Working at Bluebell House Residential and Nursing Home
126 Barkham Road, Wokingham, RG41 2RP
Operated by Optalis Limited
50 bedsNursing homes
Workplace Score
3.2/10
AI analysis of latest data
Our AI workplace review
PlainSight AI Review
Last updated: 10 February 2026
Score: 3.2/10
Key Finding
"Staff feel listened to and valued with enjoyable daily activities, but staffing shortages, training gaps and unsafe medicines management hold it back."
Safety & Risk
1/10
✕
Medicines were not always managed safely... The provider had failed to ensure medicines were managed safely. This was a breach of regulation 12 (1)(2)(g).
Staff Culture
6/10
✓
Staff told us they felt listened to by the management team... 'We all look forward to coming into work now'.
Staffing Levels
2/10
✕
The provider had not ensured enough suitably qualified staff were deployed effectively within the home to meet people's needs safely. This was a breach of regulation 18 (1).
Training & Dev
2/10
✕
not all staff were up to date with the provider's mandatory training in order to keep people safe. For example, 25 percent of staff were not compliant with their moving and handling training.
Management
3/10
✕
The service now had a registered manager who was appointed in June 2022... Although we recognised the positive changes implemented by the new management team and further improvements planned, we found the provider's governance required further improvement.
Programmes
5/10
!
Activities took place on a daily basis and people reported they enjoyed most of these. However, there was no evidence people's preferences had been sought regarding these activities.
Points to consider
Not enough staff on shifts, so you end up rushing care and people wait too long for help like the commode.
staff, people and relatives told us they do not feel there are enough staff... people who required support with eating were waiting for over an hour for support.
Training gaps mean not all staff are up to date on basics like moving people safely or specialist needs like Parkinson's.
25 percent of staff were not compliant with their moving and handling training... only 7 staff had received training in Parkinson's Disease.
Risks like choking and falls not managed well, and medication given unsafely like controlled drugs all at once.
one person identified as being at risk of choking was left unsupervised... staff giving people their controlled drugs in an unsafe way.
AI Generated
CQC Inspection Overview
CQC Inspection
Last inspected: February 2023
Inadequate
Safe
✕
Inadequate
Effective
!
Requires improvement
Caring
!
Requires improvement
Responsive
!
Requires improvement
Management Quality
Well-led: Inadequate
Staff Reviews
Direct feedback from current and former employees
No one has reviewed yet. Be the first.
Scan the QR code or tap the button to chat with us on WhatsApp. Your identity stays completely anonymous.
Chat on WhatsAppSources
- Care Quality Commission (CQC) Inspection Data
- PlainSight staff reviews