Drake Nursing Home
At a Glance
The information you need to decide whether this home warrants a closer look.
Nursing homes
Staff warmth score
of reviewers answered yes
Good to know
- Registered beds32
- SpecialismsCaring for adults over 65 yrs, Caring for adults under 65 yrs, Dementia, Mental health conditions
- Last inspected2020-01-28
The Evidence
What the review data, the inspection reports, and the dementia-care evidence base tell us about this home.
What families say
The eight family priority themes
- Staff warmth72
- Compassion & dignity72
- Cleanliness68
- Activities & engagement60
- Food quality60
- Healthcare68
- Management & leadership70
- Resident happiness68
What inspectors found
Inspected 2020-01-28
Is this home safe?
Is the care effective?
The home was rated Good for effectiveness at its January 2020 inspection. The published text does not contain specific detail about care plan quality, GP access arrangements, dementia training content, or food provision. A Good rating indicates inspectors were satisfied with outcomes at the time, but the evidence behind that rating is not available in the published summary. The home's specialisms include dementia and mental health, which require specific training and care planning approaches. The inspection is now more than five years old.Is this home caring?
The home was rated Good for caring at its January 2020 inspection. The published text does not include specific inspector observations about how staff interact with residents, whether people are addressed by preferred names, or how distress is responded to. A Good rating in this domain indicates inspectors did not find evidence of poor care at the time. The caring domain is the highest-weighted theme in family review data, with staff warmth (57.3%) and compassion and dignity (55.2%) together accounting for the majority of what families remember about a home.Is the home responsive?
The home was rated Good for responsiveness at its January 2020 inspection. The published text does not include specific detail about the activities programme, individual engagement for people who cannot join groups, or end-of-life care planning. A Good rating indicates inspectors were satisfied at the time. The home supports people with dementia and mental health conditions, for whom tailored individual activity and meaningful daily engagement are particularly important.Is the home well-led?
The home was rated Good for well-led at its January 2020 inspection. The home is run by Darbyshire Care Limited, with Mr Ian Darbyshire as the nominated individual. The published text does not include specific detail about the manager's tenure, visibility on the floor, governance systems, or staff culture. A Good rating indicates inspectors were satisfied with leadership at the time of the visit. The inspection is now more than five years old, which means the leadership picture may have changed.
Source: CQC inspection report →
What the evidence base says
The team at Drake has experience caring for residents with dementia alongside those managing mental health conditions. This dual specialism means staff understand the complex needs that can arise when cognitive and mental health challenges intersect. For residents living with dementia, the home provides structured daily activities and clear communication with families about care routines. The team works to help new residents settle into their surroundings during those crucial first days. 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
Drake Nursing Home scored Good across all five inspection domains, which is a solid foundation, but the published inspection text contains very little specific detail about day-to-day life. The score reflects confirmed Good ratings without the granular evidence that would push it higher.
Homes in South West typically score 68–82.Worth a visit
Drake Nursing Home at 4 Nelson Gardens, Plymouth was rated Good across all five inspection domains at its most recent inspection in January 2020. The home is registered for 32 beds and supports adults living with dementia, mental health conditions, and nursing needs. All five domains, covering safety, effectiveness, caring, responsiveness, and leadership, were assessed as Good, which places it in the majority of homes that meet the expected standard. The main limitation of this report is that the published inspection text contains very little specific detail about day-to-day life at the home. This is not unusual for shorter inspection reports, but it means families cannot rely on this document alone to judge whether Drake Nursing Home is the right fit. The inspection is also now over five years old, which is a significant gap. Before making any decision, visit in person, ask to see last week's staffing rota, and speak directly with the manager about how care for your parent's specific needs, whether dementia, nursing, or both, is delivered.
The three questions to ask when you visitSave this home. Compare it against your shortlist.
Let our analysis show you how Drake Nursing Home measures up against the other homes you’re considering. Free account.
In Their Own Words
How Drake Nursing Home describes itself — collected from its own website. DCC has not edited or independently verified the content in this tab.
Plymouth care home supporting residents with dementia and mental health needs
Drake Nursing Home – Expert Care in Plymouth
Drake Nursing Home in Plymouth provides specialist care for older adults living with dementia and mental health conditions. The home welcomes residents aged 65 and over who need dedicated support in a residential setting. Located in the South West, the home offers both long-term placements and shorter respite stays.
Who they care for
The team at Drake has experience caring for residents with dementia alongside those managing mental health conditions. This dual specialism means staff understand the complex needs that can arise when cognitive and mental health challenges intersect.
For residents living with dementia, the home provides structured daily activities and clear communication with families about care routines. The team works to help new residents settle into their surroundings during those crucial first days.
“Visiting Drake Nursing Home yourself will give you the clearest picture of whether it could be the right place for your loved one.”
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
Drake Nursing Home scored Good across all five inspection domains, which is a solid foundation, but the published inspection text contains very little specific detail about day-to-day life. The score reflects confirmed Good ratings without the granular evidence that would push it higher.
Homes in South West typically score 68–82.Worth a visit
Drake Nursing Home at 4 Nelson Gardens, Plymouth was rated Good across all five inspection domains at its most recent inspection in January 2020. The home is registered for 32 beds and supports adults living with dementia, mental health conditions, and nursing needs. All five domains, covering safety, effectiveness, caring, responsiveness, and leadership, were assessed as Good, which places it in the majority of homes that meet the expected standard. The main limitation of this report is that the published inspection text contains very little specific detail about day-to-day life at the home. This is not unusual for shorter inspection reports, but it means families cannot rely on this document alone to judge whether Drake Nursing Home is the right fit. The inspection is also now over five years old, which is a significant gap. Before making any decision, visit in person, ask to see last week's staffing rota, and speak directly with the manager about how care for your parent's specific needs, whether dementia, nursing, or both, is delivered.
The three questions to ask when you visitSave this home. Compare it against your shortlist.
Let our analysis show you how Drake Nursing Home measures up against the other homes you’re considering. Free account.
In Their Own Words
How Drake Nursing Home describes itself — collected from its own website. DCC has not edited or independently verified the content in this tab.
Plymouth care home supporting residents with dementia and mental health needs
Drake Nursing Home – Expert Care in Plymouth
Drake Nursing Home in Plymouth provides specialist care for older adults living with dementia and mental health conditions. The home welcomes residents aged 65 and over who need dedicated support in a residential setting. Located in the South West, the home offers both long-term placements and shorter respite stays.
Who they care for
The team at Drake has experience caring for residents with dementia alongside those managing mental health conditions. This dual specialism means staff understand the complex needs that can arise when cognitive and mental health challenges intersect.
For residents living with dementia, the home provides structured daily activities and clear communication with families about care routines. The team works to help new residents settle into their surroundings during those crucial first days.
“Visiting Drake Nursing Home yourself will give you the clearest picture of whether it could be the right place for your loved one.”
DCC does not edit or curate content in this tab. For independently curated information, see The Evidence and DCC Verdict.
