Working at Fairlawn
St Marys Road, Ferndown, BH22 9HB
Operated by Care South
64 bedsResidential homes
Workplace Score
6.4/10
AI analysis of latest data
Our AI workplace review
PlainSight AI Review
Last updated: 9 February 2026
Score: 6.4/10
Key Finding
"A friendly family-like culture and strong safety, but no registered manager yet and basic activities hold it back."
Safety & Risk
8/10
✓
People felt safe, staff trained in safeguarding, risk assessments reviewed monthly, medicines managed safely with competency checks, incidents analysed monthly with learning shared.
Staff Culture
8/10
✓
Staff felt proud to work at Fairlawn, appreciated, confident in colleagues; 'It's like one big, happy family here, there is a friendly atmosphere', 'culture is friendly and supportive'.
Staffing Levels
6/10
✓
There was enough staff on duty; improvements to planned staffing levels sustained with focus on recruitment and retention; people said staff attended needs timely.
Training & Dev
6/10
✓
Per 2019 comprehensive inspection: Staff received appropriate training, clear induction with Care Certificate, supervisions and appraisals scheduled, learning team support.
Management
5/10
!
New manager had applied to register but not yet registered; staff feedback positive: 'The new manager is nice, open and answers your questions', 'The manager is very approachable'.
Programmes
4/10
!
Per 2019 comprehensive inspection: Programme of basic activities like animal sounds game, colouring books, walks to town; strengthened internally during Covid.
Points to consider
No permanent manager in post yet, the new one has only applied to be official.
Fairlawn did not have a manager registered with the Care Quality Commission. The new manager had made an application to the CQC to become the registered manager for Fairlawn.
Only standard training like inductions and basic courses, no specialist courses or funded qualifications.
Per 2019 comprehensive inspection: Staff told us they felt supported and received appropriate training to enable them to fulfil their roles. A staff member told us, 'Training is good. It is delivered both practically and on line'.
Basic activities like games, colouring and walks, so the role is mostly routine personal care.
Per 2019 comprehensive inspection: 'I have my colouring books and I like to keep my brain busy', 'there are activities every day. This morning we did animal sounds', 'I can walk into town from here'.
AI Generated
CQC Inspection Overview
CQC Inspection
Last inspected: January 2021
Good
Safe
✓
Good
Effective
✓
Good
Caring
✓
Good
Responsive
✓
Good
Management Quality
Well-led: Good
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Chat on WhatsAppSources
- Care Quality Commission (CQC) Inspection Data
- PlainSight staff reviews