The 10 best-rated, ranked from published Care Quality Commission data, not opinion or advertising. 239 of the 304 mental health in Essex currently hold a Good or Outstanding rating.
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Chelmsford, CM2
Operated by Care and Wellbeing Group Limited
Registered to support older people, younger adults, dementia care. Care delivered in your own home. Rated Outstanding by CQC, published 8/3/19.
80-86 New London Road, Chelmsford, Essex, CM2 0PD
5 of 5 CQC domains rated Good or Outstanding
Leigh On Sea, SS9
Operated by Hallmark Care Homes (Leigh-On-Sea) Limited
Registered to support older people, younger adults, dementia care. 60 beds. Rated Outstanding by CQC, published 4/4/20.
Manchester Drive, Leigh On Sea, Essex, SS9 3HP
5 of 5 CQC domains rated Good or Outstanding
Benfleet, SS7
Registered to support older people, younger adults, learning disability and autism. Care delivered in your own home. Rated Outstanding by CQC, published 4/17/19.
Suite 2, 351 London Road, Hadleigh, Benfleet, Essex, SS7 2BT
5 of 5 CQC domains rated Good or Outstanding
Harlow, CM20
Operated by North London Homecare and Support Limited
Registered to support older people, younger adults, dementia care. Care delivered in your own home. Rated Outstanding by CQC, published 4/10/19.
Circle Line House, 8 East Road, Harlow, Essex, CM20 2BJ
5 of 5 CQC domains rated Good or Outstanding
Halstead, CO9
Registered to support older people, younger adults, dementia care. Care delivered in your own home. Rated Outstanding by CQC, published 3/28/20.
The Old Coalyard, 61 Alderford Street, Sible Hedingham, Halstead, Essex, CO9 3HX
5 of 5 CQC domains rated Good or Outstanding
Southend On Sea, SS3
Operated by Belton Care Ltd
Registered to support older people, younger adults, learning disability and autism. Care delivered in your own home. Rated Outstanding by CQC, published 3/14/19.
Unit B2, Seedbed Centre, Vanguard Way, Shoeburyness, Southend On Sea, Essex, SS3 9QY
5 of 5 CQC domains rated Good or Outstanding
Basildon, SS14
Operated by Excellence Care Ltd
Registered to support mental health. 6 beds. Rated Outstanding by CQC, published 11/10/18.
15 Clayburn Circle, Basildon, Essex, SS14 1PZ
5 of 5 CQC domains rated Good or Outstanding
Frinton On Sea, CO13
Operated by Jean Allen Care Services Limited
Registered to support older people, dementia care, learning disability and autism. Care delivered in your own home. Rated Outstanding by CQC, published 1/9/20.
Suite 5 Gallery Chambers, 145A Connaught Avenue, Frinton On Sea, Essex, CO13 9AH
5 of 5 CQC domains rated Good or Outstanding
Basildon, SS16
Operated by Excellence Care Ltd
Registered to support older people, younger adults, dementia care. Care delivered in your own home. Rated Outstanding by CQC, published 1/31/20.
St Davids Court, London Road, Basildon, Essex, SS16 4PY
5 of 5 CQC domains rated Good or Outstanding
Chelmsford, CM2
Operated by Care UK Community Partnerships Ltd
Registered to support older people, younger adults, dementia care. 120 beds. Rated Outstanding by CQC, published 1/15/25.
Manor Road, Chelmsford, Essex, CM2 0EP
5 of 5 CQC domains rated Good or Outstanding
Showing 10 of 239 mental health in Essex that currently hold a published Good or Outstanding rating, out of 304 registered in total. Services with no published rating are excluded: newly registered services often have none, and no rating is not a poor rating.
Based on Care Quality Commission data published 01 July 2026, used under the Open Government Licence. No provider has paid for a position on this page, and none can.
CQC registers services by the groups they support, and mental health is one of the largest. This covers community services, supported housing, and care at home for people whose primary need relates to mental health rather than age or physical disability.
Community based services. Outreach, floating support and recovery-focused work, usually not tied to where you live.
Supported housing. Accommodation with staff on site or visiting, from a shared house to a scheme with 24-hour cover.
Care at home. Practical and personal support in your own home, often alongside NHS community mental health teams.
Rehabilitation services. Structured support to rebuild independence, often after a hospital stay.
If someone has been detained in hospital under section 3 of the Mental Health Act, or certain other sections, the NHS and the council have a joint duty to provide aftercare free of charge.
Section 117 aftercare:
This is routinely missed. If someone was detained under section 3 and is now paying for mental health related support, that is worth challenging in writing.
Ordinary mental health social care goes through the council means test like any other. Direct payments are available and often suit people who want control over who supports them and when.
If needs are primarily health needs, check NHS Continuing Healthcare. And if work is the issue, Access to Work funds mental health support and workplace adjustments without a means test.
Read the full CQC report, particularly safe and well-led. Then ask:
304 CQC-registered mental health have a registered office in Essex, East of England. Of those, 239 currently hold a published Good or Outstanding rating, which is the pool this ranking is drawn from.
That depends on your finances, not your postcode. Above £23,250 in capital you normally pay the full cost. Below £14,250 your capital is ignored. Your council carries out the financial assessment, and NHS Continuing Healthcare pays in full where needs are primarily health needs. 2026/27 thresholds for England.
It means it was rated Good at the last inspection, and the gap between inspections can run to years. Use the rating as a starting point, read the full report, and visit in person before deciding.
If someone has been detained in hospital under certain sections of the Mental Health Act, mainly section 3, the NHS and the council must provide aftercare services free of charge. Section 117 aftercare is not means tested and cannot be charged for. It is one of the most valuable and least understood entitlements in the whole system, and it has no time limit: it lasts until both bodies formally agree the person no longer needs it.
Ordinary mental health social care is means tested in the usual way. Section 117 aftercare is not, and must be free. If someone was detained under section 3 and is being charged for services that relate to their mental health, that is worth challenging.
Carevo does not inspect or endorse services. CQC ratings change between inspections. Check the current rating on the CQC website and read the full report before deciding.