Glencairn House Residential Home

16/17 Cornwall Road, Dorchester DT1 1RU
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8.8 15 Reviews
  • Glencairn House Residential Home, Dorchester
Glencairn House is a smaller residential care home, which enables them to offer truly personalised care and attention to each and every one of their residents. Their aim is to cater to individual needs, from specific care requirements and food preferences to helping their residents to continue to follow their individual interests and activities.

They have a regular weekly timetable of activities and events, with everything from donkey and llama visits and arts, crafts and painting sessions, to weekly or bi-weekly visiting entertainers and musicians, talks about history and excursions and boat trips. They work hard to create a lively, sociable atmosphere where families and visitors are always welcome. They are also involved with their local community, with strong ties to local schools and a weekly open community knit and natter session.

Glencairn House is a beautifully converted, light, bright and airy Victorian home, situated in the heart of Dorchester, overlooking Borough Gardens. They are fully equipped to provide long-term residential and respite care in a comfortable, attractive and homely environment. They have a beautiful outdoor area, with an awning so that it can be used in all weathers, where they hold some of their activities, parties and events.

The team and residents love meeting new people, so if you would like to find out more about them, please do get in contact to arrange a visit or to let them know you’re coming along to one of their knit and natter sessions or events.
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Care Provided

Primary Care Categories

  • Older Person Care
  • Dementia
  • Physical Disability

Length of Stay

  • Permanent Care
  • Respite Care

Care Types Provided

  • Residential Care
  • Dementia Residential Care
  • For a maximum of 23 Service Users

Dementia Care Types

  • Mild Dementia

Other Care Provided

  • Parkinson's Disease
  • Stroke
  • Palliative / End of Life Care
  • Convalescent Care
  • Day Care

Facilities

  • Own Furniture if required
  • Pet Friendly (or by arrangement)
  • Smoking not permitted
  • Close to Local shops
  • Near Public Transport
  • Lift
  • Stairlift
  • Wheelchair Access
  • Gardens
  • Phone Point in own room
  • Television point in own room
  • Residents Internet Access

Funding & Fees

Weekly Charges per Person

  • Self-Funded Residential Care: £1250 – £1500
  • Self-Funded Residential Dementia Care: £1250 – £1500
  • RESPITE Self-Funded Residential Care: £1250 – £1500
  • RESPITE Self-Funded Residential Dementia Care: £1250 – £1500

Included:
Three freshly cooked meals a day and access to snacks and drinks at all times.
Wine with meals.
Access to a diverse in-house Activities programme.
Laundry (excluding dry cleaning).
Personal Care.
Some trips out.


Excluded:
Chiropody
Hairdressing
Newspapers
Escort fees
Some trips out

These prices are only a guideline, please contact Glencairn House Residential Home to find out the exact price for your requirements.

Funding Types Accepted

  • Self Funding (Private)
  • Local Authority with Top Up
  • Local Authority
  • NHS Continuing Healthcare (CHC)

Good to Know

Person in charge

  • Ross Isbell (Registered Manager)

Local Authority / Social Services

Admission Criteria

  • Ages 45+

Care Home Design/Build

  • Purpose Built: No
  • Last Refurbishment: 2010
  • Number of floors: 3

Room Information

  • Single Rooms (23)
  • Couples/Companion Rooms (0)
  • Single Rooms with Ensuite Wet Room (19)

Visiting

  • Visitors are welcome throughout the day and evening. Meals with loved ones can be pre-booked by contacting the care home directly. Dogs on leads are welcome.

Parking

  • There is parking at the rear of the care home for 6 vehicles and ample roadside parking for up to 1 hour nearby.

Glencairn House Residential Home Reviews (15)

8.8

Glencairn House Residential Home has a Review Score of 8.8 (8.808) out of 10, based on 4 reviews in the last 2 years.
Over all time Glencairn House Residential Home has 15 reviews.

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Date Published
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Reviewer Connection to Glencairn House Residential Home
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Total of 15, showing 1-15
Review from D D (Sister of Resident) published on 12 September 2025 Submitted via Postal Card • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
From the first visit to Glencairn House I felt this was a lovely home and despite a few difficulties of my sister settling in the staff have been nothing but kind and caring and nothing is too much trouble, all the staff are lovely and happy in the home, with lots of activities and nothing is too much
trouble. Would really recommend this home.
Reply from Ross Isbell, Manager at Glencairn House Residential Home

Sending our thanks for your kind words of praise. It's a great pleasure caring for your sister and we're so pleased she has settled well into her new home. Best wishes

