The Pines, Fornham St Mary
CQC Inspection Breakdown
| Safe | Good |
| Effective | Good |
| Caring | Good |
| Responsive | Good |
| Well-led | Good |
About The Pines
We visited the service on 4, 5 and 16 June 2025. An adult social care inspector undertook the visits on 4 and 16 June 2025, and a medicine inspector on 5 June 2025. We gave the service 2 hours’ notice of the inspection, as the service was small we needed to know people and staff would be in the service. The service is a residential care home service providing support for up to 12 adults of all ages with learning disabilities and/or autistic people.
What residents and families say
People told us they liked living in the service, which was their home, and the staff who supported them.
People told us about what they liked to do and the plans they had to go out and do the activities they were interested in.
People told us how they felt they were listened to and they chose what they wanted to do.
Source: CQC inspection report
Specialisms
About The Pines
The Pines provides personal care in Fornham St Mary, Suffolk, supporting residents to live with dignity and independence. The home is operated by Consensus Support Services Limited and can accommodate up to 12 residents. Following their most recent inspection on 29/07/2025, the Care Quality Commission rated The Pines as Good. Across the five inspection categories, the home scored Good for Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive, Well-led. The home specialises in supporting people with learning disabilities. The service supports learning disabilities or autistic spectrum disorder. The IP28 postcode area has 9 registered care homes with a combined 288 beds — so there are options to compare in the local area.
Finding the right care home is a deeply personal decision, and we hope this information helps you and your family feel more confident as you explore your options. Every person deserves care that respects their individuality, and the right home will feel welcoming from the moment you walk through the door.
The Pines is one of the care homes in Suffolk — a local authority with 197 CQC-registered homes, 144 of which are rated Good or Outstanding.
Researching care homes in Fornham St Mary?
Get our free comparison checklist — the questions families wish they'd asked before choosing a care home.
Guide on its way — check your inbox.
Further Reading & Official Sources
- Official CQC inspection report for The Pines
- View The Pines on Google Maps
- NHS care home finder near IP28 6TN
We link to official and independent sources so families can verify the information on this page.
What to Expect When Visiting
When visiting a residential care home, pay attention to the atmosphere as much as the facilities. The best homes feel warm, unhurried, and genuinely caring — like a place where your loved one could feel at home.
- Try to visit at different times of day, including mealtimes, to see the home in action.
- Speak with staff and, if possible, current residents or their families about their experience.
- Ask how the home supports residents who may need nursing care in the future.
- Look at the communal spaces — do they feel welcoming, clean, and well-used?
Questions to Ask When Visiting
It can be hard to know what to ask during a care home visit. Here are some questions tailored to The Pines's type of care that may help guide your conversation:
- 1 What happens if a resident's care needs increase beyond what you can provide?
- 2 How do you support residents to stay active and connected to their community?
- 3 Can residents personalise their rooms with their own furniture and belongings?
- 4 What does a typical day look like for someone living here?
For a more complete checklist, see our guide to choosing a care home.
Official CQC Inspection Report
The Care Quality Commission last inspected The Pines on 29/07/2025 and rated it Good. The full report includes detailed findings on safety, staffing, and quality of care.
Read the full CQC reportWhat families typically look for
- - How friendly and attentive the care staff are day-to-day
- - What activities and social events are available for residents
- - How the home handles changing care needs over time
These reflect common priorities we see from families researching care homes. For personalised advice, we recommend visiting in person and speaking to current families.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens if a resident's care needs increase beyond what you can provide?
CQC rated The Pines as Good for Responsive care on 29/07/2025, which includes how the home adapts to residents' changing needs. Ask what the home's protocol is when a resident needs a higher level of nursing care — whether they support a managed transition or have partnerships with local nursing homes.
How do you support residents to stay active and connected to their community?
CQC rated The Pines as Good for Caring on 29/07/2025. This domain covers how staff support residents' emotional wellbeing, social connection, and sense of purpose. During your visit, ask to see the activities timetable and speak with current residents or their families about daily life.
Can residents personalise their rooms with their own furniture and belongings?
Most residential care homes encourage residents to bring personal furniture and belongings to make their room feel like home. When visiting The Pines, ask about room sizes, any restrictions on furniture, and whether residents can hang pictures and decorate their space as they wish. A personalised room can make a significant difference to a resident's sense of comfort and identity.
What does a typical day look like for someone living here?
With 12 residents and care tailored to learning disabilities, daily routines at The Pines will be shaped around individual needs. During your visit, observe the lunchtime atmosphere, ask about morning routines and whether residents have flexibility around wake-up times and meal choices, and check what a typical afternoon looks like.
What is the CQC rating for The Pines?
The Pines in Fornham St Mary is rated Good by the Care Quality Commission. The most recent inspection was on 29/07/2025. The home has 12 beds.
How many beds does The Pines have?
The Pines has 12 beds and operates as a residential care home in Fornham St Mary.
Location
View on Google Maps →Helpful Guides for Families
Choosing care is a big step. These guides can help you feel more prepared.
Are you The Pines?
Display your CQC rating on your website. Free — no account needed.
Copy and paste this code into your website:
<a href="https://carehome.page/care-home/the-pines-fornham-st-mary/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" style="display:inline-flex;align-items:center;text-decoration:none;border-radius:8px;overflow:hidden;box-shadow:0 1px 4px rgba(0,0,0,0.18);font-size:13px;line-height:1.2;font-family:-apple-system,BlinkMacSystemFont,'Segoe UI',Roboto,sans-serif;"><div style="background:#1d4ed8;color:white;display:flex;align-items:center;gap:6px;padding:10px 12px;font-weight:600;white-space:nowrap;"><svg width="18" height="18" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none"><circle cx="12" cy="12" r="10" stroke="white" stroke-width="1.5" fill="none"/><path d="M8 12l3 3 5-5" stroke="white" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round"/></svg> CQC Good</div><div style="background:white;color:#1a3557;padding:10px 12px;display:flex;flex-direction:column;gap:1px;"><div style="font-weight:600;color:#1c1917;font-size:12px;">The Pines</div><div style="font-size:10px;color:#78716c;">Verified by <span style="color:#1a3557;font-weight:600;">carehome.page</span></div></div></a>
Other Care Homes in IP28
More from Consensus Support Services Limited
- Leofric Villa Wednesbury · Good
- Kingarth Manchester · Outstanding
- Weston Villa Kettering · Good
Similar Learning disabilities homes
- Sandhurst Court Dewsbury · Good
- Firs Court Chessington · Good
- Hillside Lodge Halstead · Good
Data from the Care Quality Commission, last updated March 2026. View on CQC website → How we use this data