ABOUT US
Place Farm House began life as a care home in 1992 with just two bedrooms with the previous owner living on site and caring for the residents in her own home. The home was brought by the Bown family in 2016 and their experience and dedication to want the best for the elderly has helped lead Place Farm to what it is today.
Place Farm House pride itself on providing the very best care and service to our residents. The home is family run and this brings a close connection and empathy to the day-to-day running of the home. We take the approach that Place Farm House is the residents home and are treated how we would want our own family members to be treated.
It is also made possible by our team of outstanding staff, led by Karen Reid the Registered Manager. By taking a person-centred approach with each resident, our staff personally get to know each individual, understanding their needs and personalities to ultimately assist them in leading their lives as they wish.
Meet the Manager - Karen Reid
Karen initially joined Place Farm as the Deputy Manager in 2017 and then became the Registered Manager in 2019. Karen has worked in care since she left school and it has always been her passion to help and care for others. She previously worked as a Deputy Manager in a Dementia Nursing Home in Brighton and prior to this, as an activities co-ordinator. Karen completed her level 5 in Leadership Management & Health and Social in 2017.
Karen has developed Place Farm's service to ensure it provides intimate care to our residents which they can enjoy in a relaxing environment. Karen has been integral to ongoing success of Place Farm during the disruptive COVID pandemic as well as the extensive development of the building and grounds.
Meet the Proprietors - Lizzie & Andy Bown
The family business originally started with the purchase of Abbey Lodge in Hythe in 1996, with Liz running the home with her husband Neil & the family living in the flat above the home. This has given both Liz & Andy a unique depth of experience and insight caring for the elderly and this is manifest in the running of Place Farm House. Liz also has her own mother living at their Worthing Residential Home, The Shelley (www.theshelley.com), which provides a unique insight from a relative viewpoint.
Having since retired and sold Abbey Lodge, Liz takes keen interest in supporting Andy who oversees the running of Place Farm House and is the Registered Manager. After growing up around Abbey Lodge, Andy sought his own healthcare career, initially training as a Registered Nurse and working in Post operative care. Andy’s wider management experience developed managing NHS contracts and then more latterly as an Account Manager for BMI Healthcare.
Liz & Andy strongly believe in providing a fulfilling and tranquil setting where the elderly can enjoy their lives, in a person centred way.
Place Farm House team
- New modern interiors and newly furnished bedrooms with ensuite showers.
- An outstanding, professional team with identifiable values which strengthens our desire to provide the best for our residents.
- Hairdressing, Chiropody and Newspapers all included within the fees.
- Electronic care system which allows you to stay in touch with your loved one's care.
- Home cooked delicious food choices.
- Fun daily activities and minibus outings
2025 award for being in the top 20 group care homes
Place Farm organically grew from a 2 bed care home in the early 1990’s to a 19 bed home by the point the home was purchased by Mr & Mrs Bown in September 2016. It was a patchwork of adjoining mini structures within the wider building which incorporated the previous barn and created a unique character to Place Farm.
It was the small conservatory Dining Room, which soon after buying Place Farm, started the conversation between Liz and Andy about how to improve & extend the care home. They began working with Anthonia at Tap Architecture in late 2017 who was keen to take the project on. The aims of the project were to create a modern multi-purpose communal space, which enhanced natural light and improved the lives of residents. It also looked to address the patchwork nature of the adjoining building.
A modern and forward thinking design was eventually agreed upon with Anthonia and planning permission was granted in December 2018. After appointing CBG as building contractors to take on the 18 month project, a start date of May 2020 was set. However, COVID 19 suspended the project start date due to the unprecedented nature of the pandemic. This had a major impact on Place Farm and consumed the daily operations of the home and keeping the residents safe.
With the pandemic settling down, the project was eventually commenced on 9th May 2022 with the demolition of the conservatory. It was a momentous point for Place Farm and the aim was to have the extension project completed by August 2023! Inside, residents continued to have use of the existing lounge and a bedroom was made into a temporary Dining Room.
The project was initially slow-going due to complexities with the steel structure and changes to the design. During the opening up of the existing roof in early 2023, it was found that parts of the timber frame were defective and the simplest solution was to re-build the roof and the floor joists. This opened up the inside of the building and gave some unique perspectives and photo opportunities.
