Supported Living in Dorchester: 4 CQC-Registered Providers (Oct 2026)

Supported living in Dorchester: providers ranked

Highest CQC rating first; ties go to the more recent rating, then the nearer provider. How the list is ordered

#	Agency	CQC rating	Last rated	Office	Other specialisms
1	Employ My Ability (EMA)	Good	Jun 2023	under 0.5 miles	4
2	Shauna Health Care Service Solutions Limited	Good	Aug 2023	0.6 miles	8
3	iDirect - West Dorset	Outstanding	Apr 2020	1.0 miles	8
4	Birch Social Limited	Not yet rated	–	6.5 miles	5

All agencies covering Dorchester with a CQC registration for supported living. Order: rating, then how recent it is, with distance from the centre used last.

Supported living in Dorchester: ratings, size and cost

Registered for supported living: 4 out of 26 agencies covering Dorchester (15%). Their Good or Outstanding share is 100%, in line with the town-wide 100% and above the 90% for supported living across England.

The highest rated agencies for supported living are Employ My Ability (EMA), Shauna Health Care Service Solutions Limited and iDirect - West Dorset. Ratings run from April 2020 to August 2023, and 1 is from the last two years. 3 have an office within 2 miles of Dorchester centre. 1 has no rating yet; new registrations usually wait for a first inspection.

Dorset as a whole has 15 agencies registered for supported living; 100% of the rated ones are Good or Outstanding. Across Dorset, 17% of agencies are registered for supported living, against 15% here.

Visiting home care in the South West typically costs about £33.50 an hour on weekdays (more at evenings and weekends); live-in care is around £1,610 a week. Our cost method.

Where else nearby offers supported living

Nearby town	Distance	Total	Good or Outstanding
Dorchester	–	4	3
Weymouth	6.8 mi	8	6
Sherborne	16.7 mi	10	6
Upton	18.4 mi	17	12
Yeovil	18.4 mi	9	6
Corfe Mullen	19.2 mi	17	13
Poole	21.4 mi	30	19

Council help

Dorset

Savings under £23,250? Dorset council may help with the cost, and its care needs assessment is free for everyone.

How to ask for an assessment, paying for care and direct payments in Dorset

Free · by email

Free care cost report for Dorchester

Typical local prices for home care, overnight and live-in care
What the council and the NHS may pay, with the 2026/27 savings limits
The best-rated services near you, from the CQC register

Supported living in Dorchester: your questions answered

Which home care agencies in Dorchester offer supported living?

4 of the 26 CQC-registered agencies that have an office within 7 miles of Dorchester list supported living as a specialism (CQC register, Oct 2026). Among the highest rated are Employ My Ability (EMA), Shauna Health Care Service Solutions Limited and iDirect - West Dorset.

Are home care agencies in Dorchester well rated?

Good or Outstanding: 3 (100%) of the 3 rated, including 1 Outstanding. 1 is awaiting a first rating, as is usual for new registrations.

How much does home care cost in Dorchester?

Prices typically seen across England in 2026: visiting care around £32–£34 an hour; live-in care around £1,540–£1,610 a week. The gap between agencies is bigger than the gap between regions. Ask for prices in writing, and check what weekends and bank holidays cost. Homecare Association figure for 2026/27: a sustainable council rate for home care in England starts at £34.42 an hour. Source: Lottie Care Index, Q3 2026. Our cost guide has more detail.

Will I get help from Dorset council with the cost of home care?

Possibly. Under the Care Act 2014, Dorset council has a duty to assess, free of charge, anyone who seems to need care and support. After a means test, the council may pay towards care when savings and investments total less than £23,250, depending on income; your home's value is ignored for care at home. Attendance Allowance does not depend on savings or income. Contacting Dorset council.

How should I compare agencies in Dorchester?

Start with the latest CQC report and its date: 1 of the 4 listed here was inspected or rated in the last two years, while 2 have older reports. Then ask about continuity of staff, how they handle missed visits, and the full price before you sign. Our checklist.

How do nearby towns compare with Dorchester for supported living?

Counting supported living: Dorchester 4 (3 Good or Outstanding); Weymouth (6.8 miles): 8, 6 rated Good or Outstanding; Sherborne (16.7 miles): 10, 6 rated Good or Outstanding; Upton (18.4 miles): 17, 12 rated Good or Outstanding.