Somerleigh Court Nursing Home

Somerleigh Road, Dorchester DT1 1AQ
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9.9 37 Reviews
  • Somerleigh Court Nursing Home, Dorchester
Somerleigh Court is an award-winning nursing home in the heart of Dorchester.

The team provides long-term nursing care (including dementia-friendly care), plus convalescence, post-operative care, holiday stays, physio rehabilitation and palliative care. The home has a vibrant and caring environment, with 40 generously-sized rooms each with TV, telephone and WiFi facilities. The on-site chef responsible is for creating appealing and nutritious menus to suit the preferences and dietary requirements of all residents.

Somerleigh Court has Platinum Status in the Gold Standards Framework in Care Homes – this is the highest rating, which they have held consistently since 2012. Needs-assessed fee contributions are available where applicable.

The home’s registered nurses and healthcare assistants work under the supervision of a dedicated home manager.

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Care Provided

Primary Care Categories

  • Older Person Care
  • Dementia

Length of Stay

  • Permanent Care
  • Respite Care

Care Types Provided

  • Residential Care
  • Nursing Care
  • Dementia Residential Care
  • Dementia Nursing Care
  • For a maximum of 40 Service Users

Dementia Care Types

  • Mild Dementia
  • Moderate Dementia
  • Advanced/Complex Dementia

Other Care Provided

  • Palliative / End of Life Care
  • Convalescent Care

Facilities

  • Smoking not permitted
  • Close to Local shops
  • Near Public Transport
  • Lift
  • Wheelchair Access
  • Gardens
  • Television point in own room
  • Residents Internet Access

Funding & Fees

Please contact the home for an assessment.

Funding Types Accepted

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

Good to Know

Person in charge

  • Kerry Mason (Home Manager)

Local Authority / Social Services

Admission Criteria

  • Ages 65+

Care Home Design/Build

  • Purpose Built: Yes

Room Information

  • Single Rooms (40)
  • Single Rooms with ensuite Wet Room (40)

Visiting

  • They operate an open visiting policy with no set times to visit.

Parking

  • Parking on-site.

Somerleigh Court Nursing Home Reviews (37)

Total of 37, showing 1-20
9.9

Somerleigh Court Nursing Home has a Review Score of 9.9 (9.890) out of 10, based on 14 reviews in the last 2 years. Over all time Somerleigh Court Nursing Home has 37 reviews.

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Date Published

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Review from Dominique M (Ex Family Member) published on 4 August 2025
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Received lots of kindness and care from the Manager and her staff at this Nursing Home. They couldn't do enough for my family at a very difficult time and I am so grateful for this and the service they provide is outstanding.

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Review from S W (Friend of Resident) published on 29 July 2025
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

A wonderful home, friendly and caring. My friend recieved exemplary care, provided with compassion and empathy. The staff were always polite and helpful, not just to my friend but to me aswell. My friends dignity was maintained at all times, she felt like she was treated like family.

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Review from Joy D (Niece of Resident) published on 29 July 2025
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My Great Aunt stayed at Somerleigh for some respite care. Obviously was hesitant to begin with but now back at home, has nothing but positive thoughts about her stay. Lovely home with friendly staff, who made her feel at ease and couldn't do enough for her. My Aunt isn't ready to stay permanently but
would definitely go back for a much needed rest.

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Review from G E (Brother of Resident) published on 19 June 2025
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My Sister has settled into Somerleigh Court well. The home is welcoming, the staff are friendly and it feels so homely. The care team can not do enough for us and we are so grateful for them to be looking after her so well. Thank you so much

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Review from Kate G (Daughter of Resident) published on 22 May 2025
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

We are so pleased that Mum is at Somerleigh Court. She is there for respite care and the staff and nurses are all very attentive and professional. Mum knows that she is being very well looked after and that makes us happy as a family, knowing that she is in the right place. The staff always find time
in their busy schedule to chat with Mum, and she really appreciates the attention. The meals are well received and Mum is able to request her favourite food from the kitchen. Mums' room is comfortable and spacious enough for her to have some possessions around her and the ensuite bathroom is well designed and manageable with a Zimmer frame. Staff members are happy to take Mum outside in a wheelchair for short visits and fresh air when the weather allows. The surrounding gardens are lovely and the care home buildings are attractive, built for purpose and well maintained. We visit Mum regularly and there are no restrictions on timing or length of visits. Thank you for everything.

