Kenwith Castle is a fully modernised Care South home for residential and dementia care near Bideford, north Devon. We are warmly welcoming new residents and inviting families and friends to share in the Food, Fun and Friendship on offer in this lovely north Devon care home. For more information, please contact our Home Manager using the number provided, or fill out an enquiry form.

Please click here for our Kenwith Castle Factsheet.

Care provided at Kenwith Castle:

Kenwith Castle combines the elegance and character of its 18th Century original architectural style with 21st Century care home comfort.

Kenwith Castle has 54 welcoming, fully furnished rooms, all of which have en-suite w/c and washbasin – some also have en-suite shower facilities. Every room has a 24-hour call bell, ensuring residents are comfortable, safe and expertly cared for. We give all residents support and peace of mind and we pride ourselves on doing everything possible to enhance residents’ quality of life.

Set in the heart of the north Devon coastal countryside, Kenwith Castle care home boasts extensive landscaped grounds and stunning countryside views, providing residents with a sense of peace and tranquillity. The home features a sensory garden designed specifically to cater for the needs of people living with dementia.

The well-stocked carp lake offers great opportunities for walking and even a spot of fishing. Residents are also able to grab a drink with friends in our very own bar or enjoy a pamper session in our on-site hair salon.

A number of spacious and light-filled lounges offer the perfect place to unwind or socialise over a cup of tea and a slice of cake.

Nothing is ever too much trouble for us when it comes to the care and comfort of residents and we always go the extra mile to help residents maintain their lifestyle and independence.

We understand that looking for a care home can be a difficult and daunting process, but we want you to know that you are not alone. Please feel free to give us a call or fill out an enquiry form and we will be more than happy to answer any questions you may have,  provide you with support throughout the process, or simply give you a better idea of life at Kenwith Castle.

Kenwith Castle is dedicated to ensuring residents are able to get the most out of every day, whilst feeling safe and supported. For us, it’s all about delivering the three F’s – Food, Fun and Friendship – to help residents live a happy and fulfilling lifestyle.

Recreational activities are organised by our activities coordinator(s) to ensure residents are having fun and making friends, and range from baking and arts and crafts to visits from entertainers and day trips out to local points of interest and attractions.

No two residents are the same, and we love to learn about their amazing life stories, hobbies and interests. This helps us to build strong relationships with residents and allows us to tailor our activities to suit their likes and favourite pastimes. Residents can be as involved as they wish and the activities team work hard to cater for residents’ recreational needs, enabling them to continue to do the things they love, even if that simply involves sitting down and enjoying a card game or a puzzle.

Please see below for some of the activities that we have been enjoying at Kenwith Castle recently.

“I love cooking for residents – just the smiles on their faces alone make my job worthwhile.” – Bela Kubayuro, Kenwith Castle Chef 

Given our mission to provide residents with the three F’s – Food, Fun and Friendship – mealtimes are very important to us and residents love coming together to enjoy delicious, nutritious and wholesome meals with their friends.

Our menu is expertly crafted by our talented Chefs, working closely with our Caterings Operations Manager, and is cooked and prepared onsite by our skilled kitchen staff.  We are passionate about providing high-quality food for residents and we cater for all dietary requirements and meal preferences, always maintaining the same high standards when preparing alternative meals. Refreshments are also available for residents throughout the day.

We currently hold a food hygiene rating of 5/5 stars (date of inspection: 02/12/2022) and strive to provide delicious and nutritious, high-quality meals for all residents.

Joanne Passmore – Home Manager 

We asked Joanne to describe how she felt about being the |Manager at Kenwith Castle Care Home.

• What inspired you to pursue a career in senior care management?

My journey within the health and social sector first started when my Nan became ill. She was diagnosed with dementia and the disease fascinated me. I saw the difference the care staff, nurses and all other professional involved made to my nan’s quality of life and wanted to be part of that Journey for other vulnerable adults.
I firstly thought nursing was where I wanted my career to be focused but quickly learnt that I could make as much if not more of a difference to a higher number of people within a senior management role. I found myself to be a good role model and leader and find home management deeply rewarding due to my passion for elderly care and knowing I was making a difference.

• What do you believe are the most important qualities for a care home manager to possess?

The most import quality, I believe a care home manager should possess is empathy. As a care home manager, I generally care about the well-being of not only the residents but my staff as well. This compassion and the drive I have, ensures my team have the knowledge, skills and motivation to ensure every resident receives person centred, dignified care within a comfortable and safe environment.

• How do you plan to enhance the overall well-being and satisfaction of residents under your care?

Promoting social engagement is my top priority, I believe in creating opportunities to socialise and participate in meaningful activities are most important to support well-being. Here at Kenwith we have several beautiful social spaces. These are not currently utilised to their full potential and my main aim is to encourage residents to join in and give them choices to perhaps learn a new skill or be part of clubs/teams.
I want to ensure residents have a voice and are part of decisions going on within their ‘home’. I want to do this by fostering a nurturing and supportive atmosphere, and increasing communication between residents, families and the home. Residents as well as their families will be encouraged to be part of the care planning process to enable person centred care and foster a more inclusive and open environment.

• What strategies do you intend to implement to foster a positive and inclusive community within the care home?

My first strategy to implement a positive and inclusive community is to utilise the shared spaces. I want these spaces to enable residents to come together to relax, feel comfortable and engage in activities together. I would also like to work closer with our Sister home Fremington Manor, which will foster and encourage more social interaction, giving our residents the opportunity to connect with others and build meaningful relationships. I want to celebrate the diversity of residents and staff and embrace different cultures by incorporating different themes into the activity calendar.

• In what ways do you envision leveraging social media to connect with residents’ families and the broader community?

Care South already has a dedicated PR team who manage social media, but as the new home manager I will encourage regular posts and updates from Kenwith Castle. We will use the social media platform to share upcoming events, such as outings or special celebrations and share photos/videos to see snapshots into residents daily life’s and residents experiences.

• What are your goals for improving communication and transparency between staff, residents, and their families?

Open door policy will be implemented, regular walk arounds and being the face of the home. I want to give everyone the confidence to communicate open and honestly. I want individuals to trust that they will be listened to and are actively part of their own Journeys at Kenwith, including staff and residents.

• Can you share any innovative initiatives or programs you hope to introduce to enhance the resident experience?

I want to prioritise our residents’ well-being and make more opportunities for our residents to interact with each other and the outside community. The residents at Kenwith already have a varied range of activities to be part of which are all very much enjoyed. I wish for our families to be more involved and for activities to be communicated more effectively. This will be done by Monthly newsletters and activity programs being sent to enhance interaction between families and their loved ones.

Our helpful Home Managers are happy to guide you around our homes with a video call, so that you can get a feel for what life is like at Kenwith Castle.

If you would like a virtual tour, please complete and submit the form below and we will be in touch to help you start your journey with us.