Working at Tinkers Hatch
New Pond Hill Cross In hand, Heathfield, TN21 0LX
Operated by Tinkers Hatch Limited
32 bedsResidential homes
Workplace Score
3.8/10
AI analysis of latest data
Our AI workplace review
PlainSight AI Review
Last updated: 9 February 2026
Score: 3.8/10
Key Finding
"Good staff training and varied activities programmes, but a negative culture with bullying and weak leadership hold it back."
Safety & Risk
4/10
!
Staff understood how to support people with their mobility. However, during the inspection we observed a staff member undertaking inappropriate moving and handling techniques. Improvements were needed to ensure environmental risks were managed safely. We saw that some windows did not have restrictors in place.
Staff Culture
2/10
✕
There was a negative staff culture at Tinkers Hatch. Fifteen out of 18 staff spoken with described fractions within the staff team and included allegations of bullying, withholding information from each other, and staff who were perceived as not working as hard as others. Staff talked about repercussions if they spoke out.
Staffing Levels
4/10
!
There were enough staff to ensure people received safe support. One staff member said, "We have enough staff to keep people safe, but sometimes not quality." Another staff member said, "Sometimes quality can be lower than it used to be." They explained, this was due to staffing levels. Agency staff worked at the home.
Training & Dev
6/10
✓
Staff told us they received the training they needed to support people. There was a training plan which showed what training staff had completed and where updates were required. Staff told us the training they received helped them meet people's needs. They told us due to the pandemic a lot of training had been online, but this was now moving to more face to face training.
Management
3/10
✕
The registered manager was responsible for the day to day running of the service, they had worked at the home for many years and stepped into the registered manager role last year but 'One staff member told us, "Registered manager is aware of the concerns, but I believe he doesn't do enough to stop it." Another staff member told us the registered manager was, "Trying to be everybody's friend" and this resulted in, "A lack of leadership."
Programmes
5/10
!
The day centre had a daily activity program that was displayed. People also had their own activity plans and attended the sessions they enjoyed. Regular trips out were arranged. Over the jubilee bank holiday weekend two groups of people visited local zoos. A jubilee tea part had been arranged.
Points to consider
Staff teams are split into cliques with bullying and arguments, and some fear speaking up makes teamwork hard.
Fifteen out of 18 staff spoken with described fractions within the staff team and included allegations of bullying, withholding information from each other, and staff who were perceived as not working as hard as others. Staff talked about repercussions if they spoke out.
Manager knows issues but staff say lacks strong leadership and does not fix problems like bullying fast enough.
One staff member told us, "Registered manager is aware of the concerns, but I believe he doesn't do enough to stop it." Another staff member told us the registered manager was, "Trying to be everybody's friend" and this resulted in, "A lack of leadership."
Staffing is enough for basic safety but absences and agency mean quality dips and workloads stretch seniors.
One staff member said, "We have enough staff to keep people safe, but sometimes not quality." Agency staff worked at the home. They worked there regularly and knew people's needs. Staff also worked extra shifts to cover shortfalls in staffing numbers.
AI Generated
CQC Inspection Overview
CQC Inspection
Last inspected: August 2022
Requires improvement
Safe
!
Requires improvement
Effective
!
Requires improvement
Caring
✓
Good
Responsive
!
Requires improvement
Management Quality
Well-led: Requires improvement
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- Care Quality Commission (CQC) Inspection Data
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