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Review from Steve S (Son of Resident) published on 19 May 2025
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My mother enjoyed 10 years as a resident in Somerleigh Court before needing to move to their nursing home at short notice. The nursing home was excellent; they facilitated a quick transfer in a professional and compassionate manner. Mum went in for respite care but quickly deteriorated and passed 2
weeks latter (she had terminal cancer). My brother and I were hugely impressed by the care and compassion shown by the staff. This started at reception, went through all the carers and extended to catering, maintenance and administration. There's a new manager and she's excellent. The home has significantly improved and based upon our recent experience we'd whole heartedly recommend Somerleigh Nursing Home.

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Review from D C (Daughter of Resident) published on 18 April 2025
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Dad was so well taken care of in his short time there. The staff were kind and caring and nothing was to much for us. The food was always excellent, the activities laid on were always so good, we especially loved the animals that visited and Dad always loved them .Thank you all so much

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Review from Victoria E (Sister of Resident) published on 17 April 2025
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

I cannot praise the Manager and all of her staff enough for the excellent care they are providing for my brother who is with them for respite care. Nothing is too much trouble. I and my other siblings, who are made to feel very welcome, are very grateful for caring in such a warm and experienced way.
Thank you

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Review from Barbara M (Sister of Resident) published on 12 November 2024
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My brother unfortunately passed away but we would like to express our sincere thanks to the staff, management, cleaners and the nursing care he received whilst in their care.
Their compassion and professionalism were second to none and I would strongly recommend Somerleigh Court to anyone in need of
care.

Reply from sharon Hill, General manager at Somerleigh Court Nursing Home

Thank you so much for your lovely review of our home, we will be sure to share this with the team as this will mean so much to them. It was our privilege to care for your brother, we learnt so much about him in the short time he was with us which ensured that we provided the person-centred care he needed at this time in his life.

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Review from E B (Daughter of Resident) published on 18 July 2024
Submitted via Postal Card • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 4.0 out of 5

My mum lived here for nearly 2 years and passed away in June. I have been impressed by the level of care over that time. I have always felt welcome when visiting Mum, dog in tow. When there was difficulty it was resolved quickly with a can-do attitude. During Mum's end-of-life care, the staff were really
kind and thoughtful in many small ways that made her passing as comfortable as possible.

Reply from sharon Hill, General manager at Somerleigh Court Nursing Home

Thank you so much for your kind review. It was a privilege to care for your dear mum, thank you for entrusting her into our care. We will share all of your thoughts and this positive review with the staff we know that it will mean so much to them.

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Review from Lesley B (Daughter of Resident) published on 11 July 2024
Submitted via Postal Card • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Mum became a resident of Summerleigh Court in May 2024. She settled in straight away. All the staff are friendly and welcoming. They all care for Mum brilliantly and treat her with dignity, Mum thinks they are wonderful. Mum has a comfortable bedroom with all her bits from home. The staff inform me
straight away of any health worries. We feel like part of the Somerleigh Court family. Thank you.

Reply from sharon Hill, General manager at Somerleigh Court Nursing Home

Thank you so much for your kind words, we always try our very best to make everything we do personal to each resident in the home. Dignity and respect are at the forefront of all we do. We will share this review with the staff as it is so important for them to be appreciated and it re-affirms to us that we are doing a great job in caring for all of the residents that live at Somerleigh Court.

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Review from Karen R (Daughter of Resident) published on 10 May 2024
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Our mother was a resident at Somerleigh Court for the final month of her life. Mum loved the food, staff, activities and most of all the brilliant care. I cannot recommend Somerleigh Court highly enough, her final days were dignified and our family were always welcomed.

Reply from sharon Hill, General manager at Somerleigh Court Nursing Home

Thank you for such a lovely review, it was a pleasure to care for your dear mum. Our staff will be so pleased to hear that you found us all so welcoming and we will make sure that we share your comments with them.

