Working at Homelands
Forge Hill, Ashford, TN25 7DT
Operated by Canterbury Oast Trust
6 bedsResidential homes
Workplace Score
7.1/10
AI analysis of latest data
Our AI workplace review
PlainSight AI Review
Last updated: 10 February 2026
Score: 7.1/10
Key Finding
"Strong staff culture and retention with good safety and leadership, but training lacks specialist development and activities miss a dedicated coordinator."
Safety & Risk
8/10
✓
Staff had the necessary training to safeguard people... Risks to people had been assessed and mitigated. Medicines continued to be managed safely... Accidents and incidents were reviewed with improvement plans implemented and learning shared.
Staff Culture
8/10
✓
People enjoyed living at the service, and staff told us they enjoyed working there. One staff member told us 'It's the best staff team I have ever been part of.'
Staffing Levels
7/10
✓
There continued to be a sufficient number of staff... Staff told us 'We have long standing staff, it's a good place. When you find somewhere like this, you don't move on.' One relative told us '(Name) has had the same keyworker for 19 years'.
Training & Dev
6/10
✓
Staff continued to have the training and supervision to enable them to support people. Staff told us all the training they attended was beneficial and they enjoyed it... classroom based and interactive.
Management
7/10
✓
People, relatives and staff told us the service was well led. One relative told us 'The manager is very good. Very open and approachable and easy to talk to'.
Programmes
6/10
✓
People continued to live full active lives... activity planner... food shopping, house days, Poulton woods workshop, visiting the farm, music, crafts, college, horse riding, volunteering at a dog sanctuary.
Points to consider
Training covers basics and supervisions but no funded qualifications or specialist career development for staff.
Staff continued to have the training and supervision to enable them to support people. Staff told us all the training they attended was beneficial... classroom based and interactive.
Varied outings and crafts keep things interesting but no dedicated activities coordinator or specialist therapy programmes.
Activity planner detailed peoples activities for the week including; food shopping, house days, Poulton woods workshop, visiting the farm, music, crafts, and college... horse riding.
Good long serving team but some shifts covered by agency if gaps not filled by permanents.
If the manager could not cover all the gaps in the rota with permanent staff, the provider's flexible workforce were offered the shifts. If the shifts remained vacant, agency staff would be used.
AI Generated
CQC Inspection Overview
CQC Inspection
Last inspected: May 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