- Community substance misuse service
Stockton Recovery Service
Assessment report published 21 September 2026
Contents
Ratings - Substance misuse services
Our view of the service
We inspected Stockton Recovery Service on 26 and 27 May 2026. The service delivers specialist community support for adults with drug and alcohol addiction problems. The service runs a range of groups, sessions and meetings to support clients. Some of these involve therapy that focuses on thoughts and behaviour, such as self management and recovery training. Others focussed on peer support from people with similar experiences.
People who are alcohol dependent can access detoxification either at home or in an inpatient setting depending on need and as part of a wider recovery plan. Healthcare professionals oversee the process to ensure safety and provide ongoing guidance. People may be prescribed medication to help manage withdrawal symptoms and cravings as they reduce their alcohol intake.
The service also offers a range of treatment options for people with drug problems. Support may include self-directed change for those not at risk of withdrawal, peer support groups and recovery meetings, medication-assisted treatment (such as methadone or buprenorphine) for people dependent on opioids, medically supervised detoxification, and facilitated access to residential rehabilitation programmes. Treatment plans are developed collaboratively, with clinical oversight to ensure safe prescribing, stabilisation and, where appropriate, planned reduction or detoxification.
During the previous inspection, we identified that risk management plans were not fully completed to address all risks identified and key information was missing to confirm how each risk was being mitigated and managed. This was a breach of Regulation 12 Safe care and treatment. However, this had now been addressed as risk management plans were effective in mitigating any risks identified. Other issues identified at the previous inspection such as consistently recording discharge plans had also been addressed. However, the provider continued to have challenges with evidencing that all staff received an annual appraisal.
Mental Capacity Act / Consent to Treatment Overview
All staff had completed Mental Capacity Act training and staff we spoke with demonstrated a good understanding of its principles, particularly the five statutory principles. Staff were able to identify when a client’s capacity to consent to treatment may be in question and took appropriate steps to support clients in making their own decisions.
Care records we reviewed evidenced that capacity assessments were completed and documented appropriately on a decision-specific basis for significant decisions. Where clients lacked capacity, staff involved mental health services and made best-interest decisions that considered the individual’s wishes, feelings, culture and personal history.
Staff also ensured that signed consent-to-treatment forms and confidentiality agreements were in place that clearly documented who personal information could be shared with. These records were accessible to all staff involved in the client’s care and treatment.
People's experience of this service
Staff treated clients with discretion, respect and compassion, and provided practical help, emotional support and advice. We spoke with 12 clients, and their feedback was overwhelmingly positive, with comments highlighting supportive, non-judgemental staff, effective keyworker relationships, help with rebuilding family relationships, and access to valued recovery groups. Comments from clients included:
- “I put my trust in the service and that trust wasn’t wasted”
- “My keyworker is helpful”
- “They worked with social services and helped me get my kids back”
- “Staff are ‘mint’”
- “Everyone treats you so well here, no judgement and they make you feel welcome”
- “The service and staff are perfect”
- “Staff have been brilliant”
- “They’ve helped me to rebuild my relationship with my parents and children”
- “The groups the service run are so important to us”
We also spoke with the relative of a client who said:
- “They are absolutely brilliant. They have been fantastic with my family member. They gave her good and clear advice. They have been supportive of me and provide me with regular updates and advice”
Clients were supported to understand and manage their care and knew how to raise concerns. Information about the complaints process and feedback forms were readily available, and clients received responses to concerns raised.
The service actively sought and acted on feedback through a "you said, we listened" approach. Improvements included providing hot drinks in reception, introducing evening recovery groups, and offering free Wi-Fi. Clients were also involved in service development, and lived experience perspectives informed the recruitment process for a consultant clinical psychologist through representation from the local Lived Experience Recovery Organisation (LERO).
The service offered flexible access to care through face-to-face, telephone, online and outreach appointments. The service opened in the evening 1 day a week so that clients who were working could attend appointments. Outreach appointments in community settings or at home helped reduce barriers to engagement and ensured care was delivered in a way that met individual needs.