
My sister loves the garden area, and is encouraged to help out with weeding and plantingMargaret S(Sister of Resident/Service User)

My mother could not be in a better place. Everything that is important is being doneM A(Son of Resident/Service User)

Mum loves the food and company. All staff are always helpfulKaren F(Daughter of Resident/Service User)

My sister loves the garden area, and is encouraged to help out with weeding and plantingMargaret S(Sister of Resident/Service User)

My mother could not be in a better place. Everything that is important is being doneM A(Son of Resident/Service User)

Mum loves the food and company. All staff are always helpfulKaren F(Daughter of Resident/Service User)

Brookside is an established care home in Melksham and has been serving the local and wider Wiltshire community for over 40 years. It offers compassionate, individualised residential care for up to 50 residents, and has been awarded an overall 'Outstanding' rating in its latest CQC inspection in November 2016.
Set in its own attractive and accessible grounds which includes a patio, summerhouse, greenhouse and an attractive enclosed garden to the rear,...
Care Provided by Brookside
Primary Care Categories
- Older Person Care
- Dementia
Length of Stay
- Permanent Care
Care Types Provided
- Residential Care
- Dementia Residential Care
- For a maximum of 50 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
- Day Care
Facilities
- Own Furniture if required
- Pet Friendly (or by arrangement)
- Close to Local shops
- Near Public Transport
- Lift
- Wheelchair Access
- Gardens
- Television point in own room
- Residents Internet Access
Funding & Fees
Weekly Charges per Person
These services are: Personal care, accommodation,
utilities, use of communal areas, meals, drinks and
snacks, laundry (excluding dry cleaning),
housekeeping, maintenance and activities run by the
home.
physiotherapy, occupational therapy, opticians, hairdressing,
medications, toiletries, clothing, newspapers/magazines.
During your stay, you may need to purchase additional goods
and services. If they are able to provide such goods and
services, they will tell you how much these goods and services
will cost and they expect that you will pay for these goods and
services at the time you request them.
They can accompany loved ones to private appointments,
however the fee attached to this is £21 per hour. Where private taxi
services are used for transportation to appointments the cost should
be paid for by yourself.
The price(s) shown are provided by the care home. Contact Brookside for full pricing details and T&Cs.
Contact Brookside 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
- The Orders of St John Care Trust
- Voluntary / Not for Profit Owned
Person in charge
- Dawn Wallburton (Home Manager)
Local Authority / Social Services
Admission Information
- Ages 65+
Care Home Design/Build
- Purpose Built: Yes
Room Information
- Single Rooms (50)
Brookside Reviews (73)
Brookside has a Review Score of 9.8 (9.796) out of 10, based on 16 reviews in the last 2 years.
Over all time Brookside has 73 reviews.
Staff: outstanding. Kind and thoughtful.
Care Plans in place: Amazing (as a special needs teacher of over 30 years, they are the best I have seen.)
Medical care when it arises - Brilliant.
Thank you so much for taking the time to share your wonderful feedback. We're delighted to hear that your mum has settled in well and that you've been so impressed with the kindness and thoughtfulness of our team. It's particularly lovely to hear your positive comments about the care plans,...
I would like to thank the wonderful team at Brookside for providing a happy, warm & friendly , clean, safe and homely environment for my Dad when he stayed for a weeks respite. He felt respected and cared for - he stayed in a lovely room looking down on the garden, enjoyed use of the wet room/ bathroom facilities that he doesn't have at home and enjoyed the meals and drinks on offer. It was a positive experience for all of us. My husband and I enjoyed some quality time together reassured by the fact that Dad was in very good hands and close by. Thank you to everyone
Thank you so much for your kind and thoughtful words. It was an absolute pleasure to welcome your Dad to Brookside for his respite stay. We are delighted to hear that he felt respected, comfortable, and well cared for during his time with us, and that you and your husband were able to enjoy some...
They also make me feel welcome and included. I enjoy visiting here.
