Working at The Grove Residential Home
6 Bower Mount Road, Maidstone, ME16 8AU
Operated by Smartblade Limited
44 bedsResidential homes
Workplace Score
7.7/10
AI analysis of latest data
Our AI workplace review
PlainSight AI Review
Last updated: 9 February 2026
Score: 7.7/10
Key Finding
"Supportive management and stable long-serving staff create a valued and motivated team, but activities lack specialist programmes and training misses career progression."
Safety & Risk
8/10
✓
Per 2021: 'We were assured that the provider was using personal protective equipment effectively... preventing visitors from catching and spreading infections'; Per 2020: 'Changes were made following accidents... e.g. Tai Chi... to reduce the risk of falls'
Staff Culture
8/10
✓
Per 2020 comprehensive inspection: 'Very nice home to work in. The managers are very nice. The staff have been here for a long time. You do feel very supported... staff were highly motivated and felt very valued'
Staffing Levels
8/10
✓
Per 2020 comprehensive inspection: 'registered manager ensured staffing levels were kept above the assessed number... same staff team providing... consistency... Many staff had worked at the service for several years'
Training & Dev
7/10
✓
Per 2020 comprehensive inspection: 'Staff spoke positively about the training... matrix to monitor... refresher training... continuous support and supervision... Annual appraisals'
Management
8/10
✓
Per 2020 comprehensive inspection: 'There is an open-door policy and the management team are very approachable. It is a very nice home to work in, you do feel very supported.'
Programmes
6/10
✓
Per 2020: 'Additional activity coordinators... wide range of activities... weekly floristry course... visits from the local PAT dog'; Per 2021: 'socially distanced activities, such as creative sessions'
Points to consider
Activities are regular and varied with a coordinator running things like floristry and pet visits, but no specialist therapy programmes or cool tech to make your day more interesting and less routine.
Per 2020 comprehensive inspection: Additional activity coordinators were employed to provide cover during the evenings and at weekends... weekly floristry course... visits from the local PAT dog had started again
Training covers the basics well with supervision and some specialist bits like champions, but no funded qualifications or clear career paths to help you grow long-term.
Per 2020 comprehensive inspection: Staff spoke positively about the training they received... management team used a matrix to monitor... refresher training... continuous support and supervision... Annual appraisals
AI Generated
CQC Inspection Overview
CQC Inspection
Last inspected: March 2020
Good
Safe
✓
Good
Effective
✓
Good
Caring
✓
Good
Responsive
✓
Good
Management Quality
Well-led: Good
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Chat on WhatsAppSources
- Care Quality Commission (CQC) Inspection Data
- PlainSight staff reviews