The Firs

Residential Care Home

The Firs is an established residential care home with an outstanding reputation, nestled within 1.5 acres of gardens in a picturesque and tranquil area of East Devon.

We are within walking distance of Budleigh Salterton, a charming seafront town on the Jurassic Coast which has flourished over the years, once a small fishing village with a long and interesting history of smuggling. The pebble beach, lined with quaint multi-coloured beach huts, is breathtaking and just a short journey from our home.

The Firs Residential Home carehome.co.uk Top 20 Care Homes South West England 2026 Winner Badge

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About the Home

Accommodation

All 38 bedrooms at The Firs are private and spacious with en suite facilities. The home has undertaken a recent extension which features all the latest facilities tailored to people living with a dementia-type illness. There are three separate conservatories, including the dining room, as well as additional lounges, providing a selection of relaxation or activity areas for residents to choose from.

Activities

We have a wonderful activities team, made up of Lucy and Anna, who have both been with us for many years and know the residents extremely well. They are devoted to providing a stimulating and diverse activities timetable for the residents. These include arts & crafts, animal therapy, skittles and singalongs, as well as one-to-one sessions with those who are less agile. We also have lots of events throughout the year such as barbecues, seasonal celebrations and themed days. Additionally, we organises regular outings, for example, to the Pavilion for Christmas memories which was thoroughly enjoyed by all.

Cuisine

Nutrition is extremely important when it comes to health and well-being and we recognise this, making sure that the residents are provided with satisfying yet healthy food which is freshly prepared each day by our excellent, long-standing Chef and caters to individual needs and preferences.

Types of Care

Residential Care

Residential care is for older people who are finding it increasingly difficult to manage at home without additional help and support.

Residents will not only be supported with personal care but our devoted staff will take over all the everyday tasks of laundry, cooking, gardening and housekeeping, allowing the residents more time to relax and enjoy themselves in a comfortable and safe environment.

It is our priority to make everything as seamless as possible in the moving process so that your loved one maintains their independence, dignity and identity at all times. Choosing the right care home for a loved one can be an overwhelming task and we will be there to support you throughout the whole process. We encourage friends and family to visit as often as they can and everyone is of course invited to come along to the parties and events we regularly hold for the residents.

At Buckland Care we take time to get to know each resident, tailoring the care we provide to suit each individual person. Our dedicated team is proud of the facilities available to residents, and work hard to ensure they retain as much independence as possible but rest assured, we will be there 24 hours a day should they need us.

Dementia Care

Choosing a care home for someone living with dementia is a major decision. You need to be sure that your loved one will be in an understanding, nurturing environment with professionals who have the experience and knowledge to safely care for them.

At all Buckland Care homes that is exactly what we offer. We do everything we can to make our residents feel at ease, with tailored features for those living with dementia. Every carer is trained to care for dementia patients and our homes have been adapted to aid those living with a dementia-related illness.

Respite Care

Buckland Care homes provide respite care for people who may only require a short stay in a care home. Respite care is an invaluable service for those who care full-time for their loved ones, providing them with a chance to take a break from daily responsibilities.

Some residents use it as a way to trial the home before moving in full term, to see if they will feel settled and at home. The length of time residents stay is flexible and can be anything from a week to a few months. We will work with you and deliver a high level of professional care to all residents no matter how long they are staying with us.

Day Care

In all of our homes at Buckland Care, we offer day care for those who wish to socialise with their peers and be looked after during the day but return to their own home in the evening.

The benefits of this are plentiful: allowing full time carers to rest; socialising with like-minded people and keeping the body and mind active; relieving oneself of the hassle of personal care and home-cooked meal preparation; a simple change of scene. With our welcoming staff on hand all day, individuals can feel safe and secure within our friendly care homes and enjoy a different environment to their own home.

Staff

We are proud of our excellent reputation achieved through the highest standards of residential care and close attention to the social and personal needs of the residents. Our home is led by the people who live at The Firs with no set routines or structures. Many of the faithful staff have worked as part of our dedicated team for over 15 years.

