Astor Hall
At a Glance
The information you need to decide whether this home warrants a closer look.
Residential homes
Staff warmth score
of reviewers answered yes
Good to know
- Registered beds26
- SpecialismsCaring for adults over 65 yrs, Caring for adults under 65 yrs, Dementia, Learning disabilities, Physical disabilities
- Last inspected2022-06-30
The Evidence
What the review data, the inspection reports, and the dementia-care evidence base tell us about this home.
What families say
Families describe a place where residents seem genuinely happy and settled. The admission process feels thoughtful, with staff visiting people at home or in hospital beforehand to help make the transition smoother. Visitors mention being welcomed at any hour, with no restrictions on when they can pop in.
The eight family priority themes
- Staff warmth70
- Compassion & dignity70
- Cleanliness65
- Activities & engagement55
- Food quality55
- Healthcare65
- Management & leadership72
- Resident happiness65
What inspectors found
Inspected 2022-06-30
Is this home safe?
Is the care effective?
The Effective domain was rated Good at the April 2022 inspection. This domain covers care planning, staff training, access to healthcare, and nutrition. Dementia is listed as a specialism, meaning the home accepts referrals for people living with dementia and inspectors would have considered whether training and practice reflected that. No specific detail about care plan content, training completion rates, or food quality is included in the published report summary.Is this home caring?
The Caring domain was rated Good at the April 2022 inspection. This domain covers the warmth of staff interactions, dignity, respect, privacy, and whether people are supported to remain as independent as possible. No direct quotes from residents or relatives, and no specific inspector observations of staff interactions, are included in the published summary. The rating indicates inspectors were satisfied with what they saw, but the detail behind that judgment is not available.Is the home responsive?
The Responsive domain was rated Good at the April 2022 inspection. This domain covers whether people receive care and support that is tailored to their individual needs, including activities, social engagement, and end-of-life care. The home supports a mixed group of people, including those living with dementia, learning disabilities, and physical disabilities, which requires varied and flexible approaches to engagement. No specific information about the activities programme, individual engagement, or end-of-life planning is included in the published summary.Is the home well-led?
The Well-led domain was rated Good at the April 2022 inspection. The home is managed by registered manager Mrs Amanda Fenn, with Mr James Sutherland listed as nominated individual. The improvement from a previous Requires Improvement rating across all five domains suggests that leadership had identified the earlier problems and taken effective action to address them. No specific information about the management culture, staff feedback mechanisms, or governance processes is included in the published summary.
Source: CQC inspection report →
What the evidence base says
Astor Hall cares for adults of all ages with various needs, including dementia, learning disabilities and physical disabilities. For those living with dementia, the stable staff team means consistent faces and familiar routines. Families mention how this continuity helps residents feel secure and understood. 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
Astor Hall improved from Requires Improvement to Good across all five inspection domains, which is a meaningful positive signal. However, the published inspection report contains limited specific detail, observations, or direct quotes, so most scores reflect the positive rating rather than rich confirming evidence.
Homes in South West typically score 68–82.The three-lens summary
What families tell us
Families describe a place where residents seem genuinely happy and settled. The admission process feels thoughtful, with staff visiting people at home or in hospital beforehand to help make the transition smoother. Visitors mention being welcomed at any hour, with no restrictions on when they can pop in.
What inspectors have recorded
What families particularly value is the staff continuity here — many team members have worked at Astor Hall for years, building real relationships with residents. The approach feels person-centred rather than institutional, with staff adapting to individual needs instead of expecting everyone to fit the same routine.
How it sits against good practice
If you're considering Astor Hall, visiting will give you a better sense of how the team works with residents than any description could.
Worth a visit
Astor Hall, at 157 Devonport Road in Plymouth, was rated Good at its most recent inspection in April 2022, published in June 2022. Importantly, this represented an improvement from the previous rating of Requires Improvement, meaning inspectors found the home had identified its earlier problems and addressed them across all five domains: safety, effectiveness, caring, responsiveness, and leadership. The home is registered to support up to 26 people, including those living with dementia, learning disabilities, and physical disabilities, across a mixed age group. The main limitation of this report for families is that the published summary contains very little specific detail. There are no direct quotes from residents or relatives, no inspector observations of day-to-day life, and no figures on staffing ratios, night cover, or activity provision. A Good rating is genuinely positive, but it tells you the home met the standard at a point two years ago. On your visit, ask the manager to walk you through what changed since the Requires Improvement rating, and ask specifically: how many permanent staff are on the dementia unit after 8pm, and how does the team support someone who becomes distressed?
