Working at The Lakes
Duncote Hall, Towcester, NN12 8AQ
Operated by Minster Care Management Limited
47 bedsResidential homes
Workplace Score
6.6/10
AI analysis of latest data
Our AI workplace review
PlainSight AI Review
Last updated: 10 February 2026
Score: 6.6/10
Key Finding
"Excellent safety protections and supportive culture for staff, although staffing lacks stability and training is basic."
Safety & Risk
8/10
✓
People were protected from potential abuse. Staff understood the policies and procedures for reporting any concerns. Risks to people were safely managed. Risk assessments were in place and contained relevant strategies.
Staff Culture
7/10
✓
Staff told us they felt supported within their roles. One staff member said, 'The management are really nice. They are kind and caring and check up on us (staff) to make sure we are OK.'
Staffing Levels
6/10
✓
The service had enough staff, including for one-to-one support for people. Staff and people told us there were sufficient staff to support people as required. 'We have enough staff to meet people's needs and spend time with them.'
Training & Dev
6/10
✓
People were supported by staff who had been safely recruited and who had received sufficient training to understand their roles and responsibilities and to meet people's individual needs.
Management
7/10
✓
The registered manager had a good oversight of the service. Regular audits and reviews were completed... Staff felt supported within their roles.
Programmes
6/10
✓
There was an activities co-ordinator employed to arrange activities daily and support people to be engaged. One person told us, '[Staff member] does bingo, quizzes, cooking, movies and games.'
Points to consider
Staff numbers are sufficient to meet needs but no details on stable team or low agency use.
The service had enough staff, including for one-to-one support for people. Staff and people told us there were sufficient staff to support people as required.
Only basic training like safeguarding and medicines covered, no specialist courses or funded qualifications.
People were supported by staff who had been safely recruited and who had received sufficient training to understand their roles and responsibilities and to meet people's individual needs.
Activities coordinator runs regular basic events like bingo and quizzes, but no specialist programmes.
There was an activities co-ordinator employed to arrange activities daily and support people to be engaged. One person told us, '[Staff member] does bingo, quizzes, cooking, movies and games.'
AI Generated
CQC Inspection Overview
CQC Inspection
Last inspected: March 2023
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