The Care Quality Commission
  • Residential substance misuse service

Archived: Birchwood Residential Treatment Centre - Birkenhead

23-25 Balls Road, Birkenhead, Wirral, Cheshire, CH43 5RF (0151) 647 8633

Provided and run by:
Arch Initiatives

Important: The provider of this service changed. See new profile

All Inspections

4 October 2016

During a routine inspection

We do not currently rate independent standalone substance misuse services.

We found the following areas of good practice:

  • Staff were suitably skilled and experienced to provide care, treatment and support for clients. Staff received regular supervision, had completed most of their mandatory training, and had had an appraisal.
  • There were established referral pathways from the substance misuse teams, the local hospital and GPs. The service was part of a detoxification pathway, and clients had access to inpatient/residential or community substance misuse services on discharge. There were clear treatment pathways for clients, the most common being for clients requiring detoxification from alcohol, opiates or stimulants.
  • Clients had a comprehensive assessment of their needs from which a recovery plan was developed. The assessment included the client’s substance misuse history, their physical and mental health needs and any risks.
  • Medication was prescribed by registered nurses who were non-medical prescribers. Clients had their progress monitored throughout their treatment by the use of assessment tools that measured the severity of withdrawal symptoms, and monitoring of their physical observations. Staff were trained and had the necessary medication and equipment to deal with medical emergencies. Medication was stored and managed safely.
  • Clients were provided with verbal and written information about the treatment programme, and the restrictions on admission to the service. There were daily community meetings for clients where clients contributed to the day-to-day running of the service. Clients were invited to submit feedback forms to give their views of the service. Clients had access to an advocacy service.
  • Incidents, audits and complaints were reviewed locally, and action taken in response. The building and its equipment were clean, safe and well maintained.
  • Clients had single rooms, and there was an accessible room with bathroom on the ground floor for clients with limited mobility. The building and its equipment were clean, safe and well maintained.

However, we also found the following issues that the service provider needed to improve:

  • Recovery plans were not always written in a person centred way and did not include the client’s views. All clients were aware of their recovery plans, but they gave mixed views about how involved they had been in the process of developing the plan.
  • It was not clear how staff followed the principles of the Mental Capacity Act for clients who may lack capacity to make decisions about their treatment.
  • The governance arrangements were in a period of transition. There were two incident report systems – one for Arch Initiatives and one for the NHS trust. The Arch Initiatives system was in transition following the change of ownership in July 2016, and there was not a system for ensuring that incidents were tracked and followed up.

2 July 2013

During a routine inspection

We spoke with three people who used the service. All said they were happy with the support and treatment provided. Some comments made were:

"It's hard in here and sometimes I have felt like leaving but the staff are great and talk things through with you. They made me feel I can do this for me.'

'When I came in here I was physically unwell the staff have been great and supported me to see the doctor. I am feeling much better now.'

We looked at four treatment records. They showed detailed assessments were carried out to find out whether a person would benefit from being admitted to Birchwood. An individual plan of treatment was prepared for each person. They were person centred and detailed what people hoped to gain from their stay at Birchwood and how this might be achieved.

Records and discussions with people who used the service and members of the staff team showed that the service co-operated with other service providers.

We found there were effective and safe systems in place for the management of people's medicines.

Documentation showed there were clear recruitment and selection procedures in place for the HR department and managers to follow.

There were systems in place to monitor the quality and safety of the service provided such as treatment plan audits, medication audits and health and safety audits.

14 February 2013

During a routine inspection

Birchwood provided a residential support and treatment service to people with addiction issues. We spoke with five people who told us that they had been involved in the assessment process and had developed their treatment plans with their key workers. They said their key workers and support workers listened to them and worked with them to address their addiction issues. One comment made was:

'I feel supported here and safe, the staff challenge me when I need to be and I feel confident doing the same to them. I am learning skills about how to deal with my emotions in a positive way.'

We spoke with two members of staff they told us they had received training in safeguarding and described how they would ensure the welfare of vulnerable adults and children was protected through the whistle blowing and safeguarding procedures. People told us the staff team who supported them were caring and professional and had treated them with respect.

Records showed people's medicines had not been administered safely or appropriately.

The recruitment and selection processes did not protect people who used the service as they did not carry out risk assessments where Disclosure and Barring Services (DBS) checks identified prospective employees had criminal convictions.

There was an effective complaints system in place with comments and complaints people made being responded to appropriately.

15 December 2011

During a routine inspection

We spoke with people who used the service. All were happy with the support provided. They said the care workers listened to them and worked with them to address their issues. Some comments made were;

"This place has been brilliant for me I am much more optimistic and confident about my future.'

'When I leave here they have set up all my aftercare appointments so I know what I need to do. I don't feel as if I'm on my own with this anymore.'

People spoken with during the visit told us they felt the staff team supported them to seek support and assistance from other services such as residential rehabilitation services, community based drug services and housing services. Some comments made were;

'I know what I'm going to be doing when I leave here and the people who are out there to help me, knowing makes' it easier to leave.'

People who used the service told us they received their medication at the agreed times.

People spoken with said they were getting the support they needed and felt confident to ask staff if they required further help or assistance. All commented on how they valued the key worker system operated by Birchwood. People spoke positively about the service they received and told us they felt valued by the staff and management team.