Highmarket House, Banbury
CQC Inspection Breakdown
| Safe | Requires improvement |
| Effective | Good |
| Caring | Good |
| Responsive | Good |
| Well-led | Requires improvement |
About Highmarket House
Date of Assessment: 04 June 2025 to 25 June 2025.The service is a residential care home providing support to older people some of whom are living with dementia. The accommodation for people is spread over three floors. Each person’s room had en-suite facilities. People had access to a range of seating areas both inside and in a garden area. At the time of the inspection 64 people were living at Highmarket House.
What residents and families say
People told us that the home had great links with the community with groups such as the Royal British Legion being invited to use the home for their meetings.
One relative told us “Yes, [person] does go to quite a few activities, painting plates the other day, she likes painting and she enjoys the bingo, we can monitor (system allows families to see which activities their relative has attended) which one she goes to”.
“I think there are too few, sometimes when I am there, I don’t see any carers- like this morning when I visited, I didn’t see anyone at all.”
Source: CQC inspection report
Specialisms
About Highmarket House
Highmarket House is a care home with nursing in the heart of Banbury, Oxfordshire, providing a supportive environment for those who need it most. The home is operated by Care UK Care Services Limited and can accommodate up to 73 residents. Following their most recent inspection on 28/08/2025, the Care Quality Commission rated Highmarket House as Requires improvement. Across the five inspection categories, the home scored Good for Effective, Caring, Responsive; Requires Improvement for Safe and Well-led. The home caters to a range of care needs, including caring for adults under 65 yrs, dementia, mental health conditions, caring for adults over 65 yrs and physical disabilities. The service supports dementia, mental health, older people, physical disability, younger adults. Regulated activities at the home include accommodation for persons who require nursing or personal care and treatment of disease, disorder or injury. The OX16 postcode area has 10 registered care homes with a combined 450 beds — so there are options to compare in the local area.
Finding the right care home is a deeply personal decision, and we hope this information helps you and your family feel more confident as you explore your options. Every person deserves care that respects their individuality, and the right home will feel welcoming from the moment you walk through the door.
Highmarket House is one of the care homes in Oxfordshire — a local authority with 146 CQC-registered homes, 112 of which are rated Good or Outstanding.
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Further Reading & Official Sources
- Official CQC inspection report for Highmarket House
- View Highmarket House on Google Maps
- NHS care home finder near OX16 0TD
We link to official and independent sources so families can verify the information on this page.
What to Expect When Visiting
When visiting a nursing care home, it helps to see the clinical environment in action alongside the day-to-day living spaces. A good visit should leave you feeling reassured about both the medical and emotional care on offer.
- Try to visit at different times of day, including mealtimes, to see the home in action.
- Speak with staff and, if possible, current residents or their families about their experience.
- Ask about the nurse-to-resident ratio, especially during nights and weekends.
- Check whether the home can manage any specific medical conditions or equipment needs.
- Check whether outside spaces are secure and whether activities are tailored for people with dementia.
- Assess the accessibility of corridors, bathrooms, and outdoor areas for wheelchair users.
Questions to Ask When Visiting
It can be hard to know what to ask during a care home visit. Here are some questions tailored to Highmarket House's type of care that may help guide your conversation:
- 1 What medical conditions do your nurses have experience managing?
- 2 How quickly can a nurse attend to a resident in an emergency?
- 3 Are there regular GP visits, or do residents need to travel for appointments?
- 4 What is your approach to pain management and end-of-life care?
For a more complete checklist, see our guide to choosing a care home.
Official CQC Inspection Report
The Care Quality Commission last inspected Highmarket House on 28/08/2025 and rated it Requires improvement. The full report includes detailed findings on safety, staffing, and quality of care.
Read the full CQC reportWhat families typically look for
- - Whether nurses are on-site 24 hours and their qualifications
- - How the home manages medication and medical emergencies
- - Staff-to-resident ratios, especially overnight
- - Specialist dementia training and secure outdoor spaces
These reflect common priorities we see from families researching care homes. For personalised advice, we recommend visiting in person and speaking to current families.
Frequently Asked Questions
What medical conditions do your nurses have experience managing?
Highmarket House has nursing staff experienced in supporting people with caring for adults under 65 yrs and dementia. In the most recent CQC inspection on 28/08/2025, the home was rated Requires Improvement for Safe care — a category that covers clinical training, medication management, and infection control. Ask the nursing team directly about any specific medical conditions during your visit.
How quickly can a nurse attend to a resident in an emergency?
CQC inspectors rated Highmarket House as Requires Improvement for Safe care on 28/08/2025. The Safe domain covers emergency protocols, staffing ratios, and risk management. Ask the home about nurse-to-resident ratios specifically during night and weekend shifts, when response times are most critical.
Are there regular GP visits, or do residents need to travel for appointments?
Residents at Highmarket House typically remain registered with a local GP who can visit the home for routine and urgent appointments. As a nursing care home, on-site nurses handle day-to-day clinical care. Ask the home which GP surgery they work with and how specialist referrals are managed.
What is your approach to pain management and end-of-life care?
CQC inspectors rated Highmarket House as Good for Caring on 28/08/2025. This domain specifically assesses how staff treat residents with compassion and dignity, including during palliative and end-of-life care. Ask the nursing team about their approach to pain management and whether they work with a local hospice or palliative care team.
What is the CQC rating for Highmarket House?
Highmarket House in Banbury is rated Requires improvement by the Care Quality Commission. The most recent inspection was on 28/08/2025. The home has 73 beds.
How many beds does Highmarket House have?
Highmarket House has 73 beds and operates as a care home with nursing in Banbury.
Location
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Other Care Homes in OX16
More from Care UK Care Services Limited
- Beverley Parklands Care Home Beverley · Outstanding
- Magdalen Park Care Home Hull · Outstanding
- Mere Hall Care Home Hornsea · Good
Similar Caring for adults under 65 yrs homes
- Hebburn Manor Hebburn · Good
- Waterside Court Care Home Wallingford · Good
- Puddingstone Grange London · Good
Data from the Care Quality Commission, last updated March 2026. View on CQC website → How we use this data