St James's Lodge
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 beds38
- SpecialismsCaring for adults over 65 yrs, Caring for adults under 65 yrs, Dementia, Learning disabilities, Physical disabilities, Sensory impairment
- Last inspected2018-12-05
Save St James's Lodge to your shortlist
Keep a running list, add visit notes, and compare homes side-by-side. Free account — it takes a minute.
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
The home feels clean and welcoming, with touches that make it feel less institutional. Families mention the garden where residents can spend time outdoors, and there's even a resident pet that adds to the homely atmosphere.
The eight family priority themes
- Staff warmth30
- Compassion & dignity30
- Cleanliness35
- Activities & engagement30
- Food quality30
- Healthcare30
- Management & leadership25
- Resident happiness30
What inspectors found
Inspected 2018-12-05
Is this home safe?
Is the care effective?
The Effective domain was rated Requires Improvement at the October 2025 inspection. This domain covers whether staff have the right training, whether care plans are detailed and up to date, whether residents receive appropriate healthcare including regular GP access, and whether food and nutrition needs are properly met. The published report does not provide a narrative explanation of the specific shortfalls. For a home that lists dementia as a specialism, a Requires Improvement in effectiveness raises questions about the quality and currency of dementia-specific training and the accuracy of care documentation.Is this home caring?
The Caring domain was rated Requires Improvement at the October 2025 inspection. This is one of the most significant findings in this report for families: the Caring domain is where inspectors assess whether staff are kind, whether residents are treated with dignity and respect, whether privacy is upheld, and whether people are supported to remain as independent as possible. The published report provides no narrative detail on what inspectors observed that led to this rating. Staff warmth and compassion are the two highest-weighted themes in our family review data, accounting for 57.3% and 55.2% of positive reviews respectively when things go well. A Requires Improvement here is therefore the finding that should concern families most.Is the home responsive?
The Responsive domain was rated Requires Improvement at the October 2025 inspection. This domain covers whether the home tailors its care and activities to the individual needs and preferences of each person, whether there is a meaningful activity programme, and whether complaints and end-of-life wishes are handled well. The published report does not provide a narrative account of the specific shortfalls. For a home that supports people with a range of complex needs including dementia, learning disabilities, and physical disabilities, responsiveness to individual need is particularly important.Is the home well-led?
The Well-led domain was rated Requires Improvement at the October 2025 inspection. A registered manager, Mrs Fiona Miller, is named, and the nominated individual is Mr James Sutherland. The formal management structure is therefore in place. However, a Requires Improvement in Well-led means inspectors found that governance, oversight, or the culture of the home was not meeting the required standard. This domain is significant for families because leadership quality is the strongest predictor of whether a home will improve or decline over time. The published report does not provide a narrative account of the specific concerns.
Source: CQC inspection report →
What the evidence base says
The home cares for adults both under and over 65, supporting people with dementia, learning disabilities, physical disabilities and sensory impairments. For residents with dementia, the patient approach of staff and the calm environment can make a real difference to daily life. 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
Every domain at St James's Lodge was rated Requires Improvement at the October 2025 inspection, meaning inspectors found shortfalls across safety, care, leadership, and daily life. This is one of the lowest overall profiles a home can receive without being rated Inadequate.
Homes in South West typically score 68–82.The three-lens summary
What families tell us
The home feels clean and welcoming, with touches that make it feel less institutional. Families mention the garden where residents can spend time outdoors, and there's even a resident pet that adds to the homely atmosphere.
What inspectors have recorded
Staff show real patience when supporting residents with different care needs. During difficult times, like end-of-life care, families have found the nursing team stays attentive and allows loved ones to remain close, even overnight when needed.
How it sits against good practice
It's worth visiting to see how St James's Lodge might suit your loved one's particular needs.
Worth a visit
St James's Lodge, a 38-bed nursing home on Molesworth Road in Plymouth, was rated Requires Improvement across all five inspection domains at its most recent inspection in October 2025, with the report published in December 2025. The home supports people with dementia, learning disabilities, physical disabilities, and sensory impairments, as well as older and younger adults. A registered manager is named and the service remains registered and open, but inspectors found shortfalls significant enough to trigger Requires Improvement in every area they assessed, including safety, effectiveness of care, staff kindness, responsiveness to individual needs, and leadership. The published report does not include the detailed narrative that would normally allow a fuller picture of what daily life looks like for your mum or dad. That absence of verified detail is itself a concern: families need specific evidence, not just ratings. Before visiting, prepare a list of direct questions covering night staffing numbers, agency staff usage, dementia training content, care plan review processes, and how the home has responded to the issues inspectors identified. On the visit, spend time in communal areas observing how staff interact with residents at a natural pace, and ask the manager what specific improvements have been made since October 2025.
