Highlands Borders Care Home
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 beds28
- SpecialismsCaring for adults over 65 yrs, Caring for adults under 65 yrs, Dementia, Learning disabilities, Physical disabilities
- Last inspected2020-05-06
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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
Relatives talk about seeing real improvements in their loved ones' mood and participation in daily life. There's a sense that staff really understand what families go through during care transitions, offering emotional support alongside practical care.
The eight family priority themes
- Staff warmth72
- Compassion & dignity72
- Cleanliness68
- Activities & engagement62
- Food quality60
- Healthcare65
- Management & leadership70
- Resident happiness68
What inspectors found
Inspected 2020-05-06
Is this home safe?
Is the care effective?
The home was rated Good for effectiveness at the November 2020 inspection. The published text does not include detail about care plan quality, GP access frequency, dementia training content, or food provision. Dementia is listed as a specialism, which implies some level of relevant training, but the inspection does not describe what that training consists of or how recently it was completed.Is this home caring?
The home was rated Good for caring at the November 2020 inspection. No specific observations of staff interactions, preferred name use, or responses to distress are recorded in the available text. No resident or family quotes are available from the inspection report. The Good rating indicates that inspectors were satisfied with the standard of care observed, but without published detail it is not possible to describe what that looked like in practice.Is the home responsive?
The home was rated Good for responsiveness at the November 2020 inspection. Activities provision, individual care planning, and end-of-life arrangements are all listed as areas inspectors would typically consider under this domain, but none are described in the available text. The home's specialism list suggests it aims to meet a wide range of individual needs, including dementia, learning disabilities, and physical disabilities within a single 28-bed setting.Is the home well-led?
The home was rated Good for leadership at the November 2020 inspection. Miss Kelly Stalker is confirmed as registered manager and Mrs Danqi Zhang as nominated individual. No detail is available about management visibility, staff culture, governance systems, or how the home responds to complaints and incidents. The rating indicates inspectors were satisfied with the leadership structure at that point.
Source: CQC inspection report →
What the evidence base says
The home provides specialist support for adults of all ages with dementia, learning disabilities and physical disabilities. With dementia care as a core specialism, the team understands how to support residents at different stages of their journey. The structured activity programme helps maintain engagement and connection. 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
Highlands Borders Care Home received a Good rating across all five domains at its last inspection in November 2020, which is a positive baseline. However, the published inspection text contains very limited specific detail, so most scores reflect a confirmed Good rating rather than rich, observable evidence.
Homes in South West typically score 68–82.The three-lens summary
What families tell us
Relatives talk about seeing real improvements in their loved ones' mood and participation in daily life. There's a sense that staff really understand what families go through during care transitions, offering emotional support alongside practical care.
What inspectors have recorded
Staff here seem to have found the right balance between professional care and genuine friendliness. Families consistently describe respectful treatment and real kindness in how staff interact with residents. There's clear attention to supporting relatives too, particularly during difficult times.
How it sits against good practice
If you're looking for specialist care in Exeter, visiting Highlands Borders could help you understand if it's the right fit for your family.
Worth a visit
Highlands Borders Care Home, on Salutary Mount in Exeter, was rated Good across all five inspection domains at its last inspection in November 2020. The home is registered for 28 beds and lists dementia, learning disabilities, and physical disabilities among its specialisms alongside general older adult care. A registered manager and nominated individual are confirmed in post, which is the basic governance structure you would expect to see. The main uncertainty here is that the published inspection text contains very little specific detail: no direct observations of care, no resident or family quotes, and no description of what daily life actually looks like. The Good rating tells you the home met the standard at that point, but the inspection was carried out almost five years ago, which means conditions may have changed. Before making a decision, visit in person, ask to see last week's staffing rota (counting permanent versus agency names, especially on nights), and ask how the home manages the mix of residents with dementia, learning disabilities, and physical disabilities within one 28-bed building.
The three questions to ask when you visitSave this home. Compare it against your shortlist.
