It’s the care that counts
Compassionate, person-centred care is always at the heart of everything we do
Not-for-profit, always for care
Care South is a not-for-profit charity and leading provider of care homes and care at home services across the south of England.
Find your nearest Care South location
If you’re looking for care for yourself or a loved one, then help is close by. Our warm and welcoming staff provide high-quality care in communities across Dorset, Devon and Somerset.
Wherever you are in your care journey, we’re here to support you
Care homes
Our friendly care homes offer a safe and nurturing environment with a home from home feel.
Our fully managed developments offer a safe way to maintain independence for older people.
Reach out today to begin your journey to high-quality care
All homes rated Good by CQC
We are regulated by the independent Care Quality Commission (CQC) whose role as an independent regulator is to register health and adult social care service providers in England and to check, through inspection and ongoing monitoring, that standards are being met.
This essential national regulator offers a helpful, reassuring snapshot of each specific registered service. At Care South however, our commitment to providing the best possible care 24/7 365 days a year goes further.
Ongoing, accountable, internal audits
The Board and Executive team work closely together to create a safe and caring environment for staff, residents and Care at Home clients alike whilst adhering to the highest of standards.
To ensure these standards are not only met, but exceeded, Care South homes benefit from experienced regional operations teams who are supported by multiple central functions, such as property managers, catering managers, dementia and clinical specialists. There is also a dedicated a care quality team, completing full internal audits (similar to that of a CQC report) at every home on a quarterly basis.
The combination of these internal assessments alongside external assessments can provide reassurance to residents and families that they are receiving the most up to date and best possible care.
Recognised as a Top 20 Care Home provider
This accolade is important to us as it is based on reviews from residents in our care, their families and friends. It is testament to all our care home teams who go above and beyond to ensure our homes are welcoming places where residents feel cared for, respected and supported as individuals.
All reviews are independently verified by a third party so you can feel reassured that what you read is a true reflection of our care and support.
Always high-quality care
Providing high-quality, compassionate care tailored to each individual to enable them to thrive.
Food, Fun and Friendship
Our residents continue living rich and fulfilled lives, doing what they love, with the people they love, enjoying Food, Fun and Friendship together.
Our chefs serve freshly prepared, seasonal food, that looks great and tastes even better!
Our homes are places to enjoy life and continue with hobbies and pastimes, within a vibrant community.
Our homes bring people together, through spending quality time with loved ones or by making new friendships.
Care as individual as you are
We can offer as little or as much help as you or your loved one needs. From residential care to dementia care, our dedicated team will tailor the support to suit each person’s individual needs and preferences.
Enjoy the comforts of home, in a friendly community, with help on hand for assistance with day-to-day tasks.
Recuperate or enjoy respite or a short stay in one of our welcoming homes, with extra support available if you need it.
Holistic, compassionate care by our highly trained team, enables each resident with dementia to live with dignity and respect.
24-hr care and peace of mind knowing that all your medical needs will be taken care of by our experienced nursing team.
Our people, our culture, our values
Our trustees, leadership team and care teams are all guided and inspired by our HEART values of honesty, excellence, approach, respect and teamwork.
Find out who’s on our Board of Trustee Directors, their career backgrounds and what inspires them to be a part of Care South.
Meet our leaders and discover more about their roles and responsibilities at Care South.
We’re proud of our inclusive culture, where everyone is valued and we celebrate what makes each of us unique.
At Care South our values define who we are and guide us in everything we do together.
Caring today and tomorrow
Reinvesting our profits not only ensures high-quality care for our current residents, but it also protects the wellbeing of future generations that will need care and support.
What our residents and families say about Care South
Our testimonials are taken from carehome.co.uk, the leading independent third party review site for the care sector.
Testimonials from residents and relatives
Residents in our care lead rich and fulfilling lives and we want to keep it that way through plenty of Food, Fun and Friendship. Find out more about what residents in our care think of life at Care South.
Latest news and updates
Big Band & BBQ at Beauchamp House
Summer Fayre at Talbot View
Summer Fayre at Alexandra House
📚💙 We're delighted to announce that Care South's Community Fund has donated £1,755 to Truth Be Told: Intergenerational Storytelling Groups, helping to bring a year of interactive storytelling sessions to residents at St Ives House.
The sessions, led by Charlotte Leighton from Pinehurst Community Church, bring together residents, local children and families through imaginative storytelling, helping to spark memories, encourage conversation and create meaningful connections across generations.
Truth Be Told has already brought so much joy to residents at Castle Dene, and we're thrilled that St Ives House residents will now enjoy these wonderful weekly sessions too.
Simon Bird, CEO of Care South, said:
💬 *"We are delighted to further support Truth Be Told to deliver their fantastic sessions for more residents to enjoy, explore their creativity and experience the joy of reading with children. At Care South, we love to support our residents to enjoy a wide range of activities, which includes those who enjoy continuing to share in their faith, whatever that may be."*
As a not-for-profit charity, Care South is proud to invest back into initiatives that make a real difference to the lives of our residents, clients and local communities.
