Working at Handford House Care Home
27a Cumberland Street, Ipswich, IP1 3PA
Operated by Healthcare Homes (LSC) Limited
52 bedsNursing homes
Workplace Score
5.0/10
AI analysis of latest data
Our AI workplace review
PlainSight AI Review
Last updated: 10 February 2026
Score: 5.0/10
Key Finding
"Improvements in tailored training, engaging activities and safe medicines management, although high staff vacancies relying on agency cover mean some waits for help and mixed morale."
Safety & Risk
6/10
✓
Staff managed medicines safely... Improvements had been made in the infection prevention and control processes... However, we identified gaps in the monitoring of people’s blood sugars, the management team assured us this was being addressed.
Staff Culture
5/10
!
The majority of staff told us how the culture in the service had improved and they were happy working in the service... Whilst the majority of staff we received feedback from, told us they felt listened to and supported, some staff told us they felt the culture of the service required improvement.
Staffing Levels
4/10
!
having 16 vacancies... Staff vacancies were being covered by existing staff, bank staff and agency staff... some people said staff were not always available when needed.
Training & Dev
6/10
✓
Improvements had been made in staff training, with this being monitored to ensure staff were undertaking their on-line required training. In addition, more face to face training was being delivered, the manager told us this training was being tailor made to the service.
Management
4/10
!
There were systems in place to support staff wellbeing, however, we received mixed views from staff about how they were being listened to and the morale in the service.
Programmes
6/10
✓
There was a new activity coordinator in post since January 2025. Records showed they were regularly asking people what they wanted to participate in... There was a programme of group activities in place and the activity staff told us how they undertook 1 to 1 activities... recent gardening project.
Points to consider
There are 16 empty beds right now and they use agency and bank staff to cover gaps, plus some residents wait for help which stretches the team.
having 16 vacancies... Staff vacancies were being covered by existing staff, bank staff and agency staff... some people said staff were not always available when needed. One person told us they had to wait for the nurse... Another person said, 'There is never enough time... it needs another 2 carers on this floor.'
New manager is keen and approachable but staff have mixed feelings about being listened to and morale is not fully positive yet.
we received mixed views from staff about how they were being listened to and the morale in the service... some staff told us they felt the culture of the service required improvement.
Staff feel mostly supported but some say they are not always listened to which holds back a strong team spirit.
Whilst the majority of staff we received feedback from, told us they felt listened to and supported, some staff told us they felt the culture of the service required improvement... we also received some feedback from 4 staff members who felt the culture needed to be improved.
AI Generated
CQC Inspection Overview
CQC Inspection
Last inspected: August 2025
Good
Safe
✓
Good
Effective
✓
Good
Caring
✓
Good
Responsive
✓
Good
Management Quality
Well-led: Requires improvement
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- Care Quality Commission (CQC) Inspection Data
- PlainSight staff reviews