
he and I were cared for and treated with dignity and gentleness.Joyce B(Wife of Resident/Service User)

We recommend Blackbrook House to anyone seeking care for a loved one.Laureen W(Daughter of Resident/Service User)

Eating collectively has been amazing for her and she loves her food and has gained weight.Karen C(Daughter-in-law of Resident/Service User)

he and I were cared for and treated with dignity and gentleness.Joyce B(Wife of Resident/Service User)

We recommend Blackbrook House to anyone seeking care for a loved one.Laureen W(Daughter of Resident/Service User)

Eating collectively has been amazing for her and she loves her food and has gained weight.Karen C(Daughter-in-law of Resident/Service User)

Blackbrook House in Dedham is situated in an area of outstanding natural beauty on the Essex-Suffolk border. The home provides residential and dementia care for up to 55 residents in comfortable ensuite rooms and continues to welcome new residents. Blackbrook House supports trial stays and shorter stays as well as permanent care.
The home ensures each individual’s health and care needs are continually met by working closely with customers and...
Care Provided by Blackbrook House
Primary Care Categories
- Older Person Care
- Dementia
Length of Stay
- Permanent Care
- Respite Care
Care Types Provided
- Residential Care
- Dementia Residential Care
- For a maximum of 55 Service Users
Dementia Care TypesMild Dementia
Someone living with our definition of "mild dementia" might experience some or all of the following:
- Memory problems such as misplacing items and not be able to recall recent events (however, in some forms of dementia a person's memory may be unchanged)
- Difficulties thinking through problems and planning, making decisions
- Language and communication issues such as finding it difficult to recall the appropriate word in a conversation or following a conversation
- Poor orientation, getting lost in areas previously familiar to them
- Difficulty judging distances (more falls than usual)
- Changes in their normal mood including anxiety and depression
- In certain types of dementia, personality and behaviour changes may be present alongside or instead of issues with memory or concentration.
Moderate Dementia
Someone living with our definition of "moderate dementia" might experience some or all of the following:
- Worsened memory problems. Not always recognising own family members and friends. Repeating the same questions over and over again
- Worsened language and communication issues, forgetting what they are saying mid-sentence. Not being able to understand what someone else is saying
- More frequent confusion, e.g. about the time of day or where they are, including their own home
- Apathy, depression and anxiety
- Believing things that aren't true (paranoia)
- Frequent hallucinations
- Lack of emotional control, quick to anger, fearfulness, sadness
- Loss of inhibition
- Difficulties sleeping or waking during the night and behaving as though it is daytime - loss of circadian rhythm.
Advanced Dementia
Someone living with our definition of "severe dementia" might experience some or all of the following:
- Severe memory problems. Not recognising family members and friends. Not being able to recall their own name
- Severe language and communication issues, not being able to understand what someone else is saying
- Severe confusion, e.g. about the time of day or where they are, including their own home
- Apathy, depression and anxiety
- Believing things that aren't true (paranoia)
- Frequent hallucinations
- Lack of emotional control, quick to anger, fearfulness, sadness
- Loss of inhibition
- Difficulties sleeping or waking during the night and behaving as though it is daytime - loss of circadian rhythm.
Verbally or physically aggressive behaviour
If your loved one displays this type of behaviour you may need a care home that has specially trained staff. Verbal/physical aggression is often defined:
- Consistent shouting and screaming
- Verbal abuse
- Physical abuse
How we define Dementia Care Types
Mild Dementia
Someone living with our definition of "mild dementia" might experience some or all of the following:
- Memory problems such as misplacing items and not be able to recall recent events (however, in some forms of dementia a person's memory may be unchanged)
- Difficulties thinking through problems and planning, making decisions
- Language and communication issues such as finding it difficult to recall the appropriate word in a conversation or following a conversation
- Poor orientation, getting lost in areas previously familiar to them
- Difficulty judging distances (more falls than usual)
- Changes in their normal mood including anxiety and depression
- In certain types of dementia, personality and behaviour changes may be present alongside or instead of issues with memory or concentration.
