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Gun Hill, Dedham, Colchester, CO7 6HP
View full details of Blackbrook HouseLatest Reviews for Blackbrook House
12 February 2026
Blackbrook House. The care my friend receives from all of the staff, this includes every single person who works there, is exemplary. She has always been a very social person, and it is still in her, even though she has problems with her memory. The staff are always smiling and extremely helpful
if needed. They include her in the activities, she sometimes is not sure if she want to go, then she loves joining in.
10 February 2026
My mum moved into Blackbrook December 2025. She'd been struggling for some time, especially since my dad died, and was having increasing problems with her memory. She couldn't cope at home any longer. Within 2 weeks of moving into Blackbrook, she was a different person - happy, relaxed, content and
making friends. Emily and her team have been amazing! They are the loveliest, most caring team I could have wished for. They treat the residents like family, with kindness and smiles, helping my mum and others to feel 'at home', safe, and cared for. Nothing is too much for the team. They make me feel welcome and reassured every time I visit too. Blackbrook itself is incredibly clean, lovely lounges, bright & fresh. The outside courtyard is beautiful. My mum's room is lovely. We have been able to put pictures up & decorate with personal items too. Thank you again to Emily the Team Leader, for your amazing energy, and your experience enabling my mum to feel like Blackbrook is her 'home' :-)
19 January 2026
We have been very impressed with the care our father has received at Blackbrook. Despite his challenges he has been treated with kindness and compassion. The staff are always friendly and responsive to any questions. Clearly the home is well run and the residents well cared for.
16 December 2025
Although my husband was only in Blackbrook House for a short time I spent several hours there and was so impressed with the patience, kindness and overall enthusiasm of the staff. Especially when he was reaching the end of his life he and I were cared for and treated with dignity and gentleness.
04 December 2025
My mother wanted to go to respite when she left hospital, so my husband and I looked at several establishments before settling on Blackbrook House. When we arrived having arranged to view, from the moment we walked through the front door the atmosphere was that of relaxed efficiency . The building
is bright and airy, the colour scheme restful. We were shown round by Joanne, viewing the available rooms. The more we saw the more it became clear that Blackbrook House was the one. Decision made. my mother moved in a few days later. She is 98 years old still living independently before admission to hospital. She has settled in well, due in large part to the efficiency and friendliness of all the staff. We feel that she now feels, Blackbrook House to be 'home' and we hope that she will decide that this environment is one she likes and that she will decide to become a permanent resident, a decision we would fully support.
We recommend Blackbrook House to anyone seeking care for a loved one.
27 October 2025
My experience of seeing my mother in law cared for and looked after 24/7 is a weight of my mind. She is safe, happy and integrates into the care home activities which we have witnessed and she seems very happy. She is a social lady who benefits from company and stimulation.
Eating collectively has
been amazing for her and she loves her food and has gained weight.
My husband and I are so glad we made the decision to place her in Blackbrook and we can rest easy that she is getting all her needs met.
23 October 2025
I originally visited 5 care homes around the Colchester district to see the facilities and suitability for my fathers needs. I choose 2 to show him, with Blackbrook being my preference but did not tell my father. After the visits with him, he choose Blackbrook. From my initial visit and for every
visit subsequent all the staff were welcoming and helpful, nothing ever seemed to be a problem. Its fair to say my father probably wasn't the easiest resident the home or staff had experienced, but regardless never a word of complaint, all they did was support, adapt and help. My father was treated with a huge level of respect and provided his dignity too, right through to his last days. On that occasion the support for me was fantastic too. Thank you to everyone for your help and support to my family. Clearly good management comes from the top and that is clear to see at Blackbrook.