A huge thank you to Truth Be Told and Pinehurst Community Church for the fantastic work they do. We can't wait to see the smiles, stories and friendships that grow over the coming year. 💙📖
Read More: www.care-south.co.uk/care-souths-community-fund-donates-1755-to-truth-be-told-storytelling-project/
#StIvesHouse #CareSouth #ItsTheCareThatCounts #CommunityFund #TruthBeTold #Intergenerational #Storytelling #Ringwood #DementiaCare #ResidentialCare #FoodFunAndFriendship #NotForProfitCare 📚✨
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🎣🐟 Kenwith Castle resident Fred was delighted to land the catch of the day after his special wish to go fishing came true!
A lifelong fisherman, Fred shared with the team how much he missed spending time by the water and enjoying one of his favourite hobbies. Wanting to help him reconnect with something that had brought him so much joy throughout his life, the team arranged a special fishing trip on the picturesque lake within the beautiful grounds of Kenwith Castle Care Village.
With a fishing rod and bait sourced by the team, Fred spent a peaceful morning by the water surrounded by stunning countryside views – and it wasn't long before the fish started biting!
In total, Fred caught an impressive seven fish during the trip. 🎣👏
Fred said:
💬 "I really enjoyed it. I managed to catch seven fish in total. I am so thankful to the team at Kenwith Castle for arranging this for me."
The experience was such a success that Fred has already arranged to head back to the lake again with some of his friends from the home.
At Kenwith Castle, our Make a Wish initiative helps residents reconnect with hobbies, passions and interests that have played an important role in their lives. Seeing Fred return to a pastime he loves and create new memories was truly special for everyone involved.
#KenwithCastle #ItsTheCareThatCounts #CareSouth #MakeAWish #Fishing #CatchOfTheDay #MeaningfulMoments #FoodFunAndFriendship #PersonCentredCare #Bideford #NorthDevon 💙🐟🎣
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🌟 What a fantastic Care Home Open Day at Fern Brook Lodge! 🌟
Residents, families and visitors enjoyed a wonderful day filled with memories, laughter and friendship as we opened our doors to the local community.
The morning began with a fascinating reminiscence session led by Jan from Rhymes, Rural and Reminiscence, exploring weddings and celebrations from years gone by. Residents loved sharing their own stories and memories, with many even dressing up for the occasion! 💒💐
In the afternoon, everyone enjoyed a delicious traditional high tea prepared by our talented Head Chef and catering team, before being entertained by musician Les Chaffe. 🎶☕🍰
The room was soon filled with singing, dancing and plenty of smiling faces as residents and their loved ones came together to celebrate.
Resident Andy summed up the day perfectly:
💬 "What a lovely afternoon. I had a great time."
A huge thank you to everyone who joined us and helped make the day so special. It was a wonderful example of the Food, Fun and Friendship that make Fern Brook Lodge such a welcoming place to call home. 💚
Read More: www.care-south.co.uk/fern-brook-lodge-opens-its-doors-for-a-memorable-care-home-open-day/
#FernBrookLodge #CareHomeOpenDay #FoodFunFriendship #ItsTheCareThatCounts #CareSouth #GillinghamDorset #Reminiscence #CommunityConnections #CareHomeLife #MakingMemories #NotForProfitCare #DementiaCare #ResidentialCare #CareSouthFamily 🌿💙
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🎉💖 The Poole community came together to make one very special lady's 101st birthday truly unforgettable!
Pat, who lives at Dorset House in Hamworthy, was treated to a day full of surprises, pampering and celebration thanks to the kindness and generosity of local businesses and residents.
After our team shared details of Pat's upcoming birthday on the Poole Community Group Facebook page, the response was simply incredible. Pat's special day included professional make-up from Davinia Fermi at DFMA, live entertainment from singer Abbie May, beautiful flowers from Bloom and Bramble Florist, delicious cupcakes from The Scrum and Crumb and a stunning birthday cake from local baker Jo Heckels. 🌷🎂🎶
Known for her love of glamour, Pat looked and felt fabulous as she celebrated with fellow residents, family and friends at a garden party complete with afternoon tea, balloons and decorations.
Pat said: 💬
*"The whole day was a very nice surprise for me. I'm just lucky to turn 101. I have always loved make-up and used to be inspired by the beautiful film stars of the day. I am so happy living at Dorset House. The staff are so nice to me, and we can have a good conversation."*
A huge thank you to everyone who helped make Pat's 101st birthday so memorable. Your kindness perfectly demonstrates the wonderful community spirit that makes Poole such a special place. 💙
Happy 101st Birthday, Pat! 🥂✨
Read More: www.care-south.co.uk/community-rally-together-to-help-hamworthy-care-home-resident-celebrate-her-...
#DorsetHouse #CareSouth #ItsTheCareThatCounts #HappyBirthdayPat #101YearsYoung #PooleCommunity #MakingMemories #FoodFunAndFriendship #CommunitySpirit #NotForProfitCare 🎉💐🎂
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🚤💙 A special wish, a beloved boat and a day full of memories.
Castle Dene resident Kim recently enjoyed a truly unforgettable experience as he was reunited with the world of offshore powerboat racing thanks to Care South's Make a Wish initiative.
