Working at Ivy Cottage
Highlands Farm, Ashford, TN26 3RJ
Operated by Canterbury Oast Trust
5 bedsResidential homes
Workplace Score
5.5/10
AI analysis of latest data
Our AI workplace review
PlainSight AI Review
Last updated: 9 February 2026
Score: 5.5/10
Key Finding
"Safe staffing and strong safety practices with meaningful activities, but prolonged absence of the registered manager caused gaps in supervisions, appraisals and audits."
Safety & Risk
7/10
✓
People remained safe from abuse... Staff were trained in safeguarding... Individual risk assessments... People received their medicines safely from trained staff... Staff learned from incidents.
Staff Culture
6/10
✓
Staff understood and demonstrated a commitment to the core vision... Staff worked well together... The deputy manager demonstrated 'hands on' leadership through active involvement... and open-door policy.
Staffing Levels
6/10
✓
Staff rostering ensured sufficient numbers of trained staff supported people's activities, appointments and needs. Staffing levels were safe with additional staff available for holiday and sickness cover.
Training & Dev
5/10
!
Staff told us that their induction combined 'classroom' based learning... Training had been updated and staff were encouraged to develop their skills... although supervisions had been less frequent during the registered manager's absence.
Management
3/10
✕
The registered manager had been absent for several months and a deputy manager with limited management experience had taken their place, leaving the service without sufficient day to day management experience.
Programmes
6/10
✓
Plans reflected a range of meaningful activities... including, work at a local carpentry business, art and craft sessions, attendance at a local 'speaking up' group and shopping... house activity rota and daily communication logs confirmed attendance.
AI Generated
CQC Inspection Overview
CQC Inspection
Last inspected: July 2018
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