Thank you so much for your kind feedback about OSJCT Brookside. We're delighted to hear that your uncle is so well cared for and that our team's support, both day and night, has made a positive difference. It's especially lovely to know that you feel welcomed and included when you visit - creating...
I have been here for over 3 years now. I like to thank everyone here for what they have done for me, helping me do the correct things. Helping me lose weight in the 3 years. I have, like I said, more years to come, will never leave here, love everyone here.
Thank you so much for your kind words. It truly means a lot to us to hear about your journey over the past three years. We're so proud of everything you've achieved, especially your commitment and success with your weight loss - that's an incredible accomplishment! It's been a pleasure to support...
Since I came here, I have been well looked after, all the staff have been kind and helpful to me, all in all I am very happy here, and could not wish for a better home
Thank you so much for your kind review! We're delighted to hear that you feel well looked after and happy in your home. It's wonderful to know that our staff, care, and facilities are making such a positive difference for you. Your feedback means a lot to our whole team!
Mum loved being at Brookside, she called it home. The staff go above and beyond for their family (I would not call them Residents). You hear bad things of homes but this one is first class I would recommend it to anyone.
Thank you for your 5 star review, we really appreciate you taking the time to share your mum's experience at Brookside. I will pass your comments on to the home to share with the team.
Activities are very good, and home always appears very clean and smell nice when going in.. love all the different area they have for the residents and how your always made to feel welcome when greeted by staff.
Thank you so much for your lovely review, we are so grateful. If there is anything else we can do for your friend, please let us know. Do say hello next time you visit.
Excellent all round! I feel my mum is very safe at Brookside.
Thank you for your lovely review of our home, it's greatly appreciated. It is an absolute pleasure caring for your mother, we've loved getting to know her over the last two years, she makes us smile every day. Please let us know if there is anything more we can do for her or you. You are always welcome; please do come and join us for tea and cake - our kettle is always on.
The staff are always welcoming, I love the fact we wash hands before all visits,
If mum is not happy we speak to staff or home manager and things are rectified,
Mum is always clean with hair washed and brushed, her room always smells nice.
She enjoys the food and loves to look out in the back garden,
Even though mum is bed bound their is loads of activities if mum wishes to take part, all carers are a great team and an asset to the care manager who is also amazing, any issues with health are always dealt with as soon as mentioned.
We really appreciate you taking the time to write us this lovely review. It's great to hear that your mum is enjoying Brookside and that you're so happy with the care she is receiving. If there's ever anything more we can do for you or her, please don't hesitate to ask.
My husband is a resident at Brookside. We celebrated our 30th wedding anniversay, with Brookside, the staff could not have done any more to make it so memable. We had a wonderfull day with famiely staff, and residents. Thank you so much, I viset at least 4 times a week and allways greeted by friendly staff. Thankyou
In my dad's last days, he was treated with respect dignity at all times from all staff.
Thank you very much for taking the time to review us. It was a privilege to care for your dad and we're so sorry for your loss. If there's ever anything more we can do for you or your family, please just ask.
Excellent service by Brookside, when visiting nan she was happy and well cared for when it came to the end of nans respite. My parents both had COVID. So the home were amazing and extended nans care by 1 week so nan wouldn't be home and catch it. They were amazing would highly recommend.
We really appreciate you taking the time to write this lovely review. It was great having your nan with us, and we were pleased to be able to support your family by caring for her for another week while your parents recovered from being unwell. If there's ever anything more we can do for your nan, please do get in touch.
My dad has been in the home for 12 months now due to Alzheimer's. It was so scary at first, entrusting his care to others, but this wonderful team has become part of our family. They are incredibly supportive, kind, and helpful. I can't thank them enough.