Moderate Dementia
Someone living with our definition of "moderate dementia" might experience some or all of the following:
- Worsened memory problems. Not always recognising own family members and friends. Repeating the same questions over and over again
- Worsened language and communication issues, forgetting what they are saying mid-sentence. Not being able to understand what someone else is saying
- More frequent confusion, e.g. about the time of day or where they are, including their own home
- Apathy, depression and anxiety
- Believing things that aren't true (paranoia)
- Frequent hallucinations
- Lack of emotional control, quick to anger, fearfulness, sadness
- Loss of inhibition
- Difficulties sleeping or waking during the night and behaving as though it is daytime - loss of circadian rhythm.
Advanced Dementia
Someone living with our definition of "severe dementia" might experience some or all of the following:
- Severe memory problems. Not recognising family members and friends. Not being able to recall their own name
- Severe language and communication issues, not being able to understand what someone else is saying
- Severe confusion, e.g. about the time of day or where they are, including their own home
- Apathy, depression and anxiety
- Believing things that aren't true (paranoia)
- Frequent hallucinations
- Lack of emotional control, quick to anger, fearfulness, sadness
- Loss of inhibition
- Difficulties sleeping or waking during the night and behaving as though it is daytime - loss of circadian rhythm.
Verbally or physically aggressive behaviour
If your loved one displays this type of behaviour you may need a care home that has specially trained staff. Verbal/physical aggression is often defined:
- Consistent shouting and screaming
- Verbal abuse
- Physical abuse
How we define Dementia Care Types
- Mild Dementia
- Moderate Dementia
Other Care Provided
- Convalescent Care
Facilities
- Lift
- Wheelchair Access
- Television point in own room
Funding & Fees
Weekly Charges per Person
Fees can vary depending on care needs and other factors. Colleagues at Blackbrook House will be happy to discuss our weekly fees with you and what our fees include.
The price(s) shown are provided by the care home. Contact Blackbrook House for full pricing details and T&Cs.
Contact Blackbrook House to confirm what's included and get a personalised quote:
Funding Types Accepted
- Self-Funding (Private)
- Local Authority with Top-up
- Local Authority
- NHS Continuing Healthcare (CHC)
Good to Know
Group / Owner
- Anchor
- Voluntary / Not for Profit Owned
Person in charge
- Lucy Yarham (Manager)
Local Authority / Social Services
Admission Information
- Mixed (no single-gender units)
- Ages 65+
Care Home Design/Build
- Purpose Built: Yes
- Year Purpose Built: 2008
- Number of floors: 2
Room Information
- Single Rooms (55)
- Single Rooms with ensuite Wet Room (55)
Visiting
- The home welcome visitors as an integral part of day-to-day life.
Parking
- There is onsite parking, including disabled spaces.
Blackbrook House Reviews (98)
Blackbrook House has a Review Score of 9.6 (9.627) out of 10, based on 35 reviews in the last 2 years.
Over all time Blackbrook House has 98 reviews.
All of our family have been really pleased with the level of care that she’s received, her clothes are always clean and appropriate for the change in weather conditions. The staff always talk to her and smile, she really enjoys the meals and finishes everything that they give her.
Mum has been a high-risk faller for the last few years and all risks have been managed to ensure her safety which significantly reduced them.
As a family of her husband, daughters, grandchildren and great-grandchildren we can’t praise and thank the staff enough - thank you.
Staff are all really good, some excellent, all really caring and never seem to be fazed by the resident's sometimes tricky demands. Response times to buzzers can be a little slow, but I appreciate they cannot be in two places at once, and some residents do call often. Residents are well-fed and cared for. I am pleased to say both my parents are mostly happy with their home, despite wishing they had remained in their own home.
Thank you for taking the time to leave us a review; your feedback is important to us. We are glad your overall experience was a positive one and that you are happy with the care your parents receive at Blackbrook House. In regards to response times, we have taken this feedback on board and have...