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Review from T R (Niece of Resident) published on 22 March 2024
Submitted via Postal Card • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Bought a flat with access to the care home facilities and lived there a few years before moving to the home because of the effects of dementia. Loved all the carers and support, so continuity was perfect. (My mother also bought a flat and ended up spending her last few days in the care home where they
were outstanding to us all as she died.) It has now been a few years that my uncle has been in the home and his needs are more care being bed-bound. His room is lovely and clean and personalised with dementia interaction suggestions from the activities team. He loves his food and most importantly I trust them with his safety and security.

Reply from Sharon Hill, General manager at Somerleigh Court Nursing Home

It is with heartfelt thanks from all the team at Somerleigh Court in sharing your review, more than anything it is so important that such positive comments are seen by all, we know that the staff will feel that all their hard work is worth the time and effort they put in to ensure that your loved one is cared for with dignity and respect at all times. Living in our village apartments and then coming into the care home was a very natural part of living at Somerleigh, as you say continuity is key. Thank you once again for such a lovely review and we will ensure that this is shared with all the staff.

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Review from P E (Son of Resident) published on 14 September 2023
Submitted via Postal Card • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 4.0 out of 5

Dad has been well looked after since moving into Somerleigh Court. The care from personal care to involving him in some of the laid-on activities has been very good. Have been impressed by the attention to detail on the room layout in ensuring Dad had what worked best for him and his needs. Great job
Somerleigh staff, thank you.

Reply from sharon Hill, General manager at Somerleigh Court Nursing Home

Thank you so much for your lovely review.
we aim to ensure that all our residents are treated with dignity and respect at all times. We pride ourselves in making sure that all are cared for as individuals and what is important to them is important to us here at Somerleigh Court. I will pass on your thanks and comments to the team, they will very much appreciate your comments and review.

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Review from A D (Daughter of Resident) published on 20 July 2023
Submitted via Postal Card • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Our mother was a resident at this home for the last few weeks of her life. The care and compassion shown to her and the family was exemplary. Her cat was allowed to stay with her; this was so important for Mum's well-being and demonstrated real person-centred care.
This was a difficult time for Mum
and for us, as her health deteriorated, but the highly skilled and amazing ream at Somerleigh delivered care with kindness and sensitivity. Under the circumstances, our experience was the best it could have been, and for that, we will be eternally grateful.

Reply from sharon Hill, General manager at Somerleigh Court Nursing Home

Thank you so much for your heartfelt review.
It is so important to us to have lovey feedback; your mum was very special to us having lived here in the village for many years and came full circle into our care in the nursing home. It was a privilege to care for her, Alice the cat, and to have had such a supportive family.
We miss her dearly.
I will ensure that this is shared with the staff; it will mean a lot to them.

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Review from Lucy A (Daughter of Resident) published on 4 April 2023
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My dad stayed at Somerleigh Court Nursing Home for nearly four weeks of respite care. My mum joined him for two weeks after major surgery to aid in her recovery.
All the staff were excellent at caring for them both.
The home's food was excellent and plentiful.
The activities team offered a
variety of different activities, including Mother's Day afternoon tea which we were also invited to attend.
We would recommend Somerleigh Court for anyone looking for long or short-term care for a family member.

Reply from Kay Jerrams, Head of Care at Somerleigh Court Nursing Home

Hello Lucy, thank you for your lovely comments. It was a pleasure looking after mum and dad, and everyone has said they are missing them and wish them well. Glad you enjoyed the mothers day afternoon tea. Best wishes.

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Review from D B (Daughter of Resident) published on 29 March 2023
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Could not recommend Somerleigh highly enough! Took such lovely care of our dad in his final days. Such warm staff and genuine people, even checking up on us after he had passed. Also, such a lovely position, and feel the building felt like a loving home.

Reply from Kay Jerrams, Head of Care at Somerleigh Court Nursing Home

Thank you for your kind words. I will pass this on to the staff here at Somerleigh. Caring for your lovely dad was a pleasure.

