Longmead Court Nursing Home
- Care home
- 54 beds
- Nursing care
- Dementia care
- Registered since 2010
- Essex, East of England
Requires improvement
Rated on
Rating from the Care Quality Commission.
At a glance
5 ratings
Its last inspection moved it down from Good to Requires improvement.
1 month
since the latest rating was published.
56 of 361
rated care homes in Essex are rated Requires improvement, like this one.
Longmead Court Nursing Home: inspection record
Rated Requires improvement in September 2026, down from Good.
| 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | ||||||||||||
| Safe | ||||||||||||
| Effective | ||||||||||||
| Caring | ||||||||||||
| Responsive | ||||||||||||
| Well-led |
Ratings published by the Care Quality Commission.
Compare nearby
Nearest rated Good or Outstanding: Meadows (Good, 1.4 miles away) and Riverdale Care Home (Good, 1.7 miles away).
Nearest care homes:
- G Meadows Good, 1.4 miles away
- RI New Partnerships Lynray and Peach Cottage Requires improvement, 1.5 miles away
- – Bradbury House Not yet rated, 1.7 miles away
- G Riverdale Care Home Good, 1.7 miles away
- G Braintree Nursing Home Good, 1.8 miles away
What inspectors found
From the Care Quality Commission's assessment published 14 September 2026 (assessment visit 7 May 2026). Quoted under the Open Government Licence.
Date of inspection: 23 June to 17 July 2026. Longmead Court Nursing Home provides accommodation and nursing care to adults of all ages. It is registered to support up to 54 people, including people living with dementia and mental health conditions. At the time of our inspection, 52 people were living at the service. The service was also used by autistic people or people with a learning disability but was not registered as a specialist service. We assessed the service against ‘Right support, right care, right culture’ guidance to make judgments about whether the provider guaranteed autistic people and people with a learning disability respect, equality, dignity, choices, independence and good access to local communities that most people take for granted. The provider had regard to ‘Right support, right care, right culture’, however, we identified areas requiring improvement when supporting people with a learning disability and autistic people, including staff training and care plans.
- Safe No rating
- Effective No rating
- Caring Good
- Responsive Good
- Well-led No rating
Read the rest of CQC's summary
We carried out this comprehensive inspection of all quality statements due to the time elapsed since the last inspection and to review improvements made since that inspection. The last inspection found the provider was in breach of the legal regulations relating to safe care and treatment, person centred care and good governance. During this inspection, we found some improvements had been made and the provider was no longer in breach of the regulation in relation to person centred care. However, there were continued breaches of the regulation relating to safe care and treatment and good governance. The provider was also in breach of the regulation relating to people’s mental capacity.
Although systems of governance and oversight had improved, we found shortfalls in relation to the environment, recording of care, mental capacity assessments (MCA’s), care records and staff training. Systems of governance and oversight needed to improve to ensure issues were consistently identified and prompt action taken to drive continuous improvement.
We have asked the provider for an action plan in response to the concerns found at this inspection. In instances where CQC have decided to take civil or criminal enforcement action against a provider, we will publish this information on our website after any representations and/ or appeals have been concluded.
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Safe
No rating
Safe – this means we looked for evidence that people were protected from abuse and avoidable harm. At our last assessment we rated this key question requires improvement. At this assessment the rating has remained requires improvement. This meant some aspects of the service were not always safe and there was limited assurance about safety. There was an increased risk that people could be harmed.
The service was in breach of legal regulation in relation to safe care and treatment.
-
Effective
No rating
Effective – this means we looked for evidence that people’s care, treatment and support achieved good outcomes and promoted a good quality of life, based on best available evidence. At our last assessment we rated this key question good. At this assessment the rating has changed to requires improvement. This meant the effectiveness of people’s care, treatment and support did not always achieve good outcomes or was inconsistent.
The service was in breach of legal regulation in relation to the assessment of people’s mental capacity.
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Caring
Good
Caring – this means we looked for evidence that the provider involved people and treated them with compassion, kindness, dignity and respect. At our last assessment we rated this key question good. At this assessment the rating has remained good. This meant people were supported and treated with dignity and respect; and involved as partners in their care.
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Responsive
Good
Responsive – this means we looked for evidence that the provider met people’s needs. At our last assessment we rated this key question requires improvement. At this assessment the rating has changed to good. This meant people’s needs were met through good organisation and delivery.
-
Well-led
No rating
Well-led – this means we looked for evidence that service leadership, management and governance assured high-quality, person-centred care; supported learning and innovation; and promoted an open, fair culture. At our last assessment we rated this key question requires improvement. At this assessment the rating has remained requires improvement. This meant the management and leadership was inconsistent. Leaders and the culture they created did not always support the delivery of high-quality, person-centred care.
The service was in breach of legal regulation in relation to oversight and governance at the service.
Questions to ask when you visit
- Safe was rated Requires improvement on 14 September 2026. Ask how medicines are managed, how staffing levels are decided and how incidents are reviewed.
- Effective was rated Requires improvement on 14 September 2026. Ask about staff training and how health appointments are arranged.
- Well-led was rated Requires improvement on 14 September 2026. Ask about changes in management and what has changed since the report.
- Ask how nursing cover works at night and at weekends.
Registration details
- Registered manager
- Vanessa Wells
- Registered with the CQC since
- What it provides
- Care home service with nursing
- Who it supports
- Dementia, Mental Health, Older People, Younger Adults
Inspection report
Read the full inspection report (opens the Care Quality Commission website)8 inspection reports, latest 15 May 2021. Latest assessment published 14 September 2026; the Care Quality Commission's newer assessments are published on its website rather than as reports.
The rating is the Care Quality Commission's. We show it as published and do not change it.
Who runs it
- Provider
- Dovecote Care Homes Limited
- Ownership type
- Organisation
- Companies House number
- 02794381 (opens Companies House)
Getting help from Essex County Council
The council can assess what care someone needs and tell them what help with the cost they may get.
- Adult social care at Essex County Council
- Ask for a care needs assessment
- Phone: 0345 603 7630, Monday to Thursday 8.45am to 5pm, Friday 8.45am to 4.30pm
- Contact adult social care online
- Support for carers
- Paying for care: Essex County Council
Checked on the council's website, November 2026.
Common questions
- Does Longmead Court Nursing Home provide nursing care?
- Yes. The Care Quality Commission lists Longmead Court Nursing Home as a care home with nursing.
- How many beds does Longmead Court Nursing Home have?
- The Care Quality Commission's register lists 54 beds at Longmead Court Nursing Home.
- When was Longmead Court Nursing Home last inspected?
- The Care Quality Commission's latest rating for Longmead Court Nursing Home was published on 14 September 2026.
- Who runs Longmead Court Nursing Home?
- Longmead Court Nursing Home is run by Dovecote Care Homes Limited.
- What is Longmead Court Nursing Home's CQC rating?
- Its overall rating from the Care Quality Commission is Requires improvement, published on 14 September 2026.
Contact
- Phone
- 01376 344440
- Address
- 247 London Road, Black Notley, Braintree, CM77 8QQ Map (opens Google Maps)
Compare nearby
Nearest rated Good or Outstanding: Meadows (Good, 1.4 miles away) and Riverdale Care Home (Good, 1.7 miles away).
Nearest care homes:
- G Meadows Good, 1.4 miles away
- RI New Partnerships Lynray and Peach Cottage Requires improvement, 1.5 miles away
- – Bradbury House Not yet rated, 1.7 miles away
- G Riverdale Care Home Good, 1.7 miles away
- G Braintree Nursing Home Good, 1.8 miles away