19 August 2025
Having to have to put our mother into care was a heart-breaking experience for my sister and myself which with her dementia and non compliance of the situation even harder ,
All of the staff superbly lead by the manager made it a lot easier and their care for her is absolutely brilliant , we held
her 90th birthday tea in the upstairs lounge area with their help and we think she had a Great time surrounded by her family from 85yr old brother to 2 11 month old Great Grandchildren
Thanks again
12 August 2025
Excellent experience of Blackbrook House. My Mum has been there nearly 2 years and she has been transformed from someone who just watched TV, was not taking care of herself and was not interested in anything or anyone around her, to someone who takes an active interest in everything. She is a very
different person and I have not only got my Mum back but a happier version of my Mum than I have ever seen in spite of the fact that she was very happily married and had a lovely family! Being nurtured and looked after suits her down to the ground. She loves the staff, enjoys the activities, feels respected and cared for. I am always welcomed and the staff are very caring and friendly. I think the care and attention the staff show Mum is something she has needed for a long time and finally found! I definitely chose the right home for Mum. I am so happy she went to Blackbrook House.
12 August 2025
My mum was very unsettled when she first came. However with the excellent care and kindness of the staff she is now in a much better way. The staff are all very kind and considerate, if I have any questions they are only too happy to answer and reassure me. I am entirely satisfied with the care she
is recieving
12 August 2025
All the staff are so very kind and helpful.
12 August 2025
Having tried several care home previously I am delighted to find Blackbrook House for my mother. She has settled in very well. Your carers are all really polite and attentive. It is a great comfort to know my mother is being well looked after. The premises are very cheerful and bright, my mother's
room on the north side is a bit glooming and I understand you will consider her for a brighter room when one becomes available.
09 July 2025
Friendly kind understanding accomodating smiling staff.
Excellent decor comfortable furnishings a real homely atmosphere,i in fact everything you could want from a care home Food also looked super. All in all wonderful place for a loved one to find themselves when personal independence is no
longer an option. Visited my friend in a few local homes when she has had short care needs and this seems gold star in comparison.
28 May 2025
Dad moved to Blackbrook House at the ripe age of 97 - quite a transition for someone who was previously living in an independent flat. From the outset the managers and all the staff were very kind and thoughtful and treated Dad with respect and care. The home is welcoming, clean and bright with
lovely areas to sit and walk around. Although Dad is now very frail he continuously comments on how kind and caring the staff are. To end with his own words 'Excellent, nice staff, very understanding and always prepared to listen to what you have to say. They are all very lovely'.
19 March 2025
Mother spent the last three years of her life at Blackbrook House and knowing that she was safe and comfortable there was a huge weight off my mind. The staff were all very caring and treated Mum with respect.
The managers were always approachable and treated Mum as an individual not just as a
client. Her final passing was treated with compassion and dignity.
22 January 2025
I would strongly recommend the manager and her team.
They cared for my father in a caring and compassionate way.
They dealt with his needs in an amazingly professional way.
Sadly, we were unable to keep him there any longer due to social services.
The care home has a warm and friendly
atmosphere, it is a wonderful place.
Thank you for all your help and support for the family as well.
15 January 2025
My sister and I visited our mum at Blackbrook House and had our lunch with her last week (12th December) and it was such a memorable and joyous visit. We were given a lovely table in the dining room in a little secluded area all decorated festively for Christmas. The staff were all amazing and made
us all feel very special taking pictures for us and the assistant manager went above and beyond to look after us, printing and laminating a lovely photograph of all three of us together. The food was delicious. Thank you Blackbrook House.
31 December 2024
The staff are very helpful. Breakfast is brought up to my room. I watch TV while I'm having breakfast. There's a choice for lunch and dinner which is very nice. A lady who sits at my table is a vegetarian and she is catered for. My room and shower room are regularly cleaned and polished. I forgot to
say I have the same thing for breakfast every morning!
19 December 2024
Blackbrook House is the best-kept care home that I have been in. My husband is a resident, he is very happy where he is. With dementia, it is very hard to assess his feelings. I only have one gripe and on several days over the last few weeks, when there are no senior staff on shift, things seem not
to run as smoothly. The inexperienced agency staff seem to not know what they are doing. It is a very hard job, I know, and it is easy for me to say but I do think there should be more experienced staff to guide them.
19 December 2024
Would appreciate, when the weather is appropriate, that the outdoor patio area could be cleaned, swept and pressure washed, and bird feeders cleaned with table and chairs as the area looks unloved and not useable.
