Elburton Heights Care 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 beds73
- SpecialismsCaring for adults over 65 yrs, Caring for adults under 65 yrs, Dementia, Mental health conditions, Physical disabilities
- Last inspected2023-03-17
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STAGE 4 — RESEARCHING CARE HOMES
Visit homes. Compare them side by side. Choose with confidence.
Most of us will view care homes the way we view houses, impression, atmosphere, the feeling in the corridor. We go home, try to remember what we saw, and make a permanent decision from a blurred memory.
The DCC shortlist gives every home you visit a structured record: the same twelve questions, answered the same way, every time. When you’re ready to choose, pull any two homes side by side and compare them directly. Same criteria, same evidence, your notes and your scores.
The Evidence
What the review data, the inspection reports, and the dementia-care evidence base tell us about this home.
What families say
Visitors regularly comment on the friendly atmosphere they find here, with staff taking time to chat and make families feel comfortable. Many notice residents looking content and well-cared for, with some families reporting their relatives have gained weight and seem more settled since moving in. The activity programme catches people's attention too, with different options throughout the day that residents seem to genuinely enjoy.
The eight family priority themes
- Staff warmth72
- Compassion & dignity72
- Cleanliness70
- Activities & engagement65
- Food quality65
- Healthcare70
- Management & leadership75
- Resident happiness70
What inspectors found
Inspected 2023-03-17
Is this home safe?
Is the care effective?
Effective was rated Good at the February 2023 inspection. This domain covers training, care planning, healthcare access, and food. The home's specialisms include dementia and mental health conditions, which places higher demands on staff training and the quality of individual care plans. No specific detail about GP access frequency, medication review, dementia training content, or meal observations appears in the published report.Is this home caring?
Caring was rated Good at the February 2023 inspection. This domain covers staff warmth, dignity, respect, and how well staff support people's independence. The home had previously been rated Requires Improvement overall, and reaching Good in Caring suggests inspectors found a positive shift in how staff interact with the people who live here. No specific observations about preferred names, unhurried interactions, or privacy during personal care are recorded in the published text.Is the home responsive?
Responsive was rated Good at the February 2023 inspection. This domain covers activities, engagement, individuality, and end-of-life care. The home supports people with a wide range of needs, including dementia, mental health conditions, and physical disabilities, which means the activity programme needs to be genuinely varied and adapted to different abilities. No specific activities, individual engagement approaches, or end-of-life planning detail are recorded in the published text.Is the home well-led?
Well-led was rated Good at the February 2023 inspection. The home is run by Harbour Healthcare Ltd, with Mrs Abigail Louise Baker as the registered manager and Mr Peter David Hammond as the nominated individual. The improvement from a previous Requires Improvement rating to a full Good suggests the leadership team has driven meaningful change across the home. No specific detail about manager visibility, staff culture, complaint handling, or governance processes is recorded in the published text.
Source: CQC inspection report →
What the evidence base says
The home supports adults of all ages with dementia, mental health conditions and physical disabilities. Staff have experience with end-of-life care, helping residents remain comfortable in familiar surroundings. The team shows good understanding of dementia care, with visitors who have professional experience noting the respectful way staff manage challenging behaviours. Residents with dementia participate in suitable activities and receive support that maintains their dignity. 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
Elburton Heights has improved from Requires Improvement to a full Good rating across all five inspection domains, which is a meaningful step forward. However, the published inspection text contains limited specific observations, quotes, or detailed evidence, so scores reflect the positive trajectory and domain ratings rather than rich on-the-ground detail.
Homes in South West typically score 68–82.The three-lens summary
What families tell us
Visitors regularly comment on the friendly atmosphere they find here, with staff taking time to chat and make families feel comfortable. Many notice residents looking content and well-cared for, with some families reporting their relatives have gained weight and seem more settled since moving in. The activity programme catches people's attention too, with different options throughout the day that residents seem to genuinely enjoy.
What inspectors have recorded
Staff show real warmth in their daily interactions with residents, and many families appreciate how approachable the care team is. The home has experienced observers who've noted the dignified way staff support people with dementia. However, some families have reported difficulties with communication during medical situations, and there have been concerns raised about supervision levels at times.
How it sits against good practice
While many families find real comfort in the care their relatives receive here, it's worth having detailed conversations about communication preferences and care planning when you visit.
Worth a visit
Elburton Heights, a 73-bed nursing home on Springfield Road in Plymouth, was rated Good across all five inspection domains at its most recent inspection in February 2023. This is a notable improvement: the home had previously been rated Requires Improvement, and achieving a full Good rating across Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive, and Well-led represents real progress. The home cares for people over and under 65, including those living with dementia, mental health conditions, and physical disabilities, and is registered for nursing as well as personal care. The main limitation of this report is that the published inspection text is brief and contains very little specific detail about what inspectors actually observed inside the home. Scores are based on domain ratings and the positive improvement trend rather than rich on-the-ground evidence. Before making a decision, visit in person: ask to see last week's actual staffing rota (counting permanent versus agency names, especially on nights), ask how the home keeps families informed when something changes, and ask what one-to-one activity your parent would receive on a day when they cannot join a group. The improvement from Requires Improvement is encouraging, but you need those specifics to feel confident.
