Merchant House

45 Alma Road, Plymouth, PL3 4HE

01752661979

Care Type

Residential Care

Inspection date

12 December 2022

Provider

Darbyshire Care Limited

Beds

19 beds

How this home compares nearby

Of 57 care homes for older people within 5 miles, 4 are rated higher by CQC, 42 are the same and 11 are lower.

19 of these nearby homes have been inspected more recently than this one.

Based on CQC ratings, updated 22 October 2026. How we compare homes | See the nearby homes

Rating history

Requires ImprovementAug 2019
GoodDec 2022

Improved from Requires Improvement to Good in 2022.

Source: CQC inspection reports. Contains CQC data licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

Costs and who runs this home

Run by Darbyshire Care Limited, which runs 3 care homes in England: 3 rated Good.

Average care home fees in the South West: £1,170 a week for residential care and £1,472 for nursing care (2024-25 averages). Self-funders usually pay more. See our care home costs guide.

This home lists dementia care, which usually costs more than standard residential care. See dementia care home costs. NHS Continuing Healthcare may apply where someone's needs are primarily health needs.
How to pay for a care home explains the council means test, what counts as capital and the funding you can ask to be assessed for.

About Merchant House

Merchant House is a residential care home in Plymouth. Details of the CQC's most recent findings are set out below.

People, relatives and staff expressed confidence in the management team. The service demonstrates consistent management with leaders who create a culture that promotes high-quality, person-centred care. Staff and relatives reported positive experiences, reflecting the supportive environment fostered by the leadership team.

The service has improved its governance and management approach, now ensuring that operations centre on the needs and preferences of the people living there, with an open and empowering culture that delivers good outcomes.

Source: CQC inspection report, 29 December 2022

Specialist Care

DementiaMental healthOlder peopleYounger adults

Fees and availability

We have not verified a current weekly fee for this home. Ask for a written quote based on the room and care needed, including any extra charges.

Check current vacancies, the admission assessment and visiting arrangements directly with the home.

Care and inspection details

Checked against the CQC register on 21 September 2026. This is a check of published information, not a visit to the home.

Registered service: Care home service without nursing
Registered capacity: 19 places — this is not a vacancy count
Registration checked: Registered · PL3 4HE

Registered care categories

Caring for adults over 65 yrs; Caring for adults under 65 yrs; Dementia; Mental health conditions; Substance misuse problems.

These describe the registration. The home must assess whether it can meet the individual person's needs and whether a place is available.

CQC ratings in more detail

Overall rating shown by CQC: Good.

Rating report published 29 December 2022. Latest inspection date recorded: 12 December 2022.

Safe: Good
EffectivePublished 15 August 2019: Good
Caring: Good
ResponsivePublished 15 August 2019: Good
Well-led: Good

Read Merchant House's CQC record and reports.

Contains Care Quality Commission information under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Ratings and registration details can change after the date checked.

5 Questions to Ask on Your Visit

When visiting Merchant House, consider asking...

1.What specific dementia training do staff receive and how recently?
2.How do you support a resident who becomes distressed or confused?
3.How does the home keep a record of a resident's life history and personal preferences?
4.How do you involve families as dementia progresses and communication becomes harder?
5.What happens when a resident's dementia reaches an advanced stage?

5 Things to Look For on Your Visit

When you visit Merchant House, look out for...

1.Is the environment calm, uncluttered and easy to navigate?
2.Do staff speak to residents with patience and dignity, even if they repeat themselves?
3.Are there memory cues around the home -- photos, familiar objects, clear signage?
4.Do residents seem settled and safe, or agitated and unsupervised?
5.Is there meaningful activity happening, or are residents just sitting quietly with nothing to do?

Could the NHS fund Merchant House's fees?

The average nursing home costs £1,535 per week. That's £79,820 a year. NHS Continuing Healthcare could cover all of it. No means test, no contribution from you.

Find out if the NHS could fund these fees