Working at The Ashurst
1 Kirkley Cliff, Lowestoft, NR33 0BY
Operated by Martin Jay & Joanna Jay & Thom Wight
19 bedsResidential homes
Workplace Score
7.3/10
AI analysis of latest data
Our AI workplace review
PlainSight AI Review
Last updated: 10 February 2026
Score: 7.3/10
Key Finding
"Approachable management and a family culture where staff feel valued and stable, but basic activities without a coordinator and missing as-needed medicines protocols need improvement."
Safety & Risk
7/10
✓
Medicines continued to be managed safely. Regular audits of medicines and medicine administration records were carried out. Staff were trained in medicine administration and their competencies were checked.
Staff Culture
8/10
✓
Staff told us they felt listened to and involved with the service. Several described the service as a family environment. They also told us that they could raise any suggestions formally at a staff meeting or informally with the manager and that they would be listened to.
Staffing Levels
7/10
✓
There continued to be sufficient staff available to meet people's needs. People were supported by a consistent team of staff. Some staff members had been at The Ashurst for many years.
Training & Dev
7/10
✓
Staff told us they had access to the training which gave them the skills and knowledge to carry out their roles. Training included dignity and diversity, autism and diabetes. One member of staff said, 'Lots of training, they are always offering us training.' Staff told us they received regular supervision.
Management
8/10
✓
Staff told us that the management team were open and approachable. One member of care staff said, 'It's a home, it is a family. Management are easy to get on with. You can go to them with any problem, even personal. Really approachable.'
Programmes
6/10
✓
People were supported to take part in a variety of activities. One person said, 'We have trips out, I'm going to Great Yarmouth next week with (two people and carer). We have days out in the Summer.'
Points to consider
No activities coordinator or specialist programmes, so the role mixes routine care with basic trips and hobbies like jigsaws.
People were supported to take part in a variety of activities. One person said, 'We have trips out... We have days out in the Summer.' We observed one person doing a jigsaw.
No formal tool to check staffing levels, relying on the manager's judgement in this small home.
The manager told us that they did not use a formal tool to assess staffing levels. However, as the service was small and the registered manager worked in the service they were aware of the staffing needs.
No plans in place for giving medications only when needed, though they promised to add them.
There were no protocols in place for people who had been prescribed medicines to be administered as required. We discussed this with the provider who assured us these would be put in place.
AI Generated
CQC Inspection Overview
CQC Inspection
Last inspected: April 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