Hartley Park Care Home
At a Glance
The information you need to decide whether this home warrants a closer look.
Nursing homes, Residential homes
Staff warmth score
of reviewers answered yes
Good to know
- Registered beds66
- SpecialismsCaring for adults over 65 yrs, Dementia, Mental health conditions, Physical disabilities
- Last inspected2019-11-19
The Evidence
What the review data, the inspection reports, and the dementia-care evidence base tell us about this home.
What families say
What strikes families most is how staff seem to really know each resident — their stories, their preferences, the little things that matter. People talk about the genuine engagement they see, with residents taking part in activities they'd previously avoided. The atmosphere helps people feel settled rather than anxious.
The eight family priority themes
- Staff warmth85
- Compassion & dignity88
- Cleanliness72
- Activities & engagement80
- Food quality65
- Healthcare72
- Management & leadership85
- Resident happiness78
What inspectors found
Inspected 2019-11-19
Is this home safe?
Is the care effective?
The Effective domain was rated Good, covering training, care planning, healthcare access, and nutrition. Dementia is listed as a registered specialism, which means the home is required to demonstrate relevant expertise. The published summary does not describe specific training content, GP access arrangements, or how care plans are updated when a resident's needs change. Food quality and dietary support are assessed within this domain but are not described in the available text.Is this home caring?
Inspectors rated the Caring domain Outstanding at the October 2019 inspection. This is the highest possible rating and is awarded only when inspectors find consistent, specific evidence that staff treat people with genuine kindness, respect privacy, preserve dignity, and support independence. Outstanding in Caring is the rarest of the five domain ratings and is a meaningful signal rather than a routine finding. The published summary does not reproduce the detailed observations that would sit behind this rating, but the award itself is reliable evidence of quality.Is the home responsive?
The Responsive domain was rated Outstanding, covering activities, individual engagement, response to changing needs, and end-of-life care. An Outstanding Responsive rating requires inspectors to find evidence that activities are tailored to individuals rather than delivered as a generic group programme, and that the home responds flexibly when a resident's needs or preferences change. The published summary does not describe specific activities, name any activity coordinators, or confirm whether one-to-one engagement is available for people who can no longer join groups.Is the home well-led?
The Well-led domain was rated Outstanding, which is the highest rating available and is awarded only when inspectors find strong evidence of stable, visible leadership, a positive staff culture, robust governance, and a genuine commitment to learning and improvement. The home has a named registered manager (Thomas Crossfield) and a nominated individual (Mrs Susan Briscoe). The published summary does not describe how long the manager has been in post, how staff are supported to raise concerns, or what governance systems are in place.
Source: CQC inspection report →
What the evidence base says
The home specialises in dementia care, mental health conditions, and physical disabilities for people over 65. They're set up to support residents with complex or combined needs. For residents with dementia, the approach focuses on maintaining connection and engagement. Families have seen loved ones with advanced dementia become more settled and comfortable, participating in activities when they'd previously withdrawn. All areas worth probing directly during a visit.
The DCC Verdict
Our editorial view, built from the three lenses: what families tell us, what inspectors record, and how the home sits against good dementia-care practice.
DCC Family Score
Hartley Park Care Home earned an Outstanding overall rating, with particularly strong evidence in caring and responsiveness. The Family Score of 79 reflects the weight of those strengths against areas where the published inspection report provides limited specific detail, including food, cleanliness, and night staffing.
Homes in South West typically score 68–82.The three-lens summary
What families tell us
What strikes families most is how staff seem to really know each resident — their stories, their preferences, the little things that matter. People talk about the genuine engagement they see, with residents taking part in activities they'd previously avoided. The atmosphere helps people feel settled rather than anxious.
What inspectors have recorded
Staff demonstrate the kind of detailed knowledge that only comes from paying attention. They notice when residents need encouragement to join in, remember individual preferences, and create an environment where people with complex needs can thrive. Families report feeling genuine relief at the quality of care.
How it sits against good practice
If you're looking for specialist care in Plymouth, visiting Hartley Park could help you understand their approach to complex care needs.
Worth a visit
Hartley Park Care Home on Hartley Road in Plymouth was rated Outstanding overall at its last inspection on 2 October 2019, with Outstanding ratings in Caring, Responsive, and Well-led, and Good ratings in Safe and Effective. This is one of the highest ratings a care home can receive, and it places Hartley Park among a small minority of homes in England. A review of available information in July 2023 found no reason to change that rating. The main uncertainty for families is that the published inspection summary is brief and does not contain the detail you would expect to find in a full report. Important questions remain unanswered: how many staff are on the dementia unit after 8pm, whether agency staff are used and how they are prepared, and whether one-to-one activities are available for your parent if they can no longer join group sessions. On a visit, ask the manager to show you last week's actual staffing rota, walk through the dementia unit at a mealtime to observe the pace and atmosphere, and ask specifically what happens when a resident becomes distressed.
