• Residential substance misuse service

The Lighthouse

Overall: Requires improvement read more about inspection ratings

Southchurch Avenue, Shoeburyness, Southend-on-sea, SS3 9BA (01702) 296006

Provided and run by:
Step by Step Recovery Limited

Latest inspection summary

On this page

Background to this inspection

Updated 28 April 2023

The Lighthouse is a residential detoxification and rehabilitation service that can support up to 11 men and women, aged 18 to 65 years requiring support for drug and alcohol misuse. At the time of the inspection there were 7 clients in treatment.
The service has been registered with the Care Quality Commission since May 2017 to provide accommodation for persons who require treatment for substance misuse.
The service has a registered manager in post since February 2019.
This was our third inspection of this service. At the previous inspection requirement notices were issued under Regulations 12, 17, 18 and 19 of the Health and Social Care Act, and Regulation 18 of The Care Quality Commission (Registration) Regulations 2009. We found that the service had met the requirements under Regulations 17, 18 and 19 but not Regulation 12.


What people who use the service say
We spoke with 2 clients at the service and reviewed written feedback from clients.
Clients told us that the therapy they received was good and gave them an insight into their substance misuse. Clients said that staff were helpful, that there was a lot of support available and that they were benefitting from their treatment.

Overall inspection

Requires improvement

Updated 28 April 2023

Our rating of this location stayed the same. We rated it as requires improvement because:

  • The service did not follow systems and processes to prescribe and administer medicines safely. The service did not provide evidence to show their prescribing practice was safe. Staff did not request a GP summary prior to admission. The supply of Pabrinex had previously frozen in the fridge and not been disposed of, and the supply was frozen on the day of inspection.
  • The service did not have sufficient oversight of medicines management.
  • Staff did not use recognised tools to assess clients’ severity of dependence.
  • Staff completed physical health examinations and administered medicines in the corridor due to lack of space in the clinic room.

However,

  • The service was clean and comfortably furnished. The service had enough staff, who had all completed mandatory training. Staff assessed and managed risk well and followed good practice with respect to safeguarding.
  • Staff developed holistic, recovery-oriented care plans informed by a comprehensive assessment. They provided a range of treatments suitable to the needs of the clients.
  • Staff treated clients with compassion and kindness, and understood the individual needs of clients. They actively involved clients in decisions and care planning.
  • The service provided support to the families and carers of clients.
  • The service was easy to access and staff planned and managed discharge well. The service offered aftercare sessions to clients for as long as required following discharge.
  • Staff felt supported and valued by managers.