Latest Reviews for Blackbrook House
12 February 2026
Blackbrook House. The care my friend receives from all of the staff, this includes every single person who works there, is exemplary. She has always been a very social person, and it is still in her, even though she has problems with her memory. The staff are always smiling and extremely helpful
if needed. They include her in the activities, she sometimes is not sure if she want to go, then she loves joining in.
10 February 2026
My mum moved into Blackbrook December 2025. She'd been struggling for some time, especially since my dad died, and was having increasing problems with her memory. She couldn't cope at home any longer. Within 2 weeks of moving into Blackbrook, she was a different person - happy, relaxed, content and
making friends. Emily and her team have been amazing! They are the loveliest, most caring team I could have wished for. They treat the residents like family, with kindness and smiles, helping my mum and others to feel 'at home', safe, and cared for. Nothing is too much for the team. They make me feel welcome and reassured every time I visit too. Blackbrook itself is incredibly clean, lovely lounges, bright & fresh. The outside courtyard is beautiful. My mum's room is lovely. We have been able to put pictures up & decorate with personal items too. Thank you again to Emily the Team Leader, for your amazing energy, and your experience enabling my mum to feel like Blackbrook is her 'home' :-)
19 January 2026
We have been very impressed with the care our father has received at Blackbrook. Despite his challenges he has been treated with kindness and compassion. The staff are always friendly and responsive to any questions. Clearly the home is well run and the residents well cared for.
16 December 2025
Although my husband was only in Blackbrook House for a short time I spent several hours there and was so impressed with the patience, kindness and overall enthusiasm of the staff. Especially when he was reaching the end of his life he and I were cared for and treated with dignity and gentleness.
04 December 2025
My mother wanted to go to respite when she left hospital, so my husband and I looked at several establishments before settling on Blackbrook House. When we arrived having arranged to view, from the moment we walked through the front door the atmosphere was that of relaxed efficiency . The building
is bright and airy, the colour scheme restful. We were shown round by Joanne, viewing the available rooms. The more we saw the more it became clear that Blackbrook House was the one. Decision made. my mother moved in a few days later. She is 98 years old still living independently before admission to hospital. She has settled in well, due in large part to the efficiency and friendliness of all the staff. We feel that she now feels, Blackbrook House to be 'home' and we hope that she will decide that this environment is one she likes and that she will decide to become a permanent resident, a decision we would fully support.
We recommend Blackbrook House to anyone seeking care for a loved one.
27 October 2025
My experience of seeing my mother in law cared for and looked after 24/7 is a weight of my mind. She is safe, happy and integrates into the care home activities which we have witnessed and she seems very happy. She is a social lady who benefits from company and stimulation.
Eating collectively has
been amazing for her and she loves her food and has gained weight.
My husband and I are so glad we made the decision to place her in Blackbrook and we can rest easy that she is getting all her needs met.
23 October 2025
I originally visited 5 care homes around the Colchester district to see the facilities and suitability for my fathers needs. I choose 2 to show him, with Blackbrook being my preference but did not tell my father. After the visits with him, he choose Blackbrook. From my initial visit and for every
visit subsequent all the staff were welcoming and helpful, nothing ever seemed to be a problem. Its fair to say my father probably wasn't the easiest resident the home or staff had experienced, but regardless never a word of complaint, all they did was support, adapt and help. My father was treated with a huge level of respect and provided his dignity too, right through to his last days. On that occasion the support for me was fantastic too. Thank you to everyone for your help and support to my family. Clearly good management comes from the top and that is clear to see at Blackbrook.
