Care homes · Dorset
Care homes in Dorchester
There are 13 care homes in Dorchester on the CQC register, 509 beds in all; 12 different providers run them. The biggest provider here is Gingerbread Care Limited (2). 100% of the 13 rated by CQC are Good or Outstanding, compared with 94% across Dorset and 83% across England. Expect to pay in Dorchester about £1,530 a week for residential care and £1,690 for nursing careestimated. 4 care homes have not been rated for more than four years. CQC's latest rating here went to Somerleigh Court: Good, on 12 October 2026.
Source: CQC register · Updated 27 October 2026 · Open Government Licence
In short
- We check for new CQC ratings in Dorset daily: see the latest changes.
- For dementia support, 10 have it on their CQC registration; nursing care is provided by 3.
- Whatever your savings, Dorset council will assess care needs for free.
To cite: "Care homes in Dorchester", The Care Panel, Oct 2026, from CQC register analysis.
- 13CQC-registered care homes
- 100%of those rated are Good or Outstanding
- 3have nursing care
- 7rated or inspected within two years
| Care | Dorchester | South West | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Residential care, a week | £1,530 | £1,450 | £1,400 |
| Nursing care, a week | £1,690 | £1,690 | £1,640 |
Dorchester care homes, ranked
Sorted on CQC rating and its date, with distance used last. How we rank
Best rated care homes in Dorchester →
Care home vacancies in Dorchester → Respite and short stays →
- All 13
- Elderly care · 13
- Dementia care · 10
- Residential care · 10
- Care for adults under 65 · 7
- Physical disability care · 6
- Mental health care · 4
- Sensory impairment care · 4
- Nursing care · 3
Maiden Castle House
What inspectors found: The service provides residential care for older people, some of whom are living with dementia.
Est. £1.37k–£1.68k/wk
Glencairn Residential Home
What inspectors found: We had previously reviewed the warning notices in June 2024 and at that time not enough improvements had been made.
Est. £1.37k–£1.68k/wk
Somerleigh Court
What inspectors found: Medicines were not always safely stored and administered.
Est. £1.52k–£1.86k/wk
Cheriton Care Home
What inspectors found: At the time of assessment, the home was supporting 67 people.
Est. £1.37k–£1.68k/wk
Montrose Care Home
What inspectors found: The service provides support to older people, some of whom live with dementia, other mental health needs or a physical disability.
Est. £1.37k–£1.68k/wk
Wolfeton Manor
What inspectors found: There was some Inconsistency in recording which meant potential risks to people were not always well managed, the manager took immediate action to rectify…
Est. £1.3k–£1.59k/wk
Selwood House Care Home
What inspectors found: We visited the service to inspect on 2 and 4 September 2025.
Est. £1.37k–£1.68k/wk
Signature House
What inspectors found: People lived in a service run by a responsive provider.
Est. £1.52k–£1.86k/wk
Culliford House
What inspectors found: People felt safe and were comfortable and relaxed with staff who supported them.
Est. £1.37k–£1.68k/wk
Park House
What inspectors found: We undertook an assessment of Park House between 15 May and 20 May 2024 as the service was found to be in breach of…
Est. £1.37k–£1.68k/wk
Castle View
What inspectors found: The inspection took place on 20 and 22 November 2018 and was unannounced.
Est. £1.52k–£1.86k/wk
Encompass Care Respite Accommodation and Outreach Service
What inspectors found: The home is on two floors and is close to the town centre.
Est. £1.3k–£1.59k/wk
Grassington House
What inspectors found: There are three floors with the first floor having access via stairs or a lift, access to the third floor is by stairs or…
Est. £1.37k–£1.68k/wk
How much care homes charge in Dorchester
| Residential care home | £1,445 a week |
|---|---|
| Nursing home | £1,690 a week |
Dorset Council's own rates: £27.67 an hour for home care (2025/26 average paid to agencies); £1,156.40 a week for residential care (2025/26 average, over-65s); £1,183.10 a week for nursing care (2025/26 average, over-65s) (source). Choosing a provider that charges more usually means paying the difference as a top-up.
These are averages over a wide spread of prices, which move with the type of room, how much help is needed and any nursing. Councils tend to pay less than private payers for an identical room. Source: The Care Panel regional fee benchmarks, October 2026 (how we estimate). For a firm figure, request prices from providers here; for a rough one, use our weekly cost calculator.
Council support
Dorset
Dorset council assesses care needs free of charge regardless of savings, and may contribute when savings are below £23,250.
Dementia care homes in Dorchester
10 of the 13 care homes in Dorchester are registered with CQC to support people living with dementia, and 10 of those are rated Good or Outstanding. Compare the 10 registered for dementia.
