The Care Quality Commission
  • Community
  • Community substance misuse service

Archived: FOCUS12 - Number 26

26 Brentgovel Street, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, IP33 1EB (01284) 701702

Provided and run by:
FOCUS 12

All Inspections

23 March 2017

During a routine inspection

We do not currently rate independent standalone substance misuse services.

We found the following areas of good practice:

  • Clients received an induction to the house upon admission. This allowed them to familiarise themselves to the layout of the house and the fire exits and procedures.

  • Night intervention service staff provided support to this location up to 23:00 hours. Contact numbers were available for clients to contact these staff members if required during the night.

  • Accommodation contracts were in place and these identified the expected standards of behaviour when sharing this accommodation with others.

  • Weekly accommodation meetings were held at which any concerns identified by clients were addressed.

24 July 2013

During a routine inspection

We spoke with four people using the service at the time of our inspection. People who were participating in treatment all made complimentary comments around the competency and demeanour of staff. They confirmed to us that the care programme available was of a high quality and met their needs. One person told us, "Staff are absolutely superb. Their support has helped me hugely. I think that this programme is much better than other rehab programmes I have attended." Another person said, "The thing that sets FOCUS 12 apart is the way that nothing is too much trouble. I have had help to find accommodation and resettle back into the community and this assistance is very valuable to me."

We spoke with four staff members. They all demonstrated high levels of competency and a commitment to help people with addictions.

We found that the service had created detailed and highly individualised care plans in conjunction with the person receiving the care. There was extensive evidence to show the involvement of all relevant health care and social care professionals and records demonstrated that progress was reviewed at regular intervals throughout the care pathway.

Premises were suitable and well maintained and assessments of most risks to people's health and safety were in place.

An appropriate complaints policy and procedure was in place and, where complaints had been received, they had been dealt with in line with the provider's guidelines.

12 October 2012

During a routine inspection

We spoke with eight people using the service. They all spoke very positively about the service they were receiving. They told us that they had been treated with dignity and respect and without judgement by all staff members. Five people stated that the service had managed to keep them on the road to recovery where other services had failed. One person explained, "I have tried other more traditional rehabilitation services but they did not reach me like Focus12 has. Staff phoned me several times a day before I arrived here. I knew what to expect and it was not so daunting coming through the front door because I already trusted my counsellor. I have been supported day and night through my detox. I have been supported to keep in touch with my family and to attend narcotics anonymous meetings. My care and treatment plan has been 100% abstinence based and this has really worked for me. I don't even need sleeping tablets now." We found the service to be delivering a high standard of individualised care to meet the complex and varied needs of people using the service. Care and treatment plans were highly personalised. Support was given to reduce people's anxiety around legal proceedings, housing and benefits issues and the needs of family members. This gave people more freedom to concentrate on curing their addiction. We found that staff had exceptional levels of motivation. They had received training and supervision to equip them to offer good support to people using the service.