19 August 2025
Having to have to put our mother into care was a heart-breaking experience for my sister and myself which with her dementia and non compliance of the situation even harder ,
All of the staff superbly lead by the manager made it a lot easier and their care for her is absolutely brilliant , we held
her 90th birthday tea in the upstairs lounge area with their help and we think she had a Great time surrounded by her family from 85yr old brother to 2 11 month old Great Grandchildren
Thanks again
12 August 2025
Excellent experience of Blackbrook House. My Mum has been there nearly 2 years and she has been transformed from someone who just watched TV, was not taking care of herself and was not interested in anything or anyone around her, to someone who takes an active interest in everything. She is a very
different person and I have not only got my Mum back but a happier version of my Mum than I have ever seen in spite of the fact that she was very happily married and had a lovely family! Being nurtured and looked after suits her down to the ground. She loves the staff, enjoys the activities, feels respected and cared for. I am always welcomed and the staff are very caring and friendly. I think the care and attention the staff show Mum is something she has needed for a long time and finally found! I definitely chose the right home for Mum. I am so happy she went to Blackbrook House.
12 August 2025
My mum was very unsettled when she first came. However with the excellent care and kindness of the staff she is now in a much better way. The staff are all very kind and considerate, if I have any questions they are only too happy to answer and reassure me. I am entirely satisfied with the care she
is recieving
12 August 2025
All the staff are so very kind and helpful.
12 August 2025
Having tried several care home previously I am delighted to find Blackbrook House for my mother. She has settled in very well. Your carers are all really polite and attentive. It is a great comfort to know my mother is being well looked after. The premises are very cheerful and bright, my mother's
room on the north side is a bit glooming and I understand you will consider her for a brighter room when one becomes available.
09 July 2025
Friendly kind understanding accomodating smiling staff.
Excellent decor comfortable furnishings a real homely atmosphere,i in fact everything you could want from a care home Food also looked super. All in all wonderful place for a loved one to find themselves when personal independence is no
longer an option. Visited my friend in a few local homes when she has had short care needs and this seems gold star in comparison.
28 May 2025
Dad moved to Blackbrook House at the ripe age of 97 - quite a transition for someone who was previously living in an independent flat. From the outset the managers and all the staff were very kind and thoughtful and treated Dad with respect and care. The home is welcoming, clean and bright with
lovely areas to sit and walk around. Although Dad is now very frail he continuously comments on how kind and caring the staff are. To end with his own words 'Excellent, nice staff, very understanding and always prepared to listen to what you have to say. They are all very lovely'.
19 March 2025
Mother spent the last three years of her life at Blackbrook House and knowing that she was safe and comfortable there was a huge weight off my mind. The staff were all very caring and treated Mum with respect.
The managers were always approachable and treated Mum as an individual not just as a
client. Her final passing was treated with compassion and dignity.
22 January 2025
I would strongly recommend the manager and her team.
They cared for my father in a caring and compassionate way.
They dealt with his needs in an amazingly professional way.
Sadly, we were unable to keep him there any longer due to social services.
The care home has a warm and friendly
atmosphere, it is a wonderful place.
Thank you for all your help and support for the family as well.
15 January 2025
My sister and I visited our mum at Blackbrook House and had our lunch with her last week (12th December) and it was such a memorable and joyous visit. We were given a lovely table in the dining room in a little secluded area all decorated festively for Christmas. The staff were all amazing and made
us all feel very special taking pictures for us and the assistant manager went above and beyond to look after us, printing and laminating a lovely photograph of all three of us together. The food was delicious. Thank you Blackbrook House.
31 December 2024
The staff are very helpful. Breakfast is brought up to my room. I watch TV while I'm having breakfast. There's a choice for lunch and dinner which is very nice. A lady who sits at my table is a vegetarian and she is catered for. My room and shower room are regularly cleaned and polished. I forgot to
say I have the same thing for breakfast every morning!
19 December 2024
Blackbrook House is the best-kept care home that I have been in. My husband is a resident, he is very happy where he is. With dementia, it is very hard to assess his feelings. I only have one gripe and on several days over the last few weeks, when there are no senior staff on shift, things seem not
to run as smoothly. The inexperienced agency staff seem to not know what they are doing. It is a very hard job, I know, and it is easy for me to say but I do think there should be more experienced staff to guide them.
19 December 2024
Would appreciate, when the weather is appropriate, that the outdoor patio area could be cleaned, swept and pressure washed, and bird feeders cleaned with table and chairs as the area looks unloved and not useable.