The Care Quality Commission
  • Community
  • Community substance misuse service

Archived: Addaction - Barnsley, John Street

Addaction Harm Reduction Service, John Street, Barnsley, South Yorkshire, S70 1LL (01226) 289058

Provided and run by:
We are With You

Important: This service was previously registered at a different address - see old profile

All Inspections

06 October 2016

During a routine inspection

We found the following areas of good practice:

  • Clients gave universally positive feedback about staff. Clients told us that they thought that staff cared about their well-being beyond their use of substances and treated them like people. They told us they felt welcome at the service, safe and supported by staff.

  • We saw that staff knew clients well and treated them with respect and compassion. When new health treatments became available for a medical condition staff contacted clients who had used the service to inform them of this and supported clients to access this treatment through local health services.

  • Staff worked with agencies and in the local communities to increase awareness of the risks of substance misuse and the services and treatments available for people to access. We saw that this re-engaged some clients back into treatment for drug and alcohol use.

  • Psychosocial intervention skills were used in brief interventions and groups including cannabis groups and fixed penalty groups.

  • The service had a clinic room and a qualified nurse to deliver blood borne virus screening, vaccinations, basic wound and blood care. Emergency equipment was available and all medicines and equipment were in date.

  • Staff had knowledge of safeguarding procedures and could explain how they responded to safeguarding concerns.

However, we found the following areas that the provider needs to improve:

  • Clients’ initial assessments identified risks in relation to the individual and their substance use. However, the care and treatment records for clients receiving brief interventions did not contain a risk assessment or risk management plan. We could not see how risks to clients using the service were being managed or mitigated.

  • Care and treatment records did not contain a signed agreement to show if clients consented to sharing information and if they did consent what they agreed to share and with whom. However, staff and clients told us that this consent was agreed verbally.

  • The supervision rate for staff was 67%. This had been identified through a quality audit visit by the provider. The provider had an action plan in place to increase the rate of staff supervision and ensure that all staff received regular supervision.

  • Not all staff were up to date with all areas of their mandatory training.

13 May 2013

During a routine inspection

We spoke with eight people during our inspection at the service. They all spoke very positively about Addaction. People told us they could express their views and were involved in decision making about their treatment and support. Some people's comments captured included, 'brilliant staff, if it wasn't for them I would be lost', 'I always feel better when I have visited and spoken to the staff here' and 'all the staff here are really friendly and find time for you, they have helped me a lot.'

We found that people's needs were identified in their support/care plans. Records showed that people were involved in care planning and had consented to the care, support and treatment they received.

Our discussions with staff confirmed that there were clear processes and actions in place to minimise and prevent abuse from occurring in the service. Conversations with people on the day of our inspection evidenced that people felt 'very safe' accessing the service.

We found that relevant training and support was provided to staff so that people's welfare and safety was promoted.

The provider had an appropriate system in place for gathering, recording and evaluating information about the quality and safety of care and support the service provided. People who used the service were asked for their views about their care, support and treatment.