What the numbers say about Dorchester
Registered specialisms here: 6 of 13 list physical disabilities, 2 of 13 list learning disabilities and 4 of 13 list mental health conditions. Dorset has 6 Outstanding care homes, none of them in Dorchester. Most recent to register: Selwood House Care Home (October 2023). 3 of the 13 homes (23%) provide nursing care, against 28% across Dorset. Counting all listed care homes, not only rated ones, Dorchester ranks first of 7 local towns for Good or Outstanding ratings (100%), with Bridport second (100%). Across Dorset, 39% of care homes have a rating under two years old; in Dorchester it is 54%. Oldest rating on the list: Encompass Care Respite Accommodation and Outreach Service, June 2018. Typical size: 31 beds across Dorset, 39 on average in Dorchester. Across Dorset we list 94 care homes, and 94% of those rated are Good or Outstanding; in Dorchester the figure is 100%.
Providers behind the care homes in Dorchester
- Gingerbread Care Limited 2 in this list
- Care South 1 in this list
- Welford Healthcare 1 in this list
- Agincare 1 in this list
- Country Court Care 1 in this list
- Amica Care Trust 1 in this list
- Colten Care 1 in this list
- Encompass Care Organisation UK 1 in this list
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Print it before visiting: three columns, 40 questions on care, staffing, rooms, costs and the contract.
Latest CQC ratings
Ratings CQC published most recently, for care homes in Dorchester.
Dorchester and the towns around it
| Place | How far | Care homes | Rated Good or Outstanding |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dorchester | – | 13 | 13 |
| Chickerell | 6.6 mi | 4 | 3 |
| Weymouth | 6.8 mi | 17 | 15 |
| Bridport | 13.5 mi | 4 | 4 |
| Blandford Forum | 16.2 mi | 5 | 4 |
| Sturminster Newton | 16.2 mi | 3 | 3 |
Free · by email
Free care cost report for Dorchester
- Typical local prices for care homes and nursing homes
- What the council and the NHS may pay, with the 2026/27 savings limits
- The best-rated services near you, from the CQC register
Common questions about care homes in Dorchester
How many care homes are there in Dorchester?
Dorchester has 13 care homes on the CQC register (Oct 2026). Of these, 3 provide nursing care and 10 support people living with dementia. Highly rated options include Maiden Castle House, Glencairn Residential Home and Somerleigh Court.
Are care homes in Dorchester well rated?
Good or Outstanding: 13 (100%) of the 13 rated.
How much does a care home cost in Dorchester?
Average fees paid by self-funders in South West in 2026: residential care home £1,445 a week; nursing home £1,690 a week. These are averages over a wide spread of prices, which move with the type of room, how much help is needed and any nursing. Councils tend to pay less than private payers for an identical room. Source: The Care Panel regional fee benchmarks, October 2026 (how we estimate). See our full cost guide.
Will I get help from Dorset council with the cost of a care home?
For residents who qualify, the NHS pays towards nursing through NHS-funded nursing care, and the council may help with fees. Under the Care Act 2014, Dorset council has to offer a needs assessment at no cost. For the means test, a home is usually counted for care home fees unless it is still home to a partner or certain relatives (and not in the first 12 weeks of a permanent stay); in England the threshold is £23,250. How to reach Dorset council.
How should I compare care homes in Dorchester?
Start with the latest CQC report and its date: 7 of the 13 listed here were inspected or rated in the last two years, and 6 have an older report. Then ask about continuity of staff, how they handle missed care, and the full price before you sign. See the checklist.
How do nearby towns compare with Dorchester for care homes?
Counting care homes: Dorchester 13 (13 Good or Outstanding); Chickerell (6.6 miles): 4, 3 rated Good or Outstanding; Weymouth (6.8 miles): 17, 15 rated Good or Outstanding; Bridport (13.5 miles): 4, 4 rated Good or Outstanding.
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Nearby: care homes around Dorchester
- Care homes in Chickerell 6.6 mi
- Care homes in Weymouth 6.8 mi
- Care homes in Bridport 13.5 mi
- Care homes in Blandford Forum 16.2 mi
- Care homes in Sturminster Newton 16.2 mi
- Care homes in Sherborne 16.7 mi
- Care homes in Upton 18.4 mi
- Care homes in Yeovil 18.4 mi
More for Dorchester, plus guides
- Help paying for care in Dorset
- Best rated care homes in Dorset
- Nursing homes in Dorset
- Care home fees across England, 2026: regional and council averages
- Dorset's Outstanding-rated services (2026)
- Home care in Dorchester (26)
- CQC ratings explained
- NHS-funded nursing care explained
- Signs it may be time for a care home
- Home care or a care home?
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Register information from CQC as at Oct 2026; Open Government Licence v3.0 applies. We do not deliver care ourselves.