The three questions to ask when you visitSave this home. Compare it against your shortlist.
Let our analysis show you how St James's Lodge measures up against the other homes you’re considering. Free account.
In Their Own Words
How St James's Lodge describes itself — collected from its own website. DCC has not edited or independently verified the content in this tab.
Where patience meets genuine care in Plymouth
St James's Lodge – Expert Care in Plymouth
When families describe the care at St James's Lodge in Plymouth, they talk about staff who genuinely listen and respond. This home supports people with various needs, from learning disabilities to dementia, and families have found comfort in the way staff approach each person's individual situation.
Who they care for
The home cares for adults both under and over 65, supporting people with dementia, learning disabilities, physical disabilities and sensory impairments.
For residents with dementia, the patient approach of staff and the calm environment can make a real difference to daily life.
“It's worth visiting to see how St James's Lodge might suit your loved one's particular 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
Every domain at St James's Lodge was rated Requires Improvement at the October 2025 inspection, meaning inspectors found shortfalls across safety, care, leadership, and daily life. This is one of the lowest overall profiles a home can receive without being rated Inadequate.
Homes in South West typically score 68–82.The three-lens summary
What families tell us
The home feels clean and welcoming, with touches that make it feel less institutional. Families mention the garden where residents can spend time outdoors, and there's even a resident pet that adds to the homely atmosphere.
What inspectors have recorded
Staff show real patience when supporting residents with different care needs. During difficult times, like end-of-life care, families have found the nursing team stays attentive and allows loved ones to remain close, even overnight when needed.
How it sits against good practice
It's worth visiting to see how St James's Lodge might suit your loved one's particular needs.
Worth a visit
St James's Lodge, a 38-bed nursing home on Molesworth Road in Plymouth, was rated Requires Improvement across all five inspection domains at its most recent inspection in October 2025, with the report published in December 2025. The home supports people with dementia, learning disabilities, physical disabilities, and sensory impairments, as well as older and younger adults. A registered manager is named and the service remains registered and open, but inspectors found shortfalls significant enough to trigger Requires Improvement in every area they assessed, including safety, effectiveness of care, staff kindness, responsiveness to individual needs, and leadership. The published report does not include the detailed narrative that would normally allow a fuller picture of what daily life looks like for your mum or dad. That absence of verified detail is itself a concern: families need specific evidence, not just ratings. Before visiting, prepare a list of direct questions covering night staffing numbers, agency staff usage, dementia training content, care plan review processes, and how the home has responded to the issues inspectors identified. On the visit, spend time in communal areas observing how staff interact with residents at a natural pace, and ask the manager what specific improvements have been made since October 2025.
The three questions to ask when you visitSave this home. Compare it against your shortlist.
Let our analysis show you how St James's Lodge measures up against the other homes you’re considering. Free account.
In Their Own Words
How St James's Lodge describes itself — collected from its own website. DCC has not edited or independently verified the content in this tab.
Where patience meets genuine care in Plymouth
St James's Lodge – Expert Care in Plymouth
When families describe the care at St James's Lodge in Plymouth, they talk about staff who genuinely listen and respond. This home supports people with various needs, from learning disabilities to dementia, and families have found comfort in the way staff approach each person's individual situation.
Who they care for
The home cares for adults both under and over 65, supporting people with dementia, learning disabilities, physical disabilities and sensory impairments.
For residents with dementia, the patient approach of staff and the calm environment can make a real difference to daily life.
Management & ethos
Staff show real patience when supporting residents with different care needs. During difficult times, like end-of-life care, families have found the nursing team stays attentive and allows loved ones to remain close, even overnight when needed.
The home & environment
People notice the cleanliness throughout the building, and the garden provides a pleasant outdoor space for residents to enjoy. The environment feels comfortable and well-maintained.
“It's worth visiting to see how St James's Lodge might suit your loved one's particular needs.”
DCC does not edit or curate content in this tab. For independently curated information, see The Evidence and DCC Verdict.