The three questions to ask when you visitSave this home. Compare it against your shortlist.
Let our analysis show you how Astor Hall measures up against the other homes you’re considering. Free account.
In Their Own Words
How Astor Hall describes itself — collected from its own website. DCC has not edited or independently verified the content in this tab.
Where caring means knowing every resident as an individual
Compassionate Care in Plymouth at Astor Hall
When families describe Astor Hall in Plymouth, they talk about staff who remember the small things that matter. This care home supports people with dementia, learning disabilities and physical disabilities, welcoming both younger and older adults. What stands out in family experiences is how the team takes time to understand each person's unique needs and preferences.
Who they care for
Astor Hall cares for adults of all ages with various needs, including dementia, learning disabilities and physical disabilities.
For those living with dementia, the stable staff team means consistent faces and familiar routines. Families mention how this continuity helps residents feel secure and understood.
“If you're considering Astor Hall, visiting will give you a better sense of how the team works with residents than any description could.”
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
Astor Hall improved from Requires Improvement to Good across all five inspection domains, which is a meaningful positive signal. However, the published inspection report contains limited specific detail, observations, or direct quotes, so most scores reflect the positive rating rather than rich confirming evidence.
Homes in South West typically score 68–82.The three-lens summary
What families tell us
Families describe a place where residents seem genuinely happy and settled. The admission process feels thoughtful, with staff visiting people at home or in hospital beforehand to help make the transition smoother. Visitors mention being welcomed at any hour, with no restrictions on when they can pop in.
What inspectors have recorded
What families particularly value is the staff continuity here — many team members have worked at Astor Hall for years, building real relationships with residents. The approach feels person-centred rather than institutional, with staff adapting to individual needs instead of expecting everyone to fit the same routine.
How it sits against good practice
If you're considering Astor Hall, visiting will give you a better sense of how the team works with residents than any description could.
Worth a visit
Astor Hall, at 157 Devonport Road in Plymouth, was rated Good at its most recent inspection in April 2022, published in June 2022. Importantly, this represented an improvement from the previous rating of Requires Improvement, meaning inspectors found the home had identified its earlier problems and addressed them across all five domains: safety, effectiveness, caring, responsiveness, and leadership. The home is registered to support up to 26 people, including those living with dementia, learning disabilities, and physical disabilities, across a mixed age group. The main limitation of this report for families is that the published summary contains very little specific detail. There are no direct quotes from residents or relatives, no inspector observations of day-to-day life, and no figures on staffing ratios, night cover, or activity provision. A Good rating is genuinely positive, but it tells you the home met the standard at a point two years ago. On your visit, ask the manager to walk you through what changed since the Requires Improvement rating, and ask specifically: how many permanent staff are on the dementia unit after 8pm, and how does the team support someone who becomes distressed?
The three questions to ask when you visitSave this home. Compare it against your shortlist.
Let our analysis show you how Astor Hall measures up against the other homes you’re considering. Free account.
In Their Own Words
How Astor Hall describes itself — collected from its own website. DCC has not edited or independently verified the content in this tab.
Where caring means knowing every resident as an individual
Compassionate Care in Plymouth at Astor Hall
When families describe Astor Hall in Plymouth, they talk about staff who remember the small things that matter. This care home supports people with dementia, learning disabilities and physical disabilities, welcoming both younger and older adults. What stands out in family experiences is how the team takes time to understand each person's unique needs and preferences.
Who they care for
Astor Hall cares for adults of all ages with various needs, including dementia, learning disabilities and physical disabilities.
For those living with dementia, the stable staff team means consistent faces and familiar routines. Families mention how this continuity helps residents feel secure and understood.
Management & ethos
What families particularly value is the staff continuity here — many team members have worked at Astor Hall for years, building real relationships with residents. The approach feels person-centred rather than institutional, with staff adapting to individual needs instead of expecting everyone to fit the same routine.
The home & environment
The building itself is older and undergoing refurbishment, though families say this doesn't affect the quality of care. There are gardens and covered outdoor spaces where residents can spend time, even those using mobility aids. The home welcomes pets and has designated areas for residents who smoke.
“If you're considering Astor Hall, visiting will give you a better sense of how the team works with residents than any description could.”
DCC does not edit or curate content in this tab. For independently curated information, see The Evidence and DCC Verdict.
