• Residential substance misuse service

Archived: Shardale Specialised Therapeutic Community

Woolfield House, Wash Lane, Bury, Lancashire, BL9 6BJ (0161) 764 3991

Provided and run by:
Shardale Limited

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Background to this inspection

Updated 21 July 2016

Shardale specialised therapeutic community is an independent substance misuse service that is part of the Shardale Group. The Shardale group has two locations offering structured rehabilitation programmes, one in Bury and the other in St Anne’s. There is also a structured day programme run in Preston.

This service is situated in Bury, in a residential area close to public transport and local amenities. Shardale specialised therapeutic community offers a personalised treatment programme for up to 29 men and women, enabling them to make informed treatment choices that support their individual recovery journeys. There were 9 people resident on the day we inspected the service as there were building works being undertaken to reduce the overall number of bedrooms to make all rooms en suite.

Clients were funded through local commissioning arrangements. The service accepted clients who had completed inpatient detoxification programmes, primarily alcohol detoxification, and required ongoing rehabilitation. Referrals were made by community keyworkers, primarily community alcohol team keyworkers or commissioners of substance use services. Keyworkers remain involved during the treatment process and attend regular reviews.

The average length of stay was approximately six to nine months.

Shardale specialised therapeutic community was registered to provide the following regulated activities:

Accommodation for persons who require treatment for substance misuse.

There was a nominated individual and an application was in process for a new registered manager. In the meantime, a senior manager from within the organisation was supporting the team manager in undertaking the registered manager responsibilities.

The Care Quality Commission had previously inspected the service in July 2013 and the service was meeting all required standards at that time.

Overall inspection

Updated 21 July 2016

We do not currently rate independent standalone substance misuse services.

We found the following areas of good practice:

  • There service was clean and well maintained. Maintenance records were up to date and comprehensively completed. There were good health and safety arrangements in place regarding cleaning and kitchen use. Staffing levels were adequate for the service with no use of bank or agency staff. Staff understood their responsibilities in terms of safeguarding. Staff completed thorough risk assessments. Medicines were managed safely including self-medication.
  • Staff completed comprehensive needs assessments for clients and staff and clients developed recovery based, outcome focussed care plans. The treatment programme evidenced good practice guidance. Staff completed audits to check clinical care and the service supplied required information to the national drug treatment monitoring service. Managerial and clinical supervision took place regularly and all staff received an annual appraisal.
  • Staff respected clients and valued them as individuals. Feedback from clients was positive about the way staff treated them. There was a strong, visible client-centred culture. All clients had full involvement with their treatment throughout their stay. Carers gave positive feedback on the service and the staff.
  • Admissions were planned with clients able to visit the service and spend time there prior to admission. Discharge planning began at admission and a clear plan and outcomes were devised to work within the timescale set. Staff worked with clients to prevent unplanned discharges.
  • There was good provision of rooms and space for therapy. The treatment programme provided activities for clients seven days a week. The rehabilitation programme included free time and dedicated time for clients to spend with their key worker.
  • There was a good governance structure to oversee the operation of the service. There were clinical governance plans in place with regular review and audit.

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

  • The service currently has no registered manager.
  • Staff were not up to date with all mandatory training.
  • Staff did not have any further training provided in terms of substance misuse or therapeutic approaches or training in running group work programmes.
  • Staff do not receive training in understanding the Mental Capacity Act.
  • There was no Mental Capacity Act policy.
  • There was no Duty of Candour policy.