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Review from Sara P (Daughter of Resident) published on 18 August 2025 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
My mother has been a resident at Glencairn for 2 years and is very comfortable and happy there. Prior to moving into care Mum was a ferociously independent lady living alone. My anxiety for her losing her mobility and independence were quickly allayed and Mum soon settled. The staff are so very kind
and compassionate and Mum felt at home from the start.
The newly appointed manager is amazing. He very quickly got to know all the residents quirks and amongst other improvements he has implemented new activities to support their interests. Mum is now playing Bridge again after a 2 year absence. He is quietly very hands-on and present on a day to day basis.
The whole team is exceptional.
Reply from Ross Isbell, Manager at Glencairn House Residential Home

Dear Sara Thank you so much for taking the time to leave this lovely review - we really appreciate your kind words. With warm regards

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Review from Janet M (Resident) published on 12 August 2025 Submitted via Postal Card • Report
Overall Experience 4.0 out of 5
I feel happy living here and find the staff very friendly and cheerful as they carry out their tasks. I do feel 'at home' and the staff contribute to that feeling. If I am needing extra help on a bad day, I feel extra support is given very readily & I am very grateful for that.
Reply from Ross Isbell, Manager at Glencairn House Residential Home

Thank you for taking the time to write this lovely review, Janet. I'm so please you feel at home at Glencairn. Best wishesRoss

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Review from Lyn I (Daughter of Resident) published on 11 August 2025 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Our lovely Dad moved into Glencairn at a most difficult time in in both his and our lives. Throughout his stay there he was supported with great care and kindness, respect and friendship. As were we all. We were always made to feel welcome, invited to join in activities or enjoy quiet time with Dad.
Any request for help or action was dealt with positively, quickly and efficiently by all staff.
Glencairn is a real home from home, and Dad came to see it as such, with friendships developed with both Staff and Residents. The wide range of activities offered covered the interests of everybody. Meals and snacks were of a high standard and offered generously to visitors as well as Residents, and it was special to be able to participate occasionally at meal times.
I can only be thankful for the care Dad received, Glencairn is a lovely care home and I wish the team every success in continuing to provide such a warm and inclusive environment
Reply from Ross Isbell, Manager at Glencairn House Residential Home

Dear Lyn Thank you so much for taking the time to leave this wonderful review. We are all extremely grateful for your kind words and feel it a privilege to have been able to care for your father at Glencairn. Warm wishes

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Review from Chris R (Grandson of Resident) published on 9 June 2023 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
The staff are fantastic. They go to great lengths to make the residents feel comfortable and cared for. They create a lovely atmosphere and make those who stay there feel like they're part of a genuinely happy home.
Reply from Ralph Sanders, Owner at Glencairn House Residential Home

Hi Chris, that's lovely to hear. Thank you for taking the time to leave us such a positive review.

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Review from Richard C (Son of Resident) published on 7 June 2023 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
My mother is a resident and has been one for some years, under the previous ownership (the present owner took over February 2022) things were we thought good. But now they are exceptional.
Not only is the home very clean and warm and the staff too, but so much more thought and care is being put into
the welfare of the residents with various activities now.
I know my mother is in the care of people who genuinely have her best interests at heart which means that I am able to relax a bit not having to worry about her health and welfare, and she is very happy there.
Reply from Ralph Sanders, Owner at Glencairn House Residential Home

Hi Richard, thank you so much for such a wonderful review, I'm very pleased your mother is happy here. It will mean a lot to all the staff to know that their care is so appreciated!

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Review from Debbie P (Daughter of Resident) published on 10 February 2023 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
There is always a warm welcome for visitors to Glencairn House Residential. The home is clean and well run. The staff are without exception kind and caring. Both my parents are looked after at Glencairn House and the care they receive is of a very high standard.
Reply from Ralph Sanders, Owner at Glencairn House Residential Home

Thank you very much for the feedback, we're very pleased to have your mum and dad here and glad that you're happy with everything we do.

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Review from Gillian F (Goddaughter of Resident) published on 14 September 2022 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
My sister and my godmother have been residents since she moved from London aged 93; she is now 99. We, and she, are so so grateful that we chose Glencairn. The staff are so kind and caring and genuinely take the best care of her. As she said, they are not just the staff but her friends, and she knows
she's totally safe. They also keep us both up to date and are very welcoming whenever we visit. We cannot thank them enough for how they managed during the Covid pandemic, and we weren't able to visit.
Reply from Ralph Sanders, Owner at Glencairn House Residential Home

Thank you very much, that's lovely to hear, and thank you for taking the time to write a review. I'll make sure I pass your comments on to the staff; it means a lot. It is a pleasure having your godmother at Glencairn; she's a lovely lady, and I'm delighted that she is happy here.

