Somerleigh Court

Somerleigh Road, Dorchester, Dorset, DT1 1AQ

01305259882

Care Type

Nursing Care

Inspection date

14 February 2022

Provider

Somerleigh Court Ltd

Beds

40 beds

About Somerleigh Court

Somerleigh Court is a nursing home in Dorchester, Dorset, providing care for older people including those living with dementia. Details of the CQC's most recent findings are set out below.

Somerleigh Court is a purpose-built nursing home in Dorchester accommodating up to 40 older people, including a specialist dementia unit. Rooms are arranged over three floors with communal lounges and dining areas on each level, along with lift access and a secure garden space. The home also operates a domiciliary care agency called Close Care from the same location.

Staff are kind and know residents well, with people and relatives reporting high satisfaction with care. One resident said, "I'm looked after very well, and I get on with the staff," while a relative noted, "Dad's been here for six years and I can't fault the care. I've been able to visit whenever I need to.

" The service assesses and manages risks related to eating and drinking, supporting residents according to their individual risk management plans. While feedback on food quality was mixed, a newly appointed catering manager is planning to review mealtime experiences. Staff are clear about their roles and understand what residents need from them.

Source: CQC inspection report, 16 March 2022

Specialist Care

DementiaOlder people

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 21 September 2026. This is a check of published information, not a visit to the home.

Registered service: Care home service with nursing; Domiciliary care service
Registered capacity: 40 places — this is not a vacancy count
Registration checked: Registered · DT1 1AQ

Registered care categories

Caring for adults over 65 yrs; Dementia.

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 2 April 2020. Latest inspection date recorded: 14 February 2022.

Safe: Good
Effective: Good
Caring: Good
Responsive: Good
Well-led: Good

Read Somerleigh Court'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 Somerleigh Court, 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 Somerleigh Court, 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 Somerleigh Court'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