Dairy Lane Care Centre
Residential care home in Houghton-le-Spring, Sunderland
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About
Dairy Lane Care Centre is a 22-bed residential and dementia care home in Houghton-le-Spring, Sunderland. It supports older people aged 65 and over, younger adults under 65, and people with dementia, physical disabilities, or sensory impairment. The home is rated Good by the Care Quality Commission, with Good ratings for safety, effectiveness, caring and responsiveness, though leadership was rated as requiring improvement.
The home operates from a Victorian Manor House setting and provides round-the-clock support. Care is tailored to individual circumstances, and families are involved in planning. Dairy Lane Care Centre also offers respite care for those needing temporary residential support.
What inspectors found
CQC: GoodReport published 13 October 2023 · Last inspected 14 September 2023
Inspectors found that staff are positive about their work and the people they support, and that communication keeps them informed about changes in people's needs. Staffing was judged sufficient to support people safely, and medicines, safeguarding and links with health professionals were handled appropriately. Inspectors also identified areas to improve, including person-centred care, privacy, dining and the upkeep of parts of the building.
- Staff are described as enthusiastic about working at the home and caring for the people who live there.
- Staffing levels were judged sufficient, with staff deployed in a way that supports people safely.
- Staff have safeguarding training, know how to raise concerns, and take action to keep people safe.
- Staff follow effective processes for medicines and contact health professionals promptly when needs change.
- The quality assurance system needs to be more robust so that the standard of care can be properly assessed.
- Not everyone receives person-centred care, and systems that protect privacy and dignity need improving.
- Dining arrangements and the provision of accessible information need to improve, and some areas of the home need maintenance and refurbishment.
Written by AI from the report text and checked against it. Not an official CQC statement. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Read the full report on CQC.
Care provided
Specialist care
Food hygiene rating
Very good
Food Standards Agency · inspected May 2026
What's nearby
- Near a main road
- Fire station about 900 m away
Straight-line distances. Road and rail noise from government strategic noise mapping (modelled, not measured). A&E departments from the NHS website. Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors.
What’s in the area
Outdoor Spaces
- AllotmentsPlentiful
- Play SpaceSparse
- Golf CourseSparse
- Public ParkSparse
- Tennis CourtLimited
- Bowling GreenAdequate
- Playing FieldAmple
Local Amenities
- Pubs & BarsSparse
- Restaurants & CafesSparse
- Retail ShoppingLimited
- SupermarketsAdequate
- TakeawaysSparse
Local crime statistics
159 recorded crimes in the local area (April 2026)
Top categories:
Source: data.police.uk · within 1 mile
Gallery
Fees and funding
| Care type | Weekly fee | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Residential care | Fees on request | — |
| Dementia care | Fees on request | — |
- Funding accepted
- Not stated
Fees depend on the room and the care needed, so ask the home for a written quote. Check who pays with the funding calculator, or see what Sunderland council pays.
Care fee trajectory
| Year | Council rate (per week) |
|---|---|
| 2024 | £872 |
| 2025 | £919 |
What Sunderland council pays care homes, and whether it will help with fees
Weighing up the options? Compare a care home with care at home, or check who pays with the means-test calculator.
Local health safety net
Dairy Lane Care Centre is backed by a local NHS health network. The nearest A&E is Sunderland Royal Hospital, 4.9 miles away. The local GP practice is KEPIER MEDICAL PRACTICE, 0.2 miles away, rated ‘Good’ by the CQC.
Nearest services from NHS ODS + postcodes.io + CQC, by straight-line distance.
Community & connection in Houghton-le-Spring
Local clubs, charities and support groups that help older residents stay active and connected.
Hops
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Compass Community Transport Ltd
Provision of community transport facilities to the Disabled,old,infirm and socially excluded
Age Concern Durham County
Provision of services and activities to promote the wellbeing of all older people mainly in and around County Durham and help make later life a fulfilling and enjoyable experience.
Age Concern Durham County
Age Concern Durham County incorporated & commenced trading as a charitable company limited by guarantee (Age Concern Durham County trading as Age UK County Durham charity number 1122008) on 1st…
Age UK Sunderland
Age UK Sunderland promotes the well-being of all older people throughout the City of Sunderland to improve their quality of life and maintain independence. For further details our web site is…
Sunderland Carers' Centre
The charity works directly with carers to provide information, advice and a listening ear and support at formal and informal meetings, encouragement and support to carers' groups, opportunities…
More care homes near Houghton-le-Spring
Information last reviewed October 2026.
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