Working at Spinney (The)
21 Forest View, London, E4 7AU
Operated by Carebase (Chingford) Limited
48 bedsResidential homes
Workplace Score
6.8/10
AI analysis of latest data
Our AI workplace review
PlainSight AI Review
Last updated: 10 February 2026
Score: 6.8/10
Key Finding
"Supportive management, strong family culture and good training, but agency staff use and minor safety issues hold it back."
Safety & Risk
6/10
✓
Per 2019 comprehensive inspection: Good safeguarding, risks managed, medicines safe but one competency overdue (fixed day of inspection), accidents recorded but lessons not always documented; strong infection control 2020.
Staff Culture
8/10
✓
Per 2019 comprehensive inspection: Staff say 'I love it... feels like going home', 'one big family', long tenure; provider runs staff awards and thank you events valuing staff.
Staffing Levels
6/10
✓
Per 2019 comprehensive inspection: 'sufficient staffing levels... shifts were covered... We have bank staff and agency staff... seniors always around to jump if help needed'.
Training & Dev
7/10
✓
Per 2019 comprehensive inspection: Training on wide topics including dementia, end of life, medicines, infection control; regular supervision and competency checks; staff say 'fantastic... any training I wanted'.
Management
7/10
✓
Per 2019 comprehensive inspection: Registered manager visible and responsive, staff say 'supportive and approachable... one big family', relatives call 'fantastic' with open door.
Programmes
6/10
✓
Per 2019 comprehensive inspection: Lifestyle coordinator runs quizzes, arts/crafts, baking, entertainers, pigmy goats, armchair yoga, book club, community outings; extra coordinator added 2020 for lockdown.
Points to consider
Staffing is adequate but they use bank and agency staff to cover shifts.
We have bank staff and agency staff. [Senior staff} are always around to jump if help needed.
Minor issues like one staff medication skills check being overdue and not always recording lessons from accidents.
one senior care worker's medicines competency assessment were overdue... accident and incidents records did not show lessons learnt when things went wrong.
Varied activities with a coordinator but no specialist therapeutic programmes or innovative approaches.
Activities offered to people included quizzes, arts and crafts, baking and entertainers visiting the home... pigmy goats... arm chair yoga and a book club.
AI Generated
CQC Inspection Overview
CQC Inspection
Last inspected: October 2019
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