The facilities are well presented and clean, with a friendly and homely feel. The care Mum received was excellent, and her extensive needs were well catered for. I felt very welcomed into the home on any visit I made, and I could see she was settled and cared for. Despite Mum only living there for a short while, I felt that all the staff had taken the time to get to know her personally and took time out of their busy days to have a chat with her.
I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Blackbrook House to others.
Mum stayed for respite for two weeks, so it was obviously very strange for her as she didn't understand where or why she was there, so consequently kept saying she was ready to go home. When I picked her up she looked bright and animated, she was taking part in a singing group and loved that everyone made such a fuss of her. After she got home she said the food was very good and it was lovely and warm, she also wanted to see her friends again. A week later she can't remember it sadly.
It is so reassuring to visit my Dad and always find him happy and well presented. The staff work extremely hard to care for the residents and nothing is ever too much trouble. As a family we feel reassured that his needs are being met. There is always good communication from the staff and management and we are always greeted with a smile.
I am so happy that my mother is now a resident at Blackbrook House. She has been well cared for by very attentive staff who are very professional and deal with any queries quickly and efficiently. My mother has been welcomed into the home and she said herself that all the staff are so helpful and that she feels very content. Blackbrook House is very well run, it is calm, clean and very homely. I agree with other comments that the staff are all wonderfully supportive. I cannot recommend it highly enough and I sleep well knowing that my mother is in safe hands!
Very pleased so far with my mother's care at Blackbrook House. There is always a friendly atmosphere among the staff and residents.
I feel happy leaving my mum in a safe 24-hour environment.
It is always clean and the gardens are lovely and safe.
The transition from home to care home has been seamless. Knowing that our mum has quality 24-hour care is reassuring. All staff, regardless of their role, are kind, caring, efficient and helpful. Residents are encouraged by staff to join in with a variety of activities, including receiving Holy Communion but naturally, this is optional. Even MrMotivator made an appearance a few weeks ago! Mum enjoys having her hair cut and styled in the salon, and a chiropodist visits regularly. The menu at Blackbrook is varied and caters for all needs. Infection controls are still being adhered to.
Good stimulation and interaction with staff and residents.
Very obliging staff for assisting with family and friends communicating with residents (taking the phone).
The resident was anxious at first but was able to put his trust in the staff, and eventually, enjoyed his short stay. Still recounting stories. Now would be confident to return, safe, friendly. Staff have made an excellent job in providing a home from home environment.
Everyone at the home has been fantastic! We have full confidence in all you do. Many thanks.
I can only offer thanks and high praise to the managers and the manner in which they manage - the administrator, the care staff, domestic staff - everybody is so kind and always smiling. In spite of missing her home of 60 years, my mum comments regularly on how individual is her care, that people remember what she has said, how all the staff pop in to say hello, and nothing is too much trouble. I am confident in the care she receives and grateful for it. After many years of living at a distance and being 'first on call', it is hugely reassuring knowing that she is in safe hands 24 hours a day. To anyone considering Blackbrook House as an option for their loved one, I would say don't hesitate. Your questions are always answered, and you can be confident in the care provided.
Transitions are never easy for new residents and their close families. The team here at Blackbrook Houe have supported my mum and me. Mum loves the cart and attention. I feel listened to and welcomed. A special thank you to three members of staff for all you do especially to ensure each day is a positive one for my mum.
I cannot praise Blackbrook highly enough. The compassion professionalism and sense of calm contentment in the home are remarkable. The care is given with great dignity and cheerful efficiency. The staff are all friendly, have time for relatives as well as residents and are endlessly helpful and knowledgeable. The home is clean and cheerful and my mother could not be in safer hands. We will always be grateful to the manager, administration managers, senior carers and all their teams. Thank you.
Blackbrook House is a shining example of an ideal care home for elderly residents. It offers a homely, caring environment and is exceptionally well run by fully involved management, together with a motivated team of carers and support staff. My wife is living with a dementia condition that severely limits her interactions with both her carers and other residents. However, all staff are wonderfully supportive and very enthusiastic as they ensure that they involve her in all aspects of her day to day life in the home. Whenever I visit, there is always a welcoming atmosphere, and my wife is obviously content as she is invariably happy and smiling. This is the best I could hope for in the situation we are having to deal with, and I really appreciate the thoughtful manner in which all of the staff for all they can to meet our particular needs.