The three questions to ask when you visitSave this home. Compare it against your shortlist.
Let our analysis show you how Hartley Park Care Home measures up against the other homes you’re considering. Free account.
In Their Own Words
How Hartley Park Care Home describes itself — collected from its own website. DCC has not edited or independently verified the content in this tab.
Where complex care meets genuine understanding in Plymouth
Dedicated nursing home,residential home Support in Plymouth
When someone you love needs specialist dementia or mental health support, finding the right place feels overwhelming. Hartley Park Care Home in Plymouth has built its reputation on helping residents with complex needs find their feet again. Families describe watching their loved ones move from withdrawal to joining in with daily life, a transformation they hadn't dared hope for.
Who they care for
The home specialises in dementia care, mental health conditions, and physical disabilities for people over 65. They're set up to support residents with complex or combined needs.
For residents with dementia, the approach focuses on maintaining connection and engagement. Families have seen loved ones with advanced dementia become more settled and comfortable, participating in activities when they'd previously withdrawn.
“If you're looking for specialist care in Plymouth, visiting Hartley Park could help you understand their approach to complex care needs.”
DCC does not edit or curate content in this tab. For independently curated information, see The Evidence and DCC Verdict.
The DCC Verdict
Our editorial view, built from the three lenses: what families tell us, what inspectors record, and how the home sits against good dementia-care practice.
DCC Family Score
Hartley Park Care Home earned an Outstanding overall rating, with particularly strong evidence in caring and responsiveness. The Family Score of 79 reflects the weight of those strengths against areas where the published inspection report provides limited specific detail, including food, cleanliness, and night staffing.
Homes in South West typically score 68–82.The three-lens summary
What families tell us
What strikes families most is how staff seem to really know each resident — their stories, their preferences, the little things that matter. People talk about the genuine engagement they see, with residents taking part in activities they'd previously avoided. The atmosphere helps people feel settled rather than anxious.
What inspectors have recorded
Staff demonstrate the kind of detailed knowledge that only comes from paying attention. They notice when residents need encouragement to join in, remember individual preferences, and create an environment where people with complex needs can thrive. Families report feeling genuine relief at the quality of care.
How it sits against good practice
If you're looking for specialist care in Plymouth, visiting Hartley Park could help you understand their approach to complex care needs.
Worth a visit
Hartley Park Care Home on Hartley Road in Plymouth was rated Outstanding overall at its last inspection on 2 October 2019, with Outstanding ratings in Caring, Responsive, and Well-led, and Good ratings in Safe and Effective. This is one of the highest ratings a care home can receive, and it places Hartley Park among a small minority of homes in England. A review of available information in July 2023 found no reason to change that rating. The main uncertainty for families is that the published inspection summary is brief and does not contain the detail you would expect to find in a full report. Important questions remain unanswered: how many staff are on the dementia unit after 8pm, whether agency staff are used and how they are prepared, and whether one-to-one activities are available for your parent if they can no longer join group sessions. On a visit, ask the manager to show you last week's actual staffing rota, walk through the dementia unit at a mealtime to observe the pace and atmosphere, and ask specifically what happens when a resident becomes distressed.
The three questions to ask when you visitSave this home. Compare it against your shortlist.
Let our analysis show you how Hartley Park Care Home measures up against the other homes you’re considering. Free account.
In Their Own Words
How Hartley Park Care Home describes itself — collected from its own website. DCC has not edited or independently verified the content in this tab.
Where complex care meets genuine understanding in Plymouth
Dedicated nursing home,residential home Support in Plymouth
When someone you love needs specialist dementia or mental health support, finding the right place feels overwhelming. Hartley Park Care Home in Plymouth has built its reputation on helping residents with complex needs find their feet again. Families describe watching their loved ones move from withdrawal to joining in with daily life, a transformation they hadn't dared hope for.
Who they care for
The home specialises in dementia care, mental health conditions, and physical disabilities for people over 65. They're set up to support residents with complex or combined needs.
For residents with dementia, the approach focuses on maintaining connection and engagement. Families have seen loved ones with advanced dementia become more settled and comfortable, participating in activities when they'd previously withdrawn.
Management & ethos
Staff demonstrate the kind of detailed knowledge that only comes from paying attention. They notice when residents need encouragement to join in, remember individual preferences, and create an environment where people with complex needs can thrive. Families report feeling genuine relief at the quality of care.
The home & environment
The home itself gets noticed for being bright and modern, with comfortable spaces that feel more residential than clinical. Families appreciate the personalised rooms with en-suite bathrooms, which help residents maintain their sense of self. The food stands out too — proper portions with variety that residents actually enjoy eating.
“If you're looking for specialist care in Plymouth, visiting Hartley Park could help you understand their approach to complex care needs.”
DCC does not edit or curate content in this tab. For independently curated information, see The Evidence and DCC Verdict.
