Working at Brentwood Care Centre
Larchwood Gardens, Brentwood, CM15 9NG
Operated by RCH Care Homes Limited
112 bedsNursing homes
Workplace Score
3.9/10
AI analysis of latest data
Our AI workplace review
PlainSight AI Review
Last updated: 9 February 2026
Score: 3.9/10
Key Finding
"Good training and improving staff morale, but no permanent manager and unsafe moving, infection control and medicines practices hold it back."
Safety & Risk
3/10
✕
We observed staff using unsafe moving and handling techniques on 3 occasions... Medicine processes required improvement... Infection control processes required improvement... People's care plans and risk assessments continued to contain contradictory information.
Staff Culture
5/10
!
Staff told us they could see the new management in place were making positive changes and they felt able to raise concerns or issues with them. Another staff member said, 'Staff are adjusting to the new management team as they have not always had good leadership in the past, but I feel this is now changing and staff morale has improved.'
Staffing Levels
4/10
!
Whilst we did not identify any significant concerns related to staffing during our assessments, feedback from people remained mixed about how much time staff had to spend with people. We also were concerned that in 2 areas of the home, there was a significant amount of time from the food arriving to the last person being served or supported to eat.
Training & Dev
5/10
!
Per 2022 comprehensive inspection: Staff received the necessary training and guidance to develop their skills. We observed staff were capable and knowledgeable in their role. Staff received regular supervision from senior staff.
Management
2/10
✕
There had been no registered manager at the service since 20/02/2023 and whilst the interim manager planned to register with CQC their substantive role would be as a regional manager with the organisation.
Programmes
3/10
✕
Per 2022 comprehensive inspection: On the day of our inspection the newly appointed activity co-ordinator was on annual leave... There were some activities on offer, but these were very limited, and staff commented they felt they did not have enough time to spend talking to people as they were too busy carrying out care tasks.
Points to consider
No permanent manager in post, just an interim one who will oversee multiple homes.
There had been no registered manager at the service since 20/02/2023 and whilst the interim manager planned to register with CQC their substantive role would be as a regional manager with the organisation.
Unsafe moving and handling observed putting staff and residents at risk, plus infection control lapses and inaccurate medication records.
We observed staff using unsafe moving and handling techniques on 3 occasions when supporting people with their mobility... staff were not following safe infection prevention and control practices... records for medicated patches were not being completed accurately.
Staffing levels improved but staff say they are under pressure and too busy, with long delays helping residents eat.
A staff member told us, 'It is like this [busy] most of the time, we are always under pressure'... on both the nursing floor and residential floor there were delays to people receiving their food.
AI Generated
CQC Inspection Overview
CQC Inspection
Last inspected: May 2024
Requires improvement
Safe
!
Requires improvement
Effective
✓
Good
Caring
✓
Good
Responsive
!
Requires improvement
Management Quality
Well-led: Requires improvement
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- Care Quality Commission (CQC) Inspection Data
- PlainSight staff reviews