The 10 best-rated, ranked from published Care Quality Commission data, not opinion or advertising. 52 of the 59 nursing home in Dorset currently hold a Good or Outstanding rating.
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Sherborne, DT9
Operated by Colten Care (1993) Limited
Registered to support older people, younger adults. 52 beds. Rated Outstanding by CQC, published 9/27/23.
Fairfield, Bristol Road, Sherborne, Dorset, DT9 4HG
5 of 5 CQC domains rated Good or Outstanding
Broadstone, BH18
Operated by Gentilwood Limited
Registered to support older people, dementia care, physical disability. 58 beds. Rated Outstanding by CQC, published 9/2/22.
100 Dunyeats Road, Broadstone, Dorset, BH18 8AL
5 of 5 CQC domains rated Good or Outstanding
Bournemouth, BH8
Operated by Bupa Care Homes (BNH) Limited
Registered to support older people, younger adults. 49 beds. Rated Outstanding by CQC, published 8/5/22.
18 Queens Park West Drive, Bournemouth, Dorset, BH8 9DA
5 of 5 CQC domains rated Good or Outstanding
Ferndown, BH22
Operated by Colten Care (1693) Limited
Registered to support older people, younger adults. 55 beds. Rated Outstanding by CQC, published 6/21/19.
418-424 Ringwood Road, Ferndown, Dorset, BH22 9AX
5 of 5 CQC domains rated Good or Outstanding
Poole, BH13
Operated by Colten Care (1993) Limited
Registered to support older people, younger adults. 55 beds. Rated Outstanding by CQC, published 12/5/18.
40 Western Road, Branksome Park, Poole, Dorset, BH13 6EU
5 of 5 CQC domains rated Good or Outstanding
Broadstone, BH18
Operated by Bupa Care Homes (PT Links) Limited
Registered to support older people, younger adults, dementia care. 68 beds. Rated Outstanding by CQC, published 11/3/23.
1 Golf Links Road, Broadstone, Dorset, BH18 8BE
5 of 5 CQC domains rated Good or Outstanding
Ferndown, BH22
Operated by Colten Care (2009) Limited
Registered to support older people, younger adults, dementia care. 58 beds. Rated Outstanding by CQC, published 10/31/19.
122 Ringwood Road, Longham, Ferndown, Dorset, BH22 9AW
5 of 5 CQC domains rated Good or Outstanding
Weymouth, DT4
Operated by Altogether Care LLP
Registered to support older people, younger adults, dementia care. 36 beds. Rated Good by CQC, published 9/27/18.
21 Glendinning Avenue, Weymouth, Dorset, DT4 7QF
5 of 5 CQC domains rated Good or Outstanding
Poole, BH16
Operated by Waypoints (Upton) Ltd
Registered to support older people, younger adults, dementia care. 67 beds. Rated Good by CQC, published 8/3/21.
1 Dorchester Road, Upton, Poole, Dorset, BH16 5NJ
5 of 5 CQC domains rated Good or Outstanding
Bournemouth, BH8
Operated by Amrial Care Limited
Registered to support older people, younger adults, dementia care. 35 beds. Rated Good by CQC, published 8/27/25.
31-33 Howard Road, Queens Park, Bournemouth, Dorset, BH8 9EA
5 of 5 CQC domains rated Good or Outstanding
Showing 10 of 52 nursing home in Dorset that currently hold a published Good or Outstanding rating, out of 59 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.
A nursing home is a care home registered to provide nursing, with registered nurses on duty. CQC registers it as a care home service with nursing.
People who need clinical care alongside personal care: complex wounds, tube feeding, catheter or stoma management, unstable long term conditions, late stage dementia with physical complications, or end of life care.
Two separate things, often confused:
NHS-funded Nursing Care is £267.68 a week for 2026/27, paid to the home towards the nursing element only. Not means tested. The rest of the fee still is.
NHS Continuing Healthcare pays for everything, with no means test at all, if your needs are primarily health needs.
The order matters. You should be assessed for Continuing Healthcare first, and only assessed for FNC if CHC is ruled out. If you are offered FNC without a CHC assessment, ask why.
Nursing homes cost more than residential homes because of the nursing staff. The rest of the fee is means tested in the usual way, with the £23,250 upper capital limit.
Everything on the residential care home page applies, plus:
59 CQC-registered nursing home have a registered office in Dorset, South West. Of those, 52 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.
When their needs require a registered nurse: complex wound care, PEG or tube feeding, unstable diabetes, catheter or stoma management, palliative care, or conditions that need clinical monitoring and can change quickly.
Sometimes in part, sometimes in full. NHS-funded Nursing Care pays £267.68 a week towards the nursing element. NHS Continuing Healthcare pays the entire cost, with no means test, if your needs are primarily health needs. You should be assessed for Continuing Healthcare first.
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.