- Residential substance misuse service
Birchwood @ Kaleidoscope House
Assessment report published 22 May 2026
Contents
Ratings - Residential substance misuse services
Our view of the service
We assessed Birchwood @ Kaleidoscope House on the 12 and 13 November 2025. This is the first inspection of this service since it was registered with CQC in May 2023.
Birchwood @ Kaleidoscope House provides detoxification and rehabilitation programmes for substance misuse including drugs and alcohol. The service is for men and women aged 18 and over. The service also works with pregnant women.
The service has two wards: Acorn is a 13-bed detox ward, and Oak is a 12-bed rehabilitation ward. The service is provided in a large renovated building, set in over 9 acres of land in a rural location.
The service provided safe care and had enough staff to deliver care for clients. Staff completed risk assessments of clients and updated these regularly. Clients were provided with advice and support to reduce the harm from substance misuse. There were systems and processes to protect clients from abuse and neglect. The building was clean, well-maintained and fit for purpose. The service made sure that medicines and treatments were safe and met people’s needs, capacities and preferences.
Care and treatment was delivered in line with national guidance and best practice. Staff completed a comprehensive assessment of clients’ needs. Clients had access to a range of staff and support to help meet their needs. Staff received training, supervision, and appraisals.
Staff treated clients with kindness, empathy and compassion and respected their privacy and dignity. Clients had choice and control over their treatment and support. Staff worked well with other organisations to promote the best outcomes for their clients, and to ensure they got the support they needed. Support was available for staff to ensure their safety and wellbeing.
Staff delivered person-centred care and involved clients in decisions about their care and treatment. Clients and staff were aware of how to raise concerns or make a complaint.
Managers were experienced and had a good understanding of the service. Staff knew and understood the provider’s vision and values and how they applied to the work of their team. The provider monitored and managed the service effectively. Staff went beyond the service to raise awareness, promote best practice and innovation, and share information and learning.
Mental Capacity Act Compliance Summary
Staff had had training in the Mental Capacity Act. Staff took all practical steps to enable clients to make their own decisions. For clients who might have impaired mental capacity, staff assessed and recorded their capacity to consent appropriately. They did this on a decision-specific basis with regard to significant decisions. Staff were aware that clients may have fluctuating capacity, particularly if they were under the influence of or detoxing from substances.
The provider had a policy on the Mental Capacity Act, which included the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS). Staff were aware of the policy and had access to it. Staff knew where to get advice from within the provider regarding the Mental Capacity Act. There had been no clients subject to DoLS in the last 12 months. The service had worked with people subject to DoLS, and had a process for assessing people and ensuring their needs could be met within an appropriate legal framework.
People's experience of this service
Clients we spoke with were generally very positive and complimentary about the service and had no major concerns.
People were positive about most staff. They told us they had access to staff who were knowledgeable, polite, caring and supportive. They could access nurses and the doctor when they needed to, who were very thorough. They felt that most staff really cared.
People were generally positive about the building and the environment. They liked having their own rooms, though they could get stuffy in the summer. They thought the food was fine, and they could make their own drinks and snacks.
People told us they felt safe in the service and had their own rooms and lockable storage. They liked having a quiet space to relax in.
People were supported to attend appointments, group sessions and 1-to-1s, and with visits to or from relatives or other health or support workers.
People were given information about the service before admission and given the opportunity to visit beforehand. People were searched on arrival, which they said was expected and thorough. Some people found it daunting when they first came to the service, but staff supported them through this.
People had a discharge plan, and an unexpected exit from treatment plan they were usually involved in developing. People told us that when clients wanted to leave early, staff were supportive towards them and worked with them to encourage them to stay.
We observed positive interactions between staff and clients. Staff spoke about clients in a positive and empathetic manner, both when talking about specific people and clients in general.