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Review from Brenda M (Daughter of Resident) published on 8 September 2022 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
My mother is 104 years old and has been a resident at Glencairn House Residentia Home since April 2020. My family and I feel very fortunate that there was a vacancy for her at Glencairn when it was urgently needed. She has a lovely room and always seems happy and settled when I visit. The staff are
always very welcoming and caring and also very patient. They seem to do their best to keep the residents happy and entertained. My mother particularly enjoys playing scrabble.
Reply from Ralph Sanders, Owner at Glencairn House Residential Home

Thank you very much Brenda. Your mum is a lovely lady and we are lucky to have her at Glencairn. She is very sociable and has a great sense of humour!

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Review from Ian C (Son of Resident) published on 25 April 2022 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Mum was always so independent and it was hard to convince her she needed help, but after a brief stay to give her neighbour a break (we, unfortunately, live 5000km away) she was hooked. The staff there seem so caring and Mum was well looked after and I never had any concerns whilst she was there.
Reply from Ralph Sanders, Owner at Glencairn House Residential Home

Thank you very much. We were delighted to be able to care for your mum and I'm very pleased that she was so happy here. We aim to provide first-class care, keep our residents safe and enable them to continue to do the things they enjoy. Hearing positive feedback like this means a lot.

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Review from J L (Nephew of Resident) published on 20 February 2019 Submitted via Postal Card • Report
Overall Experience 4.0 out of 5
My aunt felt well cared for and she enjoyed her stay. She was very pleased with her room and its outlook. The staff were always friendly, helpful and kind to is when we visited. The sitting room was sunny, homely and unlike an institution.
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Review from D W (Daughter of Resident) published on 25 April 2018 Submitted via Postal Card • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
My mother had always said she would never end her days in a care home as she was a very independent lady. However, life doesn't always give you choices. She then spent 3 years here being well cared for in every capacity. The different personalities of the staff were well balanced but all cared deeply
for her with compassion and dignity. Their 'open door' policy welcomed all her visitors from very young children running around to older friends and family. I couldn't have wished for a nicer place for her to be in her final years and caring staff going that extra mile even in their own time.
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Review from M F (Son of Resident) published on 20 April 2018 Submitted via Postal Card • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
My mother was cared for very well during her 22 months at this home. She suffered from COPD and diabetes and various other ailments. COPD is not an easy disease to manage and the staff did so very well. She had numerous trips into hospital for varying periods of time and paramedics were called out on
several occasions. They nursed my mum brilliantly until she died.
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Review from Ronald W (Husband of Resident) published on 16 January 2018 Submitted via Postal Card • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
My wife lived at Glencairn House for 4 years. Everyone who worked at the home, including the owner, the manager and the healthcare staff were very caring, friendly and welcoming. My wife was cared for at a very high standard. I would like to say a massive thank you for the excellent care and support
my wife and I received. I cannot praise the staff highly enough for the dignity, help and total support my wife received. I highly recommend Glencairn House Residential Home.
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Review from Simon M (Son of Resident) published on 16 January 2018 Submitted via Postal Card • Report
Overall Experience 4.0 out of 5
In the 5 years my mother was a resident, Glencairn was well maintained, warm, welcoming and very clean. The staff were always pleasant, helpful and caring and the food was very good and varied.


Her room was comfortable, nicely furnished and kept clean and tidy. At the end of her life, she was comfortable,

well monitored and her every need seen to by caring members of staff.
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Current Review Score: 8.8 (8.808)

Overview of Review Score

The Review Score of 8.8 (8.808) out of 10 for Glencairn House Residential Home is based on a) the Average Rating and b) the number of positive Reviews.

  1. The Average Rating is 4.6 out of 5 from 4 Reviews in the last 24 months.
  2. The score for the number of positive Reviews is 4.2 out of 5 from 4 positive Reviews in the last 24 months.

Detailed Breakdown of Review Score

The maximum Review Score for a Care Home is 10, which is made up from the Average Rating of Reviews (maximum of 5 points) and the Number of Reviews (maximum of 5 points) in the last 24 months:

  1. 5 Points are available for the Average Rating from all Reviews in the last 24 months. The Average Rating of 4.563 for Glencairn House Residential Home is calculated as follows: ( (28 Excellents x 5) + (19 Goods x 4) + (1 Satisfactorys x 3) ) ÷ 48 Ratings = 4.563
  2. 5 Points are available for the number of Positive Reviews in the last 24 months. A Positive Review is defined as any Review with an 'Overall Experience' of '4' or '5' (out of a max rating '5'). The 4.245 Points relating to the number of positive Reviews for Glencairn House Residential Home is based on 4 positive Reviews in the last 24 months and is calculated as per below:

    The 5 points available are broken down as follows:

