Working at Birchwood Bungalow
Off How Wood, St Albans, AL2 2QZ
Operated by Voyage 1 Limited
7 bedsResidential homes
Workplace Score
6.0/10
AI analysis of latest data
Our AI workplace review
PlainSight AI Review
Last updated: 9 February 2026
Score: 6.0/10
Key Finding
"Supportive leadership and team culture with enough staff and strong safety, but basic activities and standard training hold it back."
Safety & Risk
7/10
✓
Safeguarding processes were in place... staff demonstrated an understanding of what might constitute abuse. Risk assessments... enabled people to take positive risks. Staff were trained to administered people`s medicines. Staff had their competencies checked.
Staff Culture
6/10
✓
Staff felt supported by the registered manager and the provider`s operations manager. Staff told us they worked in a supportive team, which enabled them to share learning and develop in their roles.
Staffing Levels
6/10
✓
There were enough staff to meet people`s needs safely. One relative said, 'Staff are always around when I visit.' Recruitment processes were robust.
Training & Dev
6/10
✓
Staff continued to receive training which enabled them to meet people`s needs and recognise when their health needs changed. Newly employed staff received training in line with the nationally recognised `Care Certificate`. They received on-going supervision and appraisals.
Management
6/10
✓
Relatives told us the service was `very well led`. They told us the registered manager was approachable and always open and ready to listen to them. Staff praised the registered manager and the provider for being supportive and always ready to help. The registered manager was on long term leave and interim management cover was arranged by the provider.
Programmes
4/10
!
People were supported to develop their activity schedule depending on their interest. In house activities as well as outings were a regular occurrence on people`s activity schedule. Relatives told us staff supported people to go to town, day centre, shopping trips, and to visit other local attractions.
Points to consider
Only basic in-house activities and outings, no dedicated coordinator or specialist programmes to make the job more varied and fulfilling.
People were supported to develop their activity schedule depending on their interest. In house activities as well as outings were a regular occurrence on people`s activity schedule.
Only standard training like the Care Certificate and supervisions, no specialist courses or funded qualifications.
Newly employed staff received training in line with the nationally recognised `Care Certificate`. They received on-going supervision and appraisals.
Staffing is enough to meet needs safely but nothing special, no details on low agency use or strong retention.
There were enough staff to meet people`s needs safely. One relative said, 'Staff are always around when I visit.'
AI Generated
CQC Inspection Overview
CQC Inspection
Last inspected: September 2019
Good
Safe
✓
Good
Effective
✓
Good
Caring
✓
Good
Responsive
✓
Good
Management Quality
Well-led: Good
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- Care Quality Commission (CQC) Inspection Data
- PlainSight staff reviews