England

Rated:GoodResidential

Dorset House

Coles Avenue, Hamworthy, Poole, Dorset, BH15 4HL

01202672427

Care Type

Residential Care

Inspection date

9 August 2022

Provider

Care South

Beds

52 beds

How this home compares nearby

Of 31 care homes for older people within 5 miles, 3 are rated higher by CQC, 28 are the same and none are lower.

20 of these nearby homes have been inspected more recently than this one.

Based on CQC ratings, updated 22 October 2026. How we compare homes | See the nearby homes

Rating history

GoodSept 2015
GoodSept 2016
GoodJun 2018
Requires ImprovementJan 2019
GoodFeb 2020
GoodSept 2022

Improved from Requires Improvement to Good in 2020. CQC has rated this home 6 times since 2015.

Source: CQC inspection reports. Contains CQC data licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

Costs and who runs this home

Run by Care South, which runs 14 care homes in England: 14 rated Good.

Average care home fees in the South West: £1,170 a week for residential care and £1,472 for nursing care (2024-25 averages). Self-funders usually pay more. See our care home costs guide.

This home lists dementia care, which usually costs more than standard residential care. See dementia care home costs. NHS Continuing Healthcare may apply where someone's needs are primarily health needs.
How to pay for a care home explains the council means test, what counts as capital and the funding you can ask to be assessed for.

About Dorset House

Dorset House is a residential care home in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole, providing personal care for older people, some of whom live with dementia. Details of the most recent CQC inspection are set out below.

Dorset House provides personal care and support to up to 52 older people, some living with dementia. At inspection, 36 people were residing at the home. People, their relatives and staff described it as a safe place.

Staff were caring and responsive to residents' needs, with risks properly assessed and managed through safe working practices. Equipment was well maintained and the home had robust fire safety procedures in place.

Staff demonstrated good training and awareness of safeguarding. They understood how to identify and respond to potential concerns, ensuring vulnerable residents received appropriate protection.

Source: CQC inspection report, 1 September 2022

Specialist Care

DementiaOlder peoplePhysical disabilitiesSensory impairmentsYounger adults

Facilities & Amenities

Activities Programme

Photographs of the home

Practical details from the provider

The garden has wide, level paths, raised flower beds and seating areas.
The home has furnished bedrooms, lounges, dining areas and a hair and beauty salon.

Published on the provider's website, checked 20 September 2026. Confirm arrangements with the home before deciding.

Fees and availability

We have not verified a current weekly fee for this home. Ask for a written quote based on the room and care needed, including any extra charges.

Check current vacancies, the admission assessment and visiting arrangements directly with the home.

Care and inspection details

Checked against the CQC register on 20 September 2026. This is a check of published information, not a visit to the home.

Registered service: Care home service without nursing
Registered capacity: 52 places — this is not a vacancy count
Registration checked: Registered · BH15 4HL

Registered care categories

Caring for adults over 65 yrs; Caring for adults under 65 yrs; Dementia; Physical disabilities; Sensory impairment.

These describe the registration. The home must assess whether it can meet the individual person's needs and whether a place is available.

CQC ratings in more detail

Overall rating shown by CQC: Good.

Rating report published 1 September 2022. Latest inspection date recorded: 9 August 2022.

Safe: Good
EffectivePublished 14 February 2020: Good
CaringPublished 14 February 2020: Good
ResponsivePublished 14 February 2020: Good
Well-led: Good

Read Dorset House's CQC record and reports.

Contains Care Quality Commission information under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Ratings and registration details can change after the date checked.

5 Questions to Ask on Your Visit

When visiting Dorset House, consider asking...

1.What specific dementia training do staff receive and how recently?
2.How do you support a resident who becomes distressed or confused?
3.How does the home keep a record of a resident's life history and personal preferences?
4.How do you involve families as dementia progresses and communication becomes harder?
5.What happens when a resident's dementia reaches an advanced stage?

5 Things to Look For on Your Visit

When you visit Dorset House, look out for...

1.Is the environment calm, uncluttered and easy to navigate?
2.Do staff speak to residents with patience and dignity, even if they repeat themselves?
3.Are there memory cues around the home -- photos, familiar objects, clear signage?
4.Do residents seem settled and safe, or agitated and unsupervised?
5.Is there meaningful activity happening, or are residents just sitting quietly with nothing to do?

Could the NHS fund Dorset House's fees?

The average nursing home costs £1,535 per week. That's £79,820 a year. NHS Continuing Healthcare could cover all of it. No means test, no contribution from you.

Find out if the NHS could fund these fees