Working at Middleton Lodge
Station Road, Darlington, DL2 1JA
Operated by Potensial Limited
10 bedsResidential homes
Workplace Score
7.7/10
AI analysis of latest data
Our AI workplace review
PlainSight AI Review
Last updated: 10 February 2026
Score: 7.7/10
Key Finding
"Supportive management, stable staffing, regular training and positive culture, although routine activities without a coordinator and inconsistent cream recording hold it back."
Safety & Risk
7/10
✓
Medicines were stored and administered safely. The registered manager had good oversight of accidents and incidents and we saw learning was shared.
Staff Culture
8/10
✓
One staff we spoke with said, 'Morale is really good, everyone is really positive and happy, everyone is so nice to work with and everyone gets on really well.'
Staffing Levels
8/10
✓
One staff member told us, 'Staffing levels are really good we are never short staffed.' The staff team had remained consistent since our last inspection.
Training & Dev
8/10
✓
Records showed staff had regular supervision and completed a wide range of training which included safeguarding, infection control, medication, moving and handling, and pressure care.
Management
8/10
✓
Staff told us the management team were, 'special, and always listening. Christine [registered manager] will always do something about it.'
Programmes
6/10
✓
We observed staff giving people choices and enjoying crafts, helping prepare food and going to the pub.
Points to consider
No activities coordinator or specialist programmes mentioned, so the role is mostly routine personal care with added crafts, cooking help and community outings.
We observed staff giving people choices and enjoying crafts, helping prepare food and going to the pub.
Minor gaps in consistently recording creams during personal care, which means extra checks needed for safe practice.
Processes for applying and recording creams as part of personal care were in place. However, we found these weren't being consistently followed by staff.
AI Generated
CQC Inspection Overview
CQC Inspection
Last inspected: August 2024
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