Working at The Willows
30A The Finches, Bexhill On Sea, TN40 1UF
Operated by Affinity Trust
6 bedsResidential homes
Workplace Score
5.0/10
AI analysis of latest data
Our AI workplace review
PlainSight AI Review
Last updated: 9 February 2026
Score: 5.0/10
Key Finding
"Supportive management, training and a family-like culture, but high agency use and unsafe staff deployment create team pressure."
Safety & Risk
4/10
!
The provider had not effectively deployed staff with the right skills to meet people's needs. On the first day we visited the service, staff deployment was not safe as staff without necessary training to meet people’s needs were on shift. This was a breach of Regulation 18.
Staff Culture
6/10
✓
A staff member said, “Feels like a family here with the staff and people, nice and small and homely”. Staff told us they were well supported and this encouraged a good work life balance. They were happy at work and enjoyed working with people.
Staffing Levels
3/10
✕
Staff told us the staffing numbers were maintained however there was a high use of agency which had impacted on the staff. Staff told us, “We all support each other, the team is supportive we all work well as a team despite recent staff leaving and high use of agency”; “Working with agency staff is difficult, a lot of pressure makes it difficult” and “Would like less agency staff.”
Training & Dev
6/10
✓
Staff completed a robust induction process and with ongoing supervision and appraisal meetings. Staff told us they received regular training to develop their role and ensure people’s needs were responded to.
Management
6/10
✓
A new registered manager had started working at the service who was supported by senior management. The registered manager worked with the wider management team to embed the quality monitoring and audit processes. The management team had a good oversight of the care and support provided.
Programmes
5/10
!
People benefited from a number of outings, holidays and activity outside of the service. Some people attended a local church each week... holiday to Paris Disney land... coffee at local café where people were well known.
Points to consider
High use of agency staff and recent leavers mean the team feels under pressure and it's hard to work together smoothly.
high use of agency which had impacted on the staff... “Working with agency staff is difficult, a lot of pressure makes it difficult” and “Would like less agency staff.”
Staff without the right skills or training were sometimes on shift, which made care unsafe until managers fixed it.
staff deployment was not safe as staff without necessary training to meet people’s needs were on shift... no records of agency staff induction. This was a breach of Regulation 18.
No dedicated activities coordinator or specialist programmes, so the job involves routine care plus some basic outings.
Staff supported people to take part in activities of their choice. People were supported to pursue interests in their local area... coffee at local café... attend a local church... holiday to Paris Disney land.
AI Generated
CQC Inspection Overview
CQC Inspection
Last inspected: September 2024
Good
Safe
!
Requires improvement
Effective
✓
Good
Caring
✓
Good
Responsive
✓
Good
Management Quality
Well-led: Good
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- Care Quality Commission (CQC) Inspection Data
- PlainSight staff reviews