Delivering a respectful and quality service.
Residents are given appropriate and dignified crockery / glassware and cutlery.
Tables are well laid.
Staff understand and pre-empt potential meal-time behaviours which can impact nutritional intake.
Staff always use appropriate and dignified language (e.g. it is an ‘apron’ not a ‘bib’).
There are no unnecessary disruptions during mealtimes.
| Activities Are So Important |
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Our residents’ ongoing health and wellbeing is extremely important to us and we recognise that keeping active, both mentally and physically, whilst maintaining a sense of purpose and meaning are key to individuals’ happiness, contentment and joy. In partnership with our residents and those closest to them, our dedicated lifestyle team develops a varied programme of meaningful activities, events and celebrations which are personalised to individuals’ likes, dislikes, abilities and care needs as well as aspirations and dreams for the future. Our whole team supports our residents to rekindle interests and hobbies, whilst also gently encouraging them to try new things they might enjoy, either as part of a group of friends, on a 1-2-1 basis and in their own room, if they prefer. All of these factors are integrated to ensure that our care home activities are meaningful and engaging for our residents. |
| Our Photos |
|---|
| Activities At Home |
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| 1 to 1 Activities, Bingo, Birthday Celebrations, Board Games, Card Games, Cooking, Crafts, Crosswords, Dancing, Excursions, Exercise Class, Flower Arranging, Knitting / Embroidery, Music Entertainment, Painting, Quiz Games, Reminiscence, Singing, Word Games. |
| Activities Outside Our Home |
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| Local Tourist Attractions, Park, Shopping. |
| Our Pets |
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Visitors are welcome to bring well-behaved pets to visit and we also regularly welcome visits from a range of pets and animals as part of our activities. |
| Can You Bring Your Pet |
|---|
| No |
Rose Lane (off Red Lion Lane)
Hemel Hempstead
Hertfordshire
HP3 9BP
Regulator: CQC
| Current Ratings | |
|---|---|
| Overall | Requires Improvement |
| Safe | Requires Improvement |
| Well Led | Requires Improvement |
| Caring | Good |
| Responsive | Good |
| Effective | Good |
| Inspection Reports | |
| Last inspected | 19th July 2023 |
| Last rated | 20th September 2023 |
| Current Report |
|
| Historic Reports |
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| Registration Date | 11th September 2014 |
| Service Provider | Carebase (Hemel) Limited, EC4A 2EA |
Water Mill House Care Home Care Home - Care Quality Commission (cqc.org.uk)
| Transport |
|---|
| Bus Stop nearby, Car Park, Train Station nearby. |
| Places of Worship |
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| Anglican Church. |
| Nearby Services |
|---|
| Hospital, Park, Pub, Restaurant, Shops. |
Frequently asked questions about Water Mill House Care Home
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