  • Emma Breslan
    Registered Manager

    Emma is a highly experienced care professional with over 25 years in the care sector and joined The Firs in March 2026. She has a strong track record of leadership and has most recently worked as a turnaround manager, supporting homes to achieve significant improvements in quality and performance.
    She has achieved Outstanding CQC ratings and has been recognised as part of a team awarded a place in the UK’s Top 20 Care Homes. Known for her dedication to delivering the highest standards of care, she builds compassionate, motivated teams.
    Living locally in Lympstone, she has strong ties to the community and comes from a proud military family. In her spare time, she enjoys spending quality time with her grandchildren and making the most of family life.

  • Jacky Cooper
    Administrator

    Jacky joined The Firs in July 2025 and brings with her several years of experience in administration and bookkeeping within the care sector. Since arriving, she’s found this to be her most enjoyable and rewarding work environment to date. Outside of work, Jacky treasures time with her rescue Staffy, Mabel, and loves heading off on weekend adventures with her sister and Mabel in their beloved campervan, Vera.

When I visit [my father] I am always impressed by the kindness and cheerfulness shown by the staff. Dad is treated with dignity and respect by a very professional and caring team and I am extremely grateful to them for all that they do to keep him safe, secure and so well looked after.

Dawn Stokes

News & Events

The latest from Facebook

What a lovely Bank Holiday we’ve had!We began our day by taking a wonderful trip down memory lane with our Reminiscence Ball. It was beautiful to see our residents sharing stories, reminiscing about days gone by and enjoying lots of lovely conversations together⚽️✨This afternoon brought even more fun and laughter as our residents enjoyed a lively game of Musical Bingo! There were plenty of familiar tunes, happy singing, smiles and a little friendly competition along the way. It was wonderful to see everyone getting involved and enjoying the music together🎵Moments like these are what make our home so special — sharing memories, making new ones and enjoying each other’s company♥️#Reminiscence #MusicalBingo #FriendlyCompetition #BucklandCare ...
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What a brilliant afternoon! 🎉 Our quiz was a fantastic success with a wonderful turnout, some impressive general knowledge, and plenty of fun and laughter along the way! 🧠#quizafternoon #generalknowledge #greatturnout ...
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💕 What a truly wonderful and heartfelt afternoon we’ve had at our Breast Cancer fundraiser💕Our afternoon was filled with delicious homemade cakes, refreshments, laughter and, most importantly, the warmth of so many wonderful people coming together to support such an important cause🧁We were then treated to a fabulous live performance from the lovely Mawgan Stott Vocals, who had us all singing along, tapping our toes and, before long, taking to the dance floor for a good old boogie! 🎶💃 What a special atmosphere she created — it was impossible not to smile!A huge well done to Remy, who correctly guessed the weight of the cake and took home the prize! 🎂👏Most of all, thank you from the bottom of our hearts to everyone who came along, donated, helped, danced and supported us this afternoon. Your generosity and kindness will help make a real difference in the fight against breast cancer💕🎀It was a beautiful reminder of what can be achieved when we come together as a community. Thank you for helping us make the afternoon so special🌸#BreastCancerFundraiser #MakingMemories #LiveMusic #GoodTimesTogether ...
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🎉 HELP US CELEBRATE 100 YEARS OF DOTTY 🎉On 24th September, our wonderful Dotty will be reaching an incredible milestone — 100 years young! 💕We’d love to make her 100th birthday extra special with a little community birthday card challenge🎂💌We are asking our wonderful community, and anyone who would like to join in, to help us surprise Dotty by sending her a birthday card. Imagine her delight as the cards arrive and she sees just how many people are thinking of her on her very special birthday! 🥰If you would like to send Dotty a card, please address it to:💌 Dotty 100The Firs Residential Home33 West HillBudleigh SaltertonDevonEX9 6AELet’s come together and fill Dotty’s birthday with love, kindness and 100 years of happy memories! ❤️🎈Let’s show Dotty just how much our community cares and help make her 100th birthday one she’ll never forget!Please share this post and help us spread the word! 💕 ...
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Another busy morning baking!👩‍🍳🍰 ...
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Contact

Please do not hesitate to get in touch, we'd love to hear from you.

Phone:
01395 443394

Email:

thefirs@bucklandcare.co.uk

Address:
33 West Hill, Budleigh Salterton, Devon EX9 6AE

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      The Firs, 33 West Hill, Budleigh Salterton EX9 6AE, UK

      Buckland Care
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