Working at Cherry Lodge
23-24 Lyndhurst Road, Lowestoft, NR32 4PD
Operated by Martin Jay & Joanna Jay & Thom Wight
27 bedsResidential homes
Workplace Score
5.2/10
AI analysis of latest data
Our AI workplace review
PlainSight AI Review
Last updated: 10 February 2026
Score: 5.2/10
Key Finding
"Staff feel valued and supported with good training and safe care, but poor activities programme and governance issues hold it back."
Safety & Risk
6/10
✓
Safe rated Good with improvements from prior breaches; medicines managed safely but risk assessments not always person-centred or prompt, PEEPs needed work.
Staff Culture
6/10
✓
Staff told us they felt supported by new manager; 'Things are so much better... I now feel valued' and 'good culture around the residents'.
Staffing Levels
5/10
!
Appropriate staffing levels and skill mix but improvement needed with recruitment procedures; discrepancies found in staff references and identification documents.
Training & Dev
6/10
✓
Staff received training appropriate to role, extended to dementia and diabetes; supervision and appraisals now provided after previous gap.
Management
4/10
!
New manager in post since August 2024 but not yet registered with CQC; staff spoke positively but continuing breach of governance regulation with audits not fully effective.
Programmes
3/10
✕
People told us 'There are not many activities... I get bored with nothing to do'; 2 activity staff but feedback said improvements needed and recording poor.
Points to consider
Little activities programme so the role is mostly routine personal care and residents often get bored.
Some people told us that they sometimes got bored, with the lack of meaningful activities. One person told us, 'There are not many activities. If I do go down there’s talking and not much more going on.'
No permanent manager registered yet and oversight systems miss some care and safety issues.
New manager started in August 2024 but had not yet been registered with CQC; continuing breach of legal regulation relating to governance with audits not identifying all concerns.
Gaps in staff recruitment checks like missing references and ID documents found on review.
Improvement was needed with recruitment procedures and oversight... The new manager had begun reviewing this and found discrepancies with staff references and identification documents.
AI Generated
CQC Inspection Overview
CQC Inspection
Last inspected: March 2025
Requires improvement
Safe
✓
Good
Effective
✓
Good
Caring
!
Requires improvement
Responsive
!
Requires improvement
Management Quality
Well-led: Requires improvement
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