Ark House

Updated 3 December 2025

We have rated this service as outstanding. The service received a safe rating of good with outstanding elements of safe systems and transitional pathways, safeguarding practice and effective staffing. The service was rated as outstanding in the key question of effective and demonstrated an exceptional holistic approach to assessment of needs, utilising evidence based reports to make improvements and well-being of staff and how the team worked together. Caring was rated as outstanding for treating people as individuals and making adjustments to individual need and staff support and level of 1:1 support. The service provided exceptional learning opportunities for staff to further develop therapeutic skills. We rated responsive as good and well-led as outstanding for exceptional leadership, learning opportunities, partnership working and innovation.

Updated 24 June 2025

Ark House is a residential substance misuse rehabilitation service provided by Ark House Rehab Limited which has been registered with the CQC since 2014. Ark House was last inspected in March 2022 and was rated good. We inspected this service on the 9 and 10 of September 2025. The service provides treatment to rehabilitate people with drug or alcohol dependency. It is registered with the Care Quality Commission to provide accommodation for persons who require treatment for substance misuse. The service accepted clients that were self-funded and clients funded by an appropriate authority, for example a local authority or clinical commissioning group. Ark House has a registered manager and a nominated individual.

The service is located in a large house in a residential area of Scarborough. The service has good links with the local community and is within walking distance to amenities. The service can take up to 30 clients and has staff on duty 24 hours. At the time of our inspection, there were 26 clients in treatment. All clients must be free of any substance use before admission, so they often arrive at the service following a detoxification programme. Ark House does not offer clinical or prescription medicine treatments. It delivers psychosocial interventions and provides a therapeutic environment for recovery based on the 12- step programme. The 12-step programme is a form of therapy which provides clients with a set of twelve clear steps towards addiction recovery. These steps are structured to create a beginning-to-end transformation from the early stages of acceptance all the way to rebuilding your connection with others.

We inspected this service over two days with a team of two inspectors and a specialist advisor who works within substance misuse services. We rated this service as outstanding. The service provided a safe, therapeutic environment with skilled, compassionate and caring staff that delivered a range of therapeutic interventions in line with people’s individual needs. Care was recovery focussed and led by experts by experience (staff who have gone through successful recovery). Care records were detailed and showed that staff involved clients and their family, where appropriate, in decisions around care and treatment. There was clear governance oversight and partnerships with other services and agencies were in place.

There was enough staff to keep people safe and ensure therapeutic interventions were consistent and structured. Policies and procedures were in place, ensuring admissions and discharges were safe and effective.