The Care Quality Commission
  • Community
  • Community substance misuse service

Archived: Branching Out (Young People's Service)

11 Wards End, Halifax, West Yorkshire, HX1 1BX (01422) 510000

Provided and run by:
Lifeline Project

All Inspections

15 May 2017

During an inspection looking at part of the service

We do not currently rate independent standalone substance misuse services.

  • Following our last inspection in August 2016, we did not require or recommend any areas for improvement for caring, responsive or well led. Since that inspection, we have received no information that would cause us to re-inspect these key questions.
  • During this most recent inspection, we found that the service had not fully addressed the issues that had previously resulted in regulatory breaches or recommendations following the August 2016 inspection.
  • Staff did not regularly assess or review the possible risks for young people or ensure that identified risks were included in plans to effectively manage or mitigate them.
  • Staff did not explore all areas in the young person’s life for the purpose of goal setting and achieving improved lifestyles. Recovery plans were not holistic and contained basic and limited goals.
  • The manager was unable to provide information relating to the numbers of staff who had received a recent appraisal.

However,

  • The provider had appointed a new manager two months prior to our inspection. The manager had carried out an audit on both risk management and recovery plans. The audit had clearly identified all the issues found during this inspection May 2017. The service had also improved their paperwork relating to both recovery plans and risk management since our previous inspection in August 2016. In response to the audit findings, all staff had training booked for the week following our inspection to improve the quality and effectiveness of both risk management and recovery planning.
  • The service had implemented a system to identify and monitor mandatory training compliance. Overall staff mandatory training compliance was 96%.
  • The previous inspection recommended that improvements were made relating to regular audits. This inspection evidenced that staff had undertaken regular audits to ensure clinical equipment was in date. The new manager had also completed an audit on the quality of records.
  • Lone working practices had improved since the previous inspection. The service had systems in place, which staff followed to help ensure their safety.

22 August to 23 August 2016

During a routine inspection

We do not currently rate independent standalone substance misuse services.

We found the following issues that the service provider needs to improve:

  • Case records did not contain risk management plans. Detailed risk assessments identified risks presented by and towards young people however, records did not show how risks were mitigated or managed.

  • Staff did not assess risks of lone workers visiting home or community locations. This meant staff may not have adequate control measures in place to protect them from risks that may be present in these environments. Documentation to record contact between lone workers and their buddies was not always completed.

  • Recovery plans were not holistic and contained basic limited information. Most recovery plans focused on a goal of reduction or cessation of substance use only.

  • The provider did not have a clear system to identify mandatory training requirements for staff.

  • Clinical audits were not completed regularly to assess performance of the service.

However, we also found the following areas of good practice:

  • The service provided dedicated parent and carer support and group sessions around awareness of substance misuse.

  • Waiting lists and caseloads were managed well. The average caseload of staff was 15 and this meant that referrals were seen quickly. There was no waiting list for the service and staff saw young people in the same week.

29 January 2014

During a routine inspection

On the day of our inspection we spoke with the manager, a key worker, staff who worked with families and children, a contract support officer and a person who used the service.

The service offered confidential advice and support to people aged ten to 21 who misused substances such as drugs or alcohol. They also offered support to young people whose families misused substances.

The person we spoke with told us their contact with the service had been a positive experience. They said they had met with their key worker regularly and felt supported by them.

Where people moved between services for treatment, their health, safety and welfare was protected. This was because the provider worked in co-operation with others.

There were enough permanent qualified, skilled and experienced staff to meet the needs of people who used the service.

People were protected from the risks of unsafe or inappropriate care, treatment and support because accurate and appropriate records were maintained.

5 February 2013

During a routine inspection

We were not able to speak with people who used the service when we visited because people were occupied in appointments. We gathered evidence of people's experiences of the service; we reviewed the care records, talked with staff and looked at the comments made from the annual questionnaires received in 2012 from people who used the service.

We saw 30 questionnaires had been completed by people who used the service. These showed us 86% had stated they found the information they needed quickly and they had found the experience at the service helpful and 96% had rated the staff team as either 'excellent' or 'good' All had agreed with the statements staff treated me with respect, they had a positive attitude and they knew what they were doing. Comments made were 'staff never break a promise' and 'made new friends ' not alone'.

11 November 2011

During a routine inspection

We spoke with one person who uses the service and they told us staff always offered them a choice of treatment options that are available.

The person also told us they were happy with the care and support they receive, they are kept involved in the review of their care plans and have a review with the key worker every two weeks.