A former powerboat racer, Kim spent many years competing in offshore championships before retiring from the sport in 1989. After sharing stories of his racing days with the Castle Dene team, they set out to make his wish a reality.
Kim was invited to attend Round 2 of the UK Offshore Powerboat Racing Association's Poole Bay 100 event, where he met current racing teams, sat in on the driver's briefing and enjoyed a close-up look at a range of racing boats. The highlight of the day was seeing the 31ft wooden Unipart catamaran that he raced for many years and catching up with the team to hear how the boat has performed since his retirement.
The day ended with Kim, his family and the Castle Dene team watching the thrilling race from Bournemouth Pier.
Kim said: "It was the best day ever. I made so many happy new memories with my family."
A huge thank you to Danielle Strawford and everyone at UKOPRA for welcoming Kim back to the racing community and helping us create such a meaningful experience.
At Care South, we believe it's the care that counts, and there is nothing more rewarding than helping residents reconnect with the passions, hobbies and memories that have shaped their lives. 💙
Read More: www.care-south.co.uk/retired-powerboat-racer-relives-racing-days-thanks-to-bournemouth-care-home-...
#ItsTheCareThatCounts #MakeAWish #CastleDene #CareSouth #PowerboatRacing #MeaningfulMoments #PersonCentredCare #Bournemouth #Poole #FoodFunAndFriendship
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🚓💙 A special wish, some treasured memories and one very emotional reunion.
Elizabeth House resident Peter recently enjoyed a day he will never forget thanks to Dorset Police and our Make a Wish initiative.
Peter retired from Dorset Police in 2006 after an incredible 48-year career, much of it spent working as a scenes of crime officer. His dedication helped secure forensic evidence across thousands of investigations, and policing remained a huge part of his life.
When Peter shared how much he missed his time with the Force, our team reached out to Dorset Police to see if they could help bring some of those memories back to life.
What followed was a truly unforgettable afternoon. Peter enjoyed a ride in a police car with the lights and sirens on, toured Poole custody facilities, reunited with former colleague Kate Baldwin from regional forensics and even dusted for fingerprints once again, proving that some skills never leave you!
Peter said: "It made me very emotional when I met Josh the police officer and I saw the police car in the home's car park. I will cherish and treasure that special afternoon for many years to come as it brought back so many beautiful memories for me."
A huge thank you to Police Constable Josh Warren, Kate Baldwin and everyone at Dorset Police who helped make Peter's wish come true.
At Care South, we believe it's the care that counts. Sometimes that means helping someone reconnect with the people, passions and memories that have shaped their life. 💙
#ItsTheCareThatCounts #MakeAWish #ElizabethHouse #CareSouth #DorsetPolice #MeaningfulMoments #PersonCentredCare #FoodFunAndFriendship Dorset Police
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Our huge thanks must go to Poole Police and the wider Dorset Police team who supported our team at Elizabeth House to make retired police officer Peter's wish come true.
After sharing stories from more than four decades working for Dorset Police, Peter revealed that he would love the opportunity to revisit his former profession and take a trip down memory lane as part of our 'Make a Wish' initiative.
Peter, who retired in 2006 after an incredible 48 years of service, spent much of his career as a scenes of crime officer, helping secure forensic evidence across thousands of investigations.
Thanks to the kindness and enthusiasm of the Dorset Police team, Peter enjoyed a memorable afternoon that included a ride in a police car with lights and sirens, a tour of Poole custody suite, and even put his forensic skills back into action by dusting for fingerprints in a special mock investigation.
The day became even more meaningful when Peter was reunited with Kate from the regional forensics team, who had worked alongside him before his retirement, making it a truly emotional experience for everyone involved.
Peter said: “It made me very emotional when I met Josh the police officer and I saw the police car in the home’s car park. I will cherish and treasure that special afternoon for many years to come as it brought back so many beautiful memories for me.”
At Care South, supporting residents to reconnect with lifelong passions and meaningful memories is at the heart of what we do and this was a wonderful example of our local community coming together to make that happen.
Visit our website to read the full story: www.care-south.co.uk/news/care-home-resident-gets-brush-with-the-law-reliving-csi-days/
#CareSouth #MakeAWish #ElizabethHouse #DorsetPolice
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🎻✨ There was a wonderful sense of joy and togetherness at Marjorie House as residents, families and members of the local community gathered for a special Summer Quartet performance from musicians of @bsorchestra
For residents Barbara and Bob, who helped select the music, the evening was particularly meaningful. From classical favourites to much-loved contemporary pieces, the performance sparked memories, lifted spirits and brought people together through the shared experience of live music.
The event highlighted the success of Marjorie House's partnership with Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, which brings live music into the home every month. These performances create meaningful moments for residents, helping to spark memories and enhance wellbeing through the power of music.
💙 A huge thank you to the BSO musicians for such a memorable evening and for continuing to bring the joy of live music to our residents. #MarjorieHouse #CareSouth #BournemouthSymphonyOrchestra #CommunityConnections #MakingMemories #DementiaCare
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Care South insights
Our biannual guide for local communities, sharing who we are and offering helpful information and tips for those considering care for themselves or a loved one.