Thank you for your feedback and for taking the time to write us a review - your comments mean a lot to the team. It's a pleasure to care for your dad. If we can do anything more to support him, or your family, please don't hesitate to ask.
My sister entered the care home three months ago and immediately settled very well. I'm sure she has her off days, but whenever I've visited, she has been happy and well looked after. She loves being able to wander around, safe in the knowledge that someone will help out if she gets lost, or needs something. She enjoys some of the activites provided, but most of all, she seems to love the staff who also seem fond of her. For her, communication is mainly by facial expression and body language, and the staff seem well tuned in to this. She always seems clean and tidy and enjoys the food. The home is a very open space, both physically and emotionally, although residents are also very welcome to spend as much time as they want in their rooms, or in any of the lounge, dining and seating areas. My sister loves the garden area, and is encouraged to help out with weeding and planting etc. The volunteers must also get a mention, as they add so much to the quality of life of the residents.
It's an absolute pleasure to have your sister with us at Brookside, and we're delighted with how well she has settled here. Thank you for sharing your experience of our home, you have definitely captured life here! We appreciate you taking the time to write your review, and if there is anything more we can do to support your sister, or you, please just let us know.
Very friendly staff. Nice environment. Lovely gardens.
We all appreciate your review, thank you, and we're grateful to you for taking the time to share your experiences of Brookside.
Always happy staff. Always ready to help. Mum is happy and likes all the staff. She has settled in. Mum loves the food and company. All staff are always helpful and make sure all questions are answered. If anything needs to be done, they are all willing and happy to help.
Thank you for taking the time to write us a review. We're delighted that your mum has settled with us at Brookside, and it's a pleasure to have her here. If there is anything more we can do for her, or your family, please just let us know.
Incredibly calm, coping with very demanding days. All staff are consistently professional, caring, safety conscious, trying their very hardest to create a calm, homely environment, good team spirit and feelings come first - respect for the ladies and gentlemen for whom they care.
Thank you for taking the time to share your experiences of Brookside and to write us a review. We're very proud of the atmosphere we've created here so to have that recognised is really wonderful, thank you. If there is anything more we can do to help your family, please just let us know.
My mother could not be in a better place. Everything that is important is being done and the team work tirelessly to get to each need as it arises - a very hard task as this is, daily, a 'moving target'. Safety and respect always, well done!
We really appreciate your kind words, thank you! It's a pleasure to have your mother with us at Brookside and if there is anything else we can do to support her or you, please don't hesitate to ask.
Such a friendly, happy atmosphere, a 'home' in the true sense. Great staff and facility. Can't praise enough.
We appreciate you taking the time to write us a review and to share your thoughts on Brookside, thank you. It's always a pleasure to welcome visitors.
I am totally happy with the care my mother receives. The staff is excellent and always ready to help her and give me advice. Faultless!
Thank you for taking the time to write us a review. We are delighted to hear that we are able to support you as well as your mother, and if you need anything more from any of us, please don't hesitate to ask.
Regulatory Rating
Care Quality Commission (CQC) Rating
Date: 15 October 2019Good
- CaringOutstanding
- EffectiveGood
- ResponsiveGood
- SafeGood
- 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
Please contact us for latest vacancies.
News (0) & Events (0)
There are no news items for Brookside.
There are no upcoming events for Brookside.
Awards / Recognitions (9)
- 30 Jan 2026Recipient: The Orders of St John Care Trust
- 31 Jan 2024Recipient: The Orders of St John Care Trust
- 28 Feb 2023Recipient: The Orders of St John Care Trust
Accreditations
There are no accreditations posted yet for Brookside.
Meet the Team (9)