The summer of 2023, also saw the start of the restoration to the existing building. The extension brought a unique opportunity to renovate the wider building, which was sorely needed after a century of deterioration. The roof was eventually replaced & 51 solar panels installed across the whole site. The fascia tiles were removed with well insulated layers of render fitted in its place. In addition, all the windows were replaced. The works were eventually completed in January 2024.
As the extension progressed during the second half of 2023, some features of the new extension were being installed to enhance the ambience of the interiors. The glass has a special feature which maximises light but blocks the sun’s heat, keeping the building cooler. The European Oak stairs were designed appear floating and accentuate the lighting from under each tread.
In February 2024, the building was finally signed off by building control and the first residents began to move into the new rooms. This was a special moment which had been a long time in the making and everyone began to enjoy their new surroundings.
The landscaping was originally planned to be renovated as part of the building project, however in late 2023, Liz & Andy consulted Langlea Landscaping to design the new grounds. The aim was to create a beautiful & accessible garden for the elderly, which complimented the new extension and maximised light into the building.
Building work began in August 2024 on the back garden & moved to the front in October 2024. To improve light into the building, the Leylandii to the western edge of the property were removed, as well as the trees at the front. During the excavations of the front garden, old ceramic horse medicine bottles were dug up, presumably used to care for horses on the site. In April 2025, the grounds were completed, with the new boundary wall and gate completed in June 2025.
The phrases "technology" and "care home" may seem counter-intuitive but we very much strive to run the home with technology and a “paperless” approach. It not only free's up time for our staff to spend with the residents but enhances the morale and motivation of our staff who are key to high level of care and commitment needed in a demanding role. We use an online care system which gives our carers the flexibility to provide bespoke care to the residents at their bedside, rather than having to rely on paper care records which are bulky and sometimes poorly maintained.
To find out more about the technology which we use in our home please contact us
Place Farm House to regulated by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) who are the national inspectorate body in the United Kingdom. We are regularly inspected against their 5 key questions. You can view our current and past inspections (from September 2016 onwards) below.
Place Farm House CQC rating
Place Farm House began life as a care home in 1992 with just two bedrooms with the previous owner living on site and caring for the residents in her own home. The home was brought by the Bown family in 2016 and their experience and dedication to want the best for the elderly has helped lead Place Farm to what it is today.
Place Farm House pride itself on providing the very best care and service to our residents. The home is family run and this brings a close connection and empathy to the day-to-day running of the home. We take the approach that Place Farm House is the residents home and are treated how we would want our own family members to be treated.
It is also made possible by our team of outstanding staff, led by Karen Reid the Registered Manager. By taking a person-centred approach with each resident, our staff personally get to know each individual, understanding their needs and personalities to ultimately assist them in leading their lives as they wish.
Meet the Manager - Karen Reid
Karen initially joined Place Farm as the Deputy Manager in 2017 and then became the Registered Manager in 2019. Karen has worked in care since she left school and it has always been her passion to help and care for others. She previously worked as a Deputy Manager in a Dementia Nursing Home in Brighton and prior to this, as an activities co-ordinator. Karen completed her level 5 in Leadership Management & Health and Social in 2017.
Karen has developed Place Farm's service to ensure it provides intimate care to our residents which they can enjoy in a relaxing environment. Karen has been integral to ongoing success of Place Farm during the disruptive COVID pandemic as well as the extensive development of the building and grounds.
Meet the Proprietors - Lizzie & Andy Bown
The family business originally started with the purchase of Abbey Lodge in Hythe in 1996, with Liz running the home with her husband Neil & the family living in the flat above the home. This has given both Liz & Andy a unique depth of experience and insight caring for the elderly and this is manifest in the running of Place Farm House. Liz also has her own mother living at their Worthing Residential Home, The Shelley (www.theshelley.com), which provides a unique insight from a relative viewpoint.
Having since retired and sold Abbey Lodge, Liz takes keen interest in supporting Andy who oversees the running of Place Farm House and is the Registered Manager. After growing up around Abbey Lodge, Andy sought his own healthcare career, initially training as a Registered Nurse and working in Post operative care. Andy’s wider management experience developed managing NHS contracts and then more latterly as an Account Manager for BMI Healthcare.
