
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.
Our mum moved to Blackbrook House in June 2019. It was really emotional but the right decision. Blackbrook House feels like home. Mum settled in so well and has enjoyed having her hair and nails done on a regular basis! The food is fantastic and I love that Mum can have a cheeky glass of wine! Her room is gorgeous and opens up into a really pretty courtyard. A special mention to the staff who have so much compassion and really care for mum. We have also been impressed with how Blackbrook House continue to deal with COVID, it’s been tough for everyone but we have been able to see Mum and can tell by how she looks that she is really being looked after. Thank you Blackbrook House!
My husband has been at Blackbrook House for 15 months and he seems happy and content. The care over this period has been good on the whole. The staff are friendly, helpful and engage well with the residents. The staff encourage the residents to get involved with activities if they choose. The cleanliness is of a high standard and the laundry system is very good. The menu is varied and the standard of food is also very good. Blackbrook House is very homely and I can't fault the care they provide my husband.
I know residents complain about the quality of food, but not everyone does as some will eat anything.
If a resident will not eat their meal they are normally given an unhealthy 'processed meat or processed cheese' sandwich in 'white' bread. I've never seen whole grain/meal let alone brown bread.
Family of residents were invited to a Christmas buffet last year, the poor staff were left alone to sort it all and had to supply from their own resources, such as drinks. The food was disgusting, no effort put in there at all by the former management.
Hand sanitiser dispensers such as those used in hospitals should be provided throughout the home. There is a bottle of sanitiser next to signing in but I have found this left empty on several occasions.
All of the carers I've met do a wonderful job, you cannot fault them.
I hope the new manager will improve the overall service.
Thank you for taking the time to review Blackbrook House and we are pleased you rate our staff as excellent. Our chef is sourcing fresh produce for all meals and will make alternative nutritional meals for residents who prefer something different to our daily menu. Our residents also always have...
Blackbrook House provides a high standard of care to Residents and are very supportive of respective family questions and emotional needs. Staff are hardworking and dedicated to their clients, which provides reassurance that loved ones are having their individual care needs met.
Enjoyed my short stay, made very welcome and was looked after by all staff in an excellent fashion. I enjoyed making some laughter and hope I brightened the day up, not only for staff but also other people that I met in your care. I felt I was the youngest person there. Thank you all once again for everything.
Since moving my mum into Blackbrook House, I have seen her health improve. The state of deterioration from dementia has reduced, she has put on weight and she is always smiling and happy. Every day, I know she has great care from the carers and has great interaction with the patients. I couldn't be happier than the service we get from Blackbrook House.
My mother has been in Blackbrook House for almost 2 years and I can't fault the level of care she has received in that time. The home is always clean and the menu looks amazing.
Pleased to see that my mum has settled in and seems to be quite happy with everything in general which pleases me. She is very well cared for by the staff all of whom I've talked to are excellent.
Blackbrook House cared for our mum for almost 3 years in a very caring manner. As her needs changed, so did their level of care and support. In her last few weeks, they were very supportive of our family and ensured that mum could continue to be cared for at Blackbrook House. Their kindness and support was greatly appreciated at a sad and difficult time.
Was most impressed both with facilities and day staff alike. Stayed for lunch...yum yum yum yum yum.
Very good care, compassionate staff room cosy if a bit small. Plenty of fluids available at all times nice and warm in the lounges.
The home is set in lovely surroundings with easy access from main routes.
Really pleased with the choice we made. Highly recommended.
My Aunt has settled in well and is achieving so much more than was expected. The staff are friendly and considerate, in providing care and support. To see my Aunt looking so radiant and healthy has given my family a sense of relief and happiness after the difficult decision to move her from her long term home.
The standards of care and interest manifested by all those employed here 95% of the time is exceptional. My mother is treated with dignity and respect on the visits I make.
This is an excellent care home. Highly recommended. For my family, distance to travel is a compromise but one worth doing.
Extremely helpful, friendly. Mum is being looked after extremely well. Would recommend to anyone. Like home from home.
The care my mother has received since she has been at this home is second to none. They have been brilliant. The staff are friendly and helpful and nothing seems too much trouble for them even at times when they are really busy.
Blackbrook House offers a superb service. All the residents are extremely well looked after. Cannot fault it.
Staff are kind and caring, food very nice. Beds could be slightly larger. I shall always choose here and come back for short stays. All the best to everyone.
Lovely clean home, well decorated. I can see improvements with the decor being made. Excellent menu with a wide variety. My nan is well looked after and well fed.
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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