Working at Higher Bank
off Adelaide Terrace, Blackburn, BB2 6EU
Operated by Mr K and Mrs K Hunter and Mrs I Coughlin
22 bedsResidential homes
Workplace Score
6.7/10
AI analysis of latest data
Our AI workplace review
PlainSight AI Review
Last updated: 9 February 2026
Score: 6.7/10
Key Finding
"Strong leadership from hands-on managers and effective safety practices, but basic activities without a coordinator and brief supervision notes need improvement."
Safety & Risk
8/10
✓
2021: Assured provider preventing infections, using PPE effectively, managing outbreaks effectively. Per 2018: Effective safeguarding systems; risks effectively assessed and managed; medicines safely managed.
Staff Culture
7/10
✓
Per 2018 comprehensive inspection: Staff told us they enjoyed working in Higher Bank and found the registered managers to be supportive and approachable; regular meetings for suggestions.
Staffing Levels
6/10
✓
Per 2018 comprehensive inspection: Sufficient numbers of staff were on duty to meet people's needs. We observed staff had time to sit with people and engage them in conversation.
Training & Dev
6/10
✓
Per 2018 comprehensive inspection: All staff had received induction and training required including champions in stroke care, diabetes; staff spoke positively but supervision notes were very brief.
Management
8/10
✓
The home's two managers were hands on and monitored the home continuously (2021). Per 2018 comprehensive inspection: registered managers provided strong, supportive leadership; staff found them supportive and approachable.
Programmes
5/10
!
Per 2018 comprehensive inspection: People supported to participate in variety of activities including exercises, dominoes, trips to pantomime, community events using minibus.
Points to consider
Only basic activities like exercises, dominoes and trips to the pantomime with no dedicated coordinator or specialist programmes.
'There are plenty of things going on. We do exercises and we go on trips to the pantomime', 'I like to play dominoes'. Per 2018 comprehensive inspection
Staffing is adequate with time to chat to residents but no details on low agency use or long-serving staff retention.
Sufficient numbers of staff were on duty to meet people's needs. We observed staff had time to sit with people and engage them in conversation. Per 2018 comprehensive inspection
Training covers basics and some specialist areas but supervision notes are too short and skip key topics like safeguarding.
Notes from these meetings were very brief and did not include any record that policies, procedures or safeguarding matters had been discussed. Per 2018 comprehensive inspection
AI Generated
CQC Inspection Overview
CQC Inspection
Last inspected: November 2018
Good
Safe
✓
Good
Effective
✓
Good
Caring
✓
Good
Responsive
✓
Good
Management Quality
Well-led: Good
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- Care Quality Commission (CQC) Inspection Data
- PlainSight staff reviews