Liz & Andy strongly believe in providing a fulfilling and tranquil setting where the elderly can enjoy their lives, in a person centred way.
Place Farm House team
- New modern interiors and newly furnished bedrooms with ensuite showers.
- An outstanding, professional team with identifiable values which strengthens our desire to provide the best for our residents.
- Hairdressing, Chiropody and Newspapers all included within the fees.
- Electronic care system which allows you to stay in touch with your loved one's care.
- Home cooked delicious food choices.
- Fun daily activities and minibus outings
2025 award for being in the top 20 group care homes
Place Farm organically grew from a 2 bed care home in the early 1990’s to a 19 bed home by the point the home was purchased by Mr & Mrs Bown in September 2016. It was a patchwork of adjoining mini structures within the wider building which incorporated the previous barn and created a unique character to Place Farm.
It was the small conservatory Dining Room, which soon after buying Place Farm, started the conversation between Liz and Andy about how to improve & extend the care home. They began working with Anthonia at Tap Architecture in late 2017 who was keen to take the project on. The aims of the project were to create a modern multi-purpose communal space, which enhanced natural light and improved the lives of residents. It also looked to address the patchwork nature of the adjoining building.
A modern and forward thinking design was eventually agreed upon with Anthonia and planning permission was granted in December 2018. After appointing CBG as building contractors to take on the 18 month project, a start date of May 2020 was set. However, COVID 19 suspended the project start date due to the unprecedented nature of the pandemic. This had a major impact on Place Farm and consumed the daily operations of the home and keeping the residents safe.
With the pandemic settling down, the project was eventually commenced on 9th May 2022 with the demolition of the conservatory. It was a momentous point for Place Farm and the aim was to have the extension project completed by August 2023! Inside, residents continued to have use of the existing lounge and a bedroom was made into a temporary Dining Room.
The project was initially slow-going due to complexities with the steel structure and changes to the design. During the opening up of the existing roof in early 2023, it was found that parts of the timber frame were defective and the simplest solution was to re-build the roof and the floor joists. This opened up the inside of the building and gave some unique perspectives and photo opportunities.
The summer of 2023, also saw the start of the restoration to the existing building. The extension brought a unique opportunity to renovate the wider building, which was sorely needed after a century of deterioration. The roof was eventually replaced & 51 solar panels installed across the whole site. The fascia tiles were removed with well insulated layers of render fitted in its place. In addition, all the windows were replaced. The works were eventually completed in January 2024.
As the extension progressed during the second half of 2023, some features of the new extension were being installed to enhance the ambience of the interiors. The glass has a special feature which maximises light but blocks the sun’s heat, keeping the building cooler. The European Oak stairs were designed appear floating and accentuate the lighting from under each tread.
In February 2024, the building was finally signed off by building control and the first residents began to move into the new rooms. This was a special moment which had been a long time in the making and everyone began to enjoy their new surroundings.
The landscaping was originally planned to be renovated as part of the building project, however in late 2023, Liz & Andy consulted Langlea Landscaping to design the new grounds. The aim was to create a beautiful & accessible garden for the elderly, which complimented the new extension and maximised light into the building.
Building work began in August 2024 on the back garden & moved to the front in October 2024. To improve light into the building, the Leylandii to the western edge of the property were removed, as well as the trees at the front. During the excavations of the front garden, old ceramic horse medicine bottles were dug up, presumably used to care for horses on the site. In April 2025, the grounds were completed, with the new boundary wall and gate completed in June 2025.
covid secure residential care home
The phrases "technology" and "care home" may seem counter-intuitive but we very much strive to run the home with technology and a “paperless” approach. It not only free's up time for our staff to spend with the residents but enhances the morale and motivation of our staff who are key to high level of care and commitment needed in a demanding role. We use an online care system which gives our carers the flexibility to provide bespoke care to the residents at their bedside, rather than having to rely on paper care records which are bulky and sometimes poorly maintained.
To find out more about the technology which we use in our home please contact us
Place Farm House to regulated by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) who are the national inspectorate body in the United Kingdom. We are regularly inspected against their 5 key questions. You can view our current and past inspections (from September 2016 onwards) below.
Place Farm House CQC rating