Enter and view: Somerset House

Healthwatch York carried out an announced Enter and View visit to Somerset House Care Home in Wheldrake on 6 July 2026. Somerset House, operated by Country Court Care, provides residential, nursing, dementia and respite care for older people and had 40 residents living there at the time of the visit. The home is rated Good by the Care Quality Commission and includes two step-down beds to support hospital discharges. 

Healthwatch concluded that Somerset House was providing a good standard of care. Feedback from residents, relatives and staff was overwhelmingly positive, and inspectors found the home to be well managed, friendly and welcoming. 

The environment was identified as a major strength. The home had recently undergone extensive refurbishment and a new extension had opened in March 2026. Inspectors described the building as exceptionally clean, well maintained and attractively decorated, with bright communal areas, themed corridor displays, air conditioning and spacious accommodation. However, they noted that the décor and design sometimes felt more like a hotel than a home and reflected the organisation’s style rather than the personalities of residents. 

The home offered 55 ensuite bedrooms, attractive communal lounges, a garden room, a hairdressing salon and a newly opened coffee shop designed to provide additional social space for residents and visitors. Healthwatch particularly praised the themed corridor areas, unobtrusive bedroom signage and use of photographs and keyworker information outside residents’ rooms. 

Residents were generally happy with life at Somerset House. They described staff as kind, respectful and attentive, and said they were treated as individuals. Many commented that staff explained what they were doing, supported their independence and were available when they felt sad or needed help. Residents also reported being able to choose their clothing, daily routines and when to go to bed. 

Food and dining arrangements received consistently positive feedback. Meals were prepared on site by a dedicated catering team, menus included photographs of meal options and special diets were catered for. Residents and relatives praised the quality of food, and some reported improvements in appetite and nutrition since moving into the home. Drinks and snacks were readily available throughout the day. A small suggestion from residents was the inclusion of more fruit options instead of biscuits. 

The home provided a varied activities programme led by a dedicated activities coordinator. Activities included exercise sessions, arts and crafts, gardening, games, music, entertainers, day trips and outings using the home's minibus. Residents enjoyed visits to places such as garden centres, restaurants, bowling venues and local attractions. Family members were generally positive about activity provision and felt efforts were made to involve residents according to their interests. 

Despite this, Healthwatch felt there was room for improvement in the range of day-to-day activities. Inspectors observed some residents sitting quietly for long periods with limited interaction and questioned whether activities were sufficiently diverse. They recommended reducing reliance on passive activities such as television, relaxing in lounges or routine appointments and introducing a broader variety of meaningful engagement opportunities. 

All relatives and friends who responded to the survey said they could visit whenever they wished and reported receiving a warm welcome from staff. Family members consistently praised communication, saying staff were approachable, informative and willing to answer questions. 

Healthwatch found that residents were well cared for and appeared clean, comfortable and appropriately supported. All family members who completed the survey said they were very satisfied with the care provided. Relatives praised staff for their patience, compassion and willingness to understand residents' individual needs, including those with hearing, vision or cognitive impairments. 

The report highlighted the use of technology to support care, including the Nourish electronic care management system and the Mobii sensory projection system, which is used to improve engagement and reduce agitation. Staff reported being well informed about residents’ needs through these systems and through detailed care plans.

Staffing and safety were viewed very positively. Residents said they felt safe, relatives agreed that their family members were safe, and staff reported that staffing levels were sufficient. The home had not used agency staff since 2019 and instead relied on permanent and bank staff. Healthwatch observed positive interactions between staff and residents throughout the visit. 

Healthcare support included weekly GP visits, regular chiropody services and assistance with appointments where required. End-of-life care was also available, with support offered to families during difficult periods. Residents and relatives reported good access to healthcare services.

Staff feedback was exceptionally positive. All surveyed staff said they enjoyed working at Somerset House, felt adequately trained and would recommend the home to friends and family. They described the home as well led, supportive and focused on both resident and staff wellbeing. 

Overall, Healthwatch concluded that Somerset House was a high-quality care home offering excellent standards of care in an attractive environment. Key strengths included the cleanliness of the home, the quality of staff interactions, food provision, communication with relatives and strong leadership. Recommended improvements included adding more outdoor seating, increasing community use of the coffee shop, reviewing room numbering, incorporating more resident influence into interior design decisions, and expanding the range and variety of activities available to residents.