Colin Hornsby gives up his stressful engineering job in the midlands to run his own care home at an ex-convent in Devon. However, he soon discovers that looking after old folks is no bed of roses. His own selection of residents give him trouble enough, but nothing compared to what Social Services foist upon him when he agrees to help them out. Alcoholics and ex-prisoners drive him to distraction with the often hilarious scams they indulge in.