Home Manager, Dawn Wallburton, started her care career in 1988, working as a care assistant in the privately owned Shaw House in Melksham. When the owner closed the home in 2000 she joined the Miles Care agency in Melksham as a Carer. This career move fitted Dawn very well, as she was now also raising her young family. During the next two years whilst working for the agency, she worked in many care homes around Wiltshire.
Dawn returned to full time care work in 2002 by joining the disability nursing home, Cote House, in Chippenham. In 2005, she completed her City and Guilds NVQ Level 3 in Care. As she wished to continue learning and improving her care knowledge, Dawn was employed by the care company Community Access Network, as a Senior Support Worker. This was a new challenge for Dawn, as the job involved caring for and promoting independent living.
Dawn has held various roles with the Trust, most recently Home Manager at Seymour House in Chippenham, before moving to Brookside in the summer of 2021.

Victoria Hawkes has been with the Trust for nearly ten years, she started as a Carer and worked her way up to Head of Care at Brookside. She has worked in three homes, and they have all left their mark on her as a person. She very much enjoyed and learned from her role as End-of-life Lead and Medication Lead, which she said also helped her in her personal life.
Vicky has accomplished her Level 2 and 3 in Health and Social Care and she is now working towards her Level 4. Vicky said: “I enjoy meeting new people and supporting our residents in their time of need. Brookside for me is not just a place of work as we are all a family here.”

Maria has been in the care industry for 14 years and have worked at Brookside for 13 of them. She started work in Brookside in 2008 and has been a Night Care Lead since 2014.

Dawn Whiffen has worked in care for the past 25 years. She has had a variety of different jobs in the care sector, ranging from domiciliary care to a rehabilitation team member working alongside physiotherapists and occupational therapists. In this time, she has achieved NVQ 2 and NVQ 3 in Health and Social Care.
Dawn started her Brookside journey in 2017 as a Carer and, has recently worked her way up to Care Leader. Dawn said: “I was fortunate to be nominated for Carer of the Year 2021 and I was very lucky to have been presented with this Award, which I am very grateful for.”

Jessica has been working with the Trust since the Autumn of 2022 and before this was a volunteer activities assistant at another OSJCT home. She works with the rest of the Activities team to provide group and individual activities for all residents to enjoy. Jessica said that the best thing about being an Activities Co-ordinator at Brookside is making connections with the residents and getting to know everyone individually.

Meghan Hooper has worked in the care industry for over 5 years starting out as a Care Assistant working up to a Senior Care Assistant and then as a Senior Nursing assistant in a hospital setting.
She began her Care Leader journey in the Trust in April 2023 and will be undertaking her NVQ 3 in Health and Social Care to continue her Care Lead progress.

Sally joined the team at Brookside in February 2023. She has had a varied career, mainly in Customer Service roles.
She worked as a carer in the community a few years ago and loved the opportunity to help keep the elderly and vulnerable living independent lives in their own homes.
Sally thoroughly enjoys interacting with our residents and coming up with new activities to keep them entertained and individually challenged.

Tiffany joined Brookside in July 2023. Tiffany has had a long career within the care sector, from working in healthcare recruitment to supporting adults with learning disabilities/complex care and working as a senior member of the team in residential homes.
Tiffany believes Brookside is a rewarding place to work by being part of a fantastic team that delivers person-centred care to all the residents. Tiffany enjoys being able to speak to the residents to find out more about them and their lives and finds it a privilege to be able to assist them through their next stages of life.

Beatrice started working as a carer in June 2022 in Berkshire and a friend introduced her to OSJCT in December 2022. She did a little research about OSJCT and believed in her heart that it would be a great company to work with.
She joined the Trust in March 2023 as a carer and was promoted to care leader six months later.
Beatrice is passionate about what she does and is satisfied only when she can put a smile on someone's face at work.
Frequently Asked Questions about Brookside
What types of Care is Brookside registered for?
Older Person Care, Dementia are the registered (by the Care Quality Commission) categories of Care.
How many Rooms does Brookside have?
There are 50 Single Rooms.
What are the Facilities & Services at Brookside?
Own Furniture if required, Pet Friendly (or by arrangement), Close to Local shops, Near Public Transport, Lift, Wheelchair Access, Gardens, Television point in own room, Residents Internet Access are some of the Facilities & Services.
How far is Brookside to the centre of Melksham?
0.2 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 Brookside to verify any information. View our terms and conditions. Brookside has an Enhanced Service -more info.