Staff, at all levels and functions, were welcoming and empathetic to our needs and that of our relative, and despite the additional pressures caused by the COVID restrictions made every effort to support and assist us.
The care and consideration given during a relatively short period of time, in difficult and trying times were exceptional. This was no more evident when following the passing of our relative, the staff laid out the room beautifully in a way that respected the individual demonstrated compassion and understanding of the individual.
It was good to witness some of the new/younger members of the Team being trained, supported and encouraged.
Communication through the Team Leaders was really good; they listened to and supported our needs where possible.
Blackbrook House is a wonderfully well-run facility that ensures the residents live with dignity in an environment that replaces their home with a really comfortable way to enjoy their later years. My mother has received excellent personalised care in what has been a very challenging time for all the wonderful staff and highly supportive manager. They have gone above and beyond to look after her and her cat and given her an excellent start to her new life away from home. It has given us all as a family peace of mind that she is safe and happy in a lovely environment. Thank you.
Mum has been a resident at Blackbrook House for a number of years, the care and respect shown to her by the staff has always been exemplary. Covid may have changed the visiting and contact we have had but mum has been so well supported throughout by such a friendly and dedicated team. I would continue to recommend this home.
We are very happy to know that our relative is safe and secure in this lovely home. Although in declining health the care is always excellent. The location is lovely and most impressive always is the care and attention of all the staff.
My mother has been a resident at Blackbrook House for almost five years. I cannot praise the staff too highly. They are an exceptional group of kind and dedicated people. The last months have been extraordinarily challenging, but they have delivered their usual standard of care with the trademark Blackbrook good humour.
My mother-in-law has lived at Blackbrook House since January 2020. After searching for somewhere suitable for her to live following the death of her husband, the whole family has been so impressed by the quality of the care provided it has been a huge relief to us all. It has such a welcoming and homely atmosphere and the staff couldn't be more caring, friendly and supportive to the needs of the residents. Before Covid, I used to enjoy my morning coffee and biscuits with her in the lounge, chatting with all her new friends. Her room is very comfortable and the afternoon activities keep her engaged with life, plus the good food keeps her happy and well fed. I would highly recommend it to anybody.
Regulatory Rating
Care Quality Commission (CQC) Rating
Date: 18 January 2020Good
- CaringGood
- EffectiveGood
- ResponsiveGood
- SafeRequires improvement
- Well-ledGood
Inspection ratings
We rate most services according to how safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led they are, using four levels:
- Outstanding - The service is performing exceptionally well.
- Good - The service is performing well and meeting our expectations.
- Requires Improvement - The service isn't performing as well as it should and we have told the service how it must improve.
- Inadequate - The service is performing badly and we've taken action against the person or organisation that runs it.
- Not rated - we have not yet rated this area of the service, this is normally because the assessments we have carried out have been focused on other key questions.
Bed Vacancies
2 Bed Vacancies
Posted: 27 July 2026We currently have two vacancies for care. Please contact Blackbrook House directly for more details.
News (7) & Events (0)
- 07 Aug 2026
Tony Hawkins, a resident at Anchor’s Blackbrook House care home in Colchester, has dedicated so much of his life to the game of snooker. In recognition of this, colleagues at...
- 19 Dec 2025
Residents and colleagues at Anchor care homes across Essex are embracing the festive spirit in style. From crafting Christmas decorations and singing carols, to decorating trees and baking festive treats,...
- 03 Nov 2025
Anchor, England’s largest not-for-profit provider of care and housing for people in later life, is proud to announce that Martin Erhagbe triumphed at the East of England regional final of...
There are no upcoming events for Blackbrook House.
Accreditations
There are no accreditations posted yet for Blackbrook House.
Meet the Team (0)
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