The three questions to ask when you visitSave this home. Compare it against your shortlist.
Let our analysis show you how Elburton Heights Care Home measures up against the other homes you’re considering. Free account.
In Their Own Words
How Elburton Heights Care Home describes itself — collected from its own website. DCC has not edited or independently verified the content in this tab.
Varied activities and dementia expertise in a well-maintained Plymouth home
Elburton Heights – Your Trusted nursing home
Families visiting Elburton Heights in Plymouth often mention the warm welcome they receive from staff and the variety of activities keeping residents engaged throughout the day. The home cares for people with dementia, mental health conditions and physical disabilities, with experienced staff who understand the specific needs of each resident. Set in well-kept surroundings with bright, clean spaces and pleasant gardens, the home provides care for both younger and older adults.
Who they care for
The home supports adults of all ages with dementia, mental health conditions and physical disabilities. Staff have experience with end-of-life care, helping residents remain comfortable in familiar surroundings.
The team shows good understanding of dementia care, with visitors who have professional experience noting the respectful way staff manage challenging behaviours. Residents with dementia participate in suitable activities and receive support that maintains their dignity.
“While many families find real comfort in the care their relatives receive here, it's worth having detailed conversations about communication preferences and care planning when you visit.”
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
Elburton Heights has improved from Requires Improvement to a full Good rating across all five inspection domains, which is a meaningful step forward. However, the published inspection text contains limited specific observations, quotes, or detailed evidence, so scores reflect the positive trajectory and domain ratings rather than rich on-the-ground detail.
Homes in South West typically score 68–82.The three-lens summary
What families tell us
Visitors regularly comment on the friendly atmosphere they find here, with staff taking time to chat and make families feel comfortable. Many notice residents looking content and well-cared for, with some families reporting their relatives have gained weight and seem more settled since moving in. The activity programme catches people's attention too, with different options throughout the day that residents seem to genuinely enjoy.
What inspectors have recorded
Staff show real warmth in their daily interactions with residents, and many families appreciate how approachable the care team is. The home has experienced observers who've noted the dignified way staff support people with dementia. However, some families have reported difficulties with communication during medical situations, and there have been concerns raised about supervision levels at times.
How it sits against good practice
While many families find real comfort in the care their relatives receive here, it's worth having detailed conversations about communication preferences and care planning when you visit.
Worth a visit
Elburton Heights, a 73-bed nursing home on Springfield Road in Plymouth, was rated Good across all five inspection domains at its most recent inspection in February 2023. This is a notable improvement: the home had previously been rated Requires Improvement, and achieving a full Good rating across Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive, and Well-led represents real progress. The home cares for people over and under 65, including those living with dementia, mental health conditions, and physical disabilities, and is registered for nursing as well as personal care. The main limitation of this report is that the published inspection text is brief and contains very little specific detail about what inspectors actually observed inside the home. Scores are based on domain ratings and the positive improvement trend rather than rich on-the-ground evidence. Before making a decision, visit in person: ask to see last week's actual staffing rota (counting permanent versus agency names, especially on nights), ask how the home keeps families informed when something changes, and ask what one-to-one activity your parent would receive on a day when they cannot join a group. The improvement from Requires Improvement is encouraging, but you need those specifics to feel confident.
The three questions to ask when you visitSave this home. Compare it against your shortlist.
Let our analysis show you how Elburton Heights Care Home measures up against the other homes you’re considering. Free account.
In Their Own Words
How Elburton Heights Care Home describes itself — collected from its own website. DCC has not edited or independently verified the content in this tab.
Varied activities and dementia expertise in a well-maintained Plymouth home
Elburton Heights – Your Trusted nursing home
Families visiting Elburton Heights in Plymouth often mention the warm welcome they receive from staff and the variety of activities keeping residents engaged throughout the day. The home cares for people with dementia, mental health conditions and physical disabilities, with experienced staff who understand the specific needs of each resident. Set in well-kept surroundings with bright, clean spaces and pleasant gardens, the home provides care for both younger and older adults.
Who they care for
The home supports adults of all ages with dementia, mental health conditions and physical disabilities. Staff have experience with end-of-life care, helping residents remain comfortable in familiar surroundings.
The team shows good understanding of dementia care, with visitors who have professional experience noting the respectful way staff manage challenging behaviours. Residents with dementia participate in suitable activities and receive support that maintains their dignity.
Management & ethos
Staff show real warmth in their daily interactions with residents, and many families appreciate how approachable the care team is. The home has experienced observers who've noted the dignified way staff support people with dementia. However, some families have reported difficulties with communication during medical situations, and there have been concerns raised about supervision levels at times.
The home & environment
The home maintains good standards of cleanliness, with families noting fresh-smelling, bright spaces throughout. The gardens provide pleasant outdoor areas where residents can spend time when weather permits. Meals appear to suit most residents well, though some families have raised concerns about nutrition support for those with complex needs.
“While many families find real comfort in the care their relatives receive here, it's worth having detailed conversations about communication preferences and care planning when you visit.”
DCC does not edit or curate content in this tab. For independently curated information, see The Evidence and DCC Verdict.
