Working at Lychgate House
145 Shrub End Road, Colchester, CO3 4RE
Operated by Lychgate House Care Limited
16 bedsResidential homes
Workplace Score
4.7/10
AI analysis of latest data
Our AI workplace review
PlainSight AI Review
Last updated: 10 February 2026
Score: 4.7/10
Key Finding
"Staff receive thorough training and residents give positive feedback, but unreported abuse and weak leadership create serious safety risks."
Safety & Risk
2/10
✕
The provider had not taken appropriate actions to safeguard people from the risk of abuse. This was a breach of regulation 13.
Staff Culture
6/10
✓
Feedback received from people and relatives about the service was positive, with all responses stating they were happy with the service they were receiving.
Staffing Levels
5/10
!
There were adequate staffing levels to provide people with care and support and meet their needs.
Training & Dev
7/10
✓
Staff received a full range of training which provided them with the skills appropriate to their role. Staff knowledge and skills were checked via competency assessments. Training was regularly refreshed.
Management
3/10
✕
The provider's quality assurance and governance arrangements were unreliable or ineffective in identifying the shortfalls in the service.
Programmes
3/10
✕
People living at the service socialised and intermingled with each other regularly, engaging in activities together such as playing pool in the lounge, or football in the garden if they chose.
Points to consider
Abuse concerns and incidents like assaults or self-harm threats were not reported to authorities, leaving gaps in protecting residents.
Several instances of notifiable events, including alleged assaults, and threats of self-harm were identified during inspection. The registered manager confirmed that these incidents had not been notified to CQC, or to the local authority safeguarding team.
Leadership oversight is weak with ineffective audits that miss safety issues and no analysis of accidents to learn from.
Quality assurance and governance systems did not include analysis of themes and trends, or include lessons learned from incidents that had occurred.
No activities coordinator or structured programme, just basic things like pool or garden football to break up routine care.
People living at the service socialised and intermingled with each other regularly, engaging in activities together such as playing pool in the lounge, or football in the garden if they chose.
AI Generated
CQC Inspection Overview
CQC Inspection
Last inspected: May 2023
Requires improvement
Safe
!
Requires improvement
Effective
!
Requires improvement
Caring
✓
Good
Responsive
!
Requires improvement
Management Quality
Well-led: Requires improvement
Staff Reviews
Direct feedback from current and former employees
No one has reviewed yet. Be the first.
Scan the QR code or tap the button to chat with us on WhatsApp. Your identity stays completely anonymous.
Chat on WhatsAppSources
- Care Quality Commission (CQC) Inspection Data
- PlainSight staff reviews