Working at Heron Hill Care Home
Valley Drive, Kendal, LA9 7SE
Operated by Abbey Healthcare (Kendal) Limited
86 bedsNursing homes
Workplace Score
6.6/10
AI analysis of latest data
Our AI workplace review
PlainSight AI Review
Last updated: 10 February 2026
Score: 6.6/10
Key Finding
"Exceptional training and supportive management where staff feel valued, but serious medicines errors like doses too soon hold it back."
Safety & Risk
4/10
!
Medicines optimisation Score:2 The service did not always make sure that medicines and treatments were safe... we found examples of the information not always being up to date... not always the appropriate paperwork... doses of medicines too soon.
Staff Culture
6/10
✓
Staff reported high morale and a strong sense of team cohesion. One staff member told us, “I feel thoroughly supported. Communication and morale are at an all-time high. I feel listened to, and the managers know how to get the best out of me.”
Staffing Levels
6/10
✓
There were enough staff on duty to meet people's needs. The service used a dependency tool to calculate the numbers of staff they needed.
Training & Dev
9/10
✓
The management team had overseen an exceptional training programme which ensured their staff could provide the best care possible. Staff had been able to complete NVQs in health and social care, and some staff had completed Care Home Assistant Practitioner (CHAP) courses and secured CHAP positions.
Management
8/10
✓
Staff consistently told us they felt valued, listened to, and well supported in their roles. The management team were described as ‘approachable’ and ‘fair’, and encouraged staff to speak up and contribute ideas.
Programmes
6/10
✓
The service had an activities team and people had a vast range of meaningful activities and special events available to them, and choice to participate in if they wished... summer fete... arts and crafts... pub Fridays where staff support people to go to the pub.
Points to consider
Staff made mistakes giving medication like doses too soon and missing doctor paperwork for crushed tablets.
For three people who had their medicines crushed... we found there was not always the appropriate paperwork... for two people taking paracetamol containing medicines... we saw that this was not always followed, and people received doses of medicines too soon.
Staffing is enough to meet needs but nothing special with no info on low agency use or staff staying long-term.
There were enough staff on duty to meet people's needs. The service used a dependency tool to calculate the numbers of staff they needed.
Activities team runs regular events like fetes and pub trips but no specialist programmes to make the job more varied.
The service had an activities team... summer fete... entertainment... arts and crafts... pub Fridays... go out for shopping and have a regular visit to the pub next door.
AI Generated
CQC Inspection Overview
CQC Inspection
Last inspected: November 2025
Good
Safe
✓
Good
Effective
✓
Good
Caring
★
Outstanding
Responsive
✓
Good
Management Quality
Well-led: Good
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- Care Quality Commission (CQC) Inspection Data
- PlainSight staff reviews