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In Their Own Words
How Highlands Borders Care Home describes itself — collected from its own website. DCC has not edited or independently verified the content in this tab.
Where kindness meets creativity in specialist dementia care
Dedicated residential home Support in Exeter
Families searching for dementia care in Exeter often find exactly what they need at Highlands Borders Care Home. This specialist care home supports both younger and older adults with dementia, learning disabilities and physical disabilities. What stands out here is how staff combine genuine warmth with structured daily activities that keep residents engaged and connected.
Who they care for
The home provides specialist support for adults of all ages with dementia, learning disabilities and physical disabilities.
With dementia care as a core specialism, the team understands how to support residents at different stages of their journey. The structured activity programme helps maintain engagement and connection.
“If you're looking for specialist care in Exeter, visiting Highlands Borders could help you understand if it's the right fit for your family.”
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
Highlands Borders Care Home received a Good rating across all five domains at its last inspection in November 2020, which is a positive baseline. However, the published inspection text contains very limited specific detail, so most scores reflect a confirmed Good rating rather than rich, observable evidence.
Homes in South West typically score 68–82.The three-lens summary
What families tell us
Relatives talk about seeing real improvements in their loved ones' mood and participation in daily life. There's a sense that staff really understand what families go through during care transitions, offering emotional support alongside practical care.
What inspectors have recorded
Staff here seem to have found the right balance between professional care and genuine friendliness. Families consistently describe respectful treatment and real kindness in how staff interact with residents. There's clear attention to supporting relatives too, particularly during difficult times.
How it sits against good practice
If you're looking for specialist care in Exeter, visiting Highlands Borders could help you understand if it's the right fit for your family.
Worth a visit
Highlands Borders Care Home, on Salutary Mount in Exeter, was rated Good across all five inspection domains at its last inspection in November 2020. The home is registered for 28 beds and lists dementia, learning disabilities, and physical disabilities among its specialisms alongside general older adult care. A registered manager and nominated individual are confirmed in post, which is the basic governance structure you would expect to see. The main uncertainty here is that the published inspection text contains very little specific detail: no direct observations of care, no resident or family quotes, and no description of what daily life actually looks like. The Good rating tells you the home met the standard at that point, but the inspection was carried out almost five years ago, which means conditions may have changed. Before making a decision, visit in person, ask to see last week's staffing rota (counting permanent versus agency names, especially on nights), and ask how the home manages the mix of residents with dementia, learning disabilities, and physical disabilities within one 28-bed building.
The three questions to ask when you visitSave this home. Compare it against your shortlist.
Let our analysis show you how Highlands Borders Care Home measures up against the other homes you’re considering. Free account.
In Their Own Words
How Highlands Borders Care Home describes itself — collected from its own website. DCC has not edited or independently verified the content in this tab.
Where kindness meets creativity in specialist dementia care
Dedicated residential home Support in Exeter
Families searching for dementia care in Exeter often find exactly what they need at Highlands Borders Care Home. This specialist care home supports both younger and older adults with dementia, learning disabilities and physical disabilities. What stands out here is how staff combine genuine warmth with structured daily activities that keep residents engaged and connected.
Who they care for
The home provides specialist support for adults of all ages with dementia, learning disabilities and physical disabilities.
With dementia care as a core specialism, the team understands how to support residents at different stages of their journey. The structured activity programme helps maintain engagement and connection.
Management & ethos
Staff here seem to have found the right balance between professional care and genuine friendliness. Families consistently describe respectful treatment and real kindness in how staff interact with residents. There's clear attention to supporting relatives too, particularly during difficult times.
The home & environment
The home runs a full programme of activities — from baking sessions to craft groups, nail care to bingo. Dedicated activity staff keep things varied and engaging throughout the week. Families also mention good food and well-maintained surroundings.
“If you're looking for specialist care in Exeter, visiting Highlands Borders could help you understand if it's the right fit for your family.”
DCC does not edit or curate content in this tab. For independently curated information, see The Evidence and DCC Verdict.