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Review from Gillian G (Niece of Resident) published on 22 March 2023
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Somerleigh Court is the most calm and peaceful home that we were lucky to be able to find for our uncle.
He was really cared for, and his last few weeks were peaceful and pain-free. All our expectations were exceeded on every count. We were able to visit at any time and were always made to feel welcome
by the lovely staff. Their kindness and care for our uncle were genuine and reassuring, and we were kept informed at all times.
Somerleigh Court far exceeded anything we had previously experienced, and we are very grateful to everyone.

Reply from Kay Jerrams, Head of Care at Somerleigh Court Nursing Home

Dear Gillian, thank you for your lovely comments; I have passed these on to the staff here. It was a pleasure to care for your uncle. Regards.

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Review from Jayne D (Daughter of Resident) published on 14 November 2022
Submitted via Postal Card • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My mother is very well cared for at Somerleigh Court and is very fond of all the staff. They go above and beyond to make her comfortable and respond to her needs. I am so glad to see the return of more entertainment since the lockdown. They are very much enjoyed by all the residents.

Reply from Lesley Brock, General Registered Manager at Somerleigh Court Nursing Home

Thank you so much for your review; receiving feedback from families, visitors, and residents are very important.

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Review from N S (Daughter of Resident) published on 7 October 2022
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Sommerleigh Court has met all of our expectations in looking for a care home for my dad, who has dementia. This is the only place that he has settled. The staff are very friendly and kind and understand Dad's needs and are also very supportive of our Mum. It's such a friendly place with lots of activities
for Dad and (Mum) to enjoy.

Reply from Lesley Brock, General Registered Manager at Somerleigh Court Nursing Home

Thank you so much for your kind words; it is always a pleasure to receive such positive feedback.

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Current Review Score: 9.9 (9.890)

Overview of Review Score

The Review Score of 9.9 (9.890) out of 10 for Somerleigh Court Nursing Home is based on a) the Average Rating and b) the number of positive Reviews.

  • a) The Average Rating is 4.9 out of 5 from 14 Reviews in the last 24 months.

  • b) The score for the number of positive Reviews is 5.0 out of 5 from 14 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:

  • a) 5 Points are available for the Average Rating from all Reviews in the last 24 months.

    The Average Rating of 4.890 for Somerleigh Court Nursing Home is calculated as follows: ( (147 Excellents x 5) + (16 Goods x 4) + (1 Satisfactorys x 3) ) ÷ 164 Ratings = 4.89

  • b) 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 5 Points relating to the number of positive Reviews for Somerleigh Court Nursing Home is based on 14 positive Reviews in the last 24 months and is calculated as per below:

    The 5 points available are broken down as follows:

    • i) 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 + 0.125 + 0.1 + 0.1 + 0.1 + 0.1 + 0.1 = 4

    • ii) 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 40 registered maximum number of service users is 8, which has been reached with 14 Positive reviews. Points = 1

  • When a Review is submitted by someone who has previously submitted a Review, only the latest Review will count towards the Review Score.

  • 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: 2 Apr 2020

Overall
Good

  • Caring

    Good

  • Effective

    Good

  • Responsive

    Good

  • Safe

    Good

  • Well-led

    Good

Care Quality Commission is responsible for the registration and inspection of social care services in England.

View Latest Report

Bed Vacancies

2 Bed Vacancies

posted 11 Aug 2025

Please contact the Home for additional details.

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Awards / Recognitions (3)

Meet the Team (1)

Kerry

Kerry Mason

Job Title: Home Manager

Joined: 2024

At Somerleigh Court our dedicated team provide award-winning levels of care. For over a decade, we have been rated at the highest level by the Gold Standards Framework for the end-of-life care we provide, putting us among the top 15% of nursing homes nationally.


We are rated as ‘Good’ by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) across all five assessment criteria; ‘safe’, ‘effective’, ‘responsive’, ‘caring’ and ‘well-led.’

Frequently Asked Questions about Somerleigh Court Nursing Home

What types of Care is Somerleigh Court Nursing Home registered for?

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

How many Rooms does Somerleigh Court Nursing Home have?

There are 40 Single Rooms.

What are the Facilities & Services at Somerleigh Court Nursing Home?

Smoking not permitted, 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 Somerleigh Court Nursing 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 Somerleigh Court Nursing Home to verify any information. View our terms and conditions. Somerleigh Court Nursing Home has an Enhanced Service - more info.