    1. 4 points are available for the first 10 Positive Reviews in the last 24 months; 3 points for the first Positive Review, and then 0.125 Points for each of the next four Positive Reviews and then 0.1 Points for the next five Positive Reviews. (1st = 3.000, 2nd = 0.125, 3rd = 0.125, 4th = 0.125, 5th = 0.125, 6th = 0.100, 7th = 0.100, 8th = 0.100, 9th = 0.100, 10th = 0.100) 3 + 0.125 + 0.125 + 0.125 = 3.375
    2. 1 point is available for the number of Positive Reviews reaching 20% of the registered maximum number of service users in the last 24 months. If this number is partially reached, then that proportion of 1 point is given. eg a Care Home registered for a maximum of 50 service users has to reach 10 Positive Reviews to receive 1 point, if it has 7 reviews it will receive 0.7 points. 20% of the 23 registered maximum number of service users is 4.6. 4 Positive Reviews ÷ 4.6 = 0.87
  3. When a Review is submitted by someone who has previously submitted a Review, only the latest Review will count towards the Review Score.
  4. If a Care Home does not have a review in the last 24 months, then it will not have a Review Score.

Regulatory Rating

Care Quality Commission (CQC) Rating

Date: 4 Jul 2024

Overall Requires improvement

  • Caring Good
  • Effective Requires improvement
  • Responsive Good
  • Safe Good
  • Well-led Requires improvement
Care Quality Commission is responsible for the registration and inspection of social care services in England. View Latest Report

Bed Vacancies

Please contact us for latest vacancies.

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Awards / Recognitions (0)

Meet the Team (4)

Ralph

Ralph Sanders

Job Title: Director Joined: 2022

Ralph used to run student houses and HMOs in Exeter but decided to move to the care industry because he felt he could make a real difference by improving the provision of care and the standards of accommodation in the care sector.


Ralph says that what he enjoys most about running Glencairn House is seeing the happy environment that has been created and watching the residents enjoying themselves with a caring, competent team of people. His highlight is hearing unsolicited testimonials from residents about the care staff and the meals!


When he’s not busy at Glencairn House, Ralph says he loves spending time with his wife and daughters, walking (preferably with their enthusiastic mongrel Waffles) and spending time outdoors.


As well as having an MPhys in Physics, a Certificate of Competence in surveying buildings for asbestos and a PAT testing certificate, he is also the proud holder of a 100m Breaststroke badge from 1985.

Ross

Ross Isbell

Job Title: Manager Joined: 2025

Ross has dedicated nearly twenty years to the care sector, working his way from a care assistant to an area manager. During his seven years as a Registered Manager, he led his team to achieve an Outstanding rating from the Care Quality Commission, a testament to their hard work and commitment.


He genuinely cares about the people he supports and takes the time to get to know everyone, helping them to live the lives they choose. With a thoughtful eye for detail, Ross strives to create a positive and nurturing environment for his residents and colleagues alike, always aiming to achieve the best for those involved.


Ross would be delighted to show you around Glencairn House and help you explore how he and his team can support you in making Glencairn your new home away from home.

Michelle

Michelle Cleaves

Job Title: Deputy Manager Joined: 2024

Michelle has worked at Glencairn since 2024 and has a diverse background in the care sector.

Tanya

Tanya Hall

Job Title: Head of Care Joined: 2020

Tanya has worked in the care sector for 35 years and is passionate about connecting with people and discovering their unique stories. She believes each of our residents is so unique and special, and it’s a pleasure seeing their personalities unfold over time.


Tanya has successfully completed all her mandatory training and proudly holds NVQs Level 2 and 3. Recently, she reached a personal milestone by earning a Level 4 qualification in Health and Social Care.

Frequently Asked Questions about Glencairn House Residential Home

What types of Care is Glencairn House Residential Home registered for?

Older Person Care, Dementia & Physical Disability are the registered (by the Care Quality Commission) categories of Care.

How many Rooms does Glencairn House Residential Home have?

There are 23 Single Rooms.

What are the Facilities & Services at Glencairn House Residential Home?

Own Furniture if required, Pet Friendly (or by arrangement), Smoking not permitted, Close to Local shops, Near Public Transport, Lift, Stairlift, Wheelchair Access, Gardens, Phone Point in own room, Television point in own room & Residents Internet Access are some of the Facilities & Services.

How far is Glencairn House Residential Home to the centre of Dorchester?

0.3 mile(s) as the crow flies, distance by road may be significantly further.

Information on this page is displayed without responsibility for its accuracy on the part of carehome.co.uk. Please contact Glencairn House Residential Home to verify any information. View our terms and conditions. Glencairn House Residential Home has an Enhanced Service - more info.