Archived: Staffordshire Substance Misuse Service - Browning Street

Updated 18 May 2022

We undertook this unannounced comprehensive inspection of Staffordshire Substance Misuse Services known as Staffordshire Treatment and Recovery Service (STARS) as part of our ongoing monitoring and inspection of registered services.

STARS is commissioned by Staffordshire County Council to provide community substance misuse services for adults and children living across the county. At the time of inspection, the service had 3 main hubs (Stafford, Burton-upon-Trent and Newcastle-under-Lyme) and 3 satellites (Leek, Cannock and Tamworth) providing care and treatment to 2041 people. Humankind runs STARS. They are a national provider of substance misuse services.

STARS is registered to provide treatment of disease, disorder or injury.

There was a registered manager in post at the time of the inspection.

We have not previously inspected this service.

What people who use the service say

Clients we spoke to were complimentary about the service and treatment they were receiving. Clients told us the staff were helpful and supported them in their recovery. One client described their care co-ordinator as awesome.

Clients felt they were in control and led their journey to recovery.

One client we spoke to told us they had to wait a long time for detox centre admission.

Updated 18 May 2022

This was our first inspection of this service. The service provides support and treatment for children and adults affected by substance misuse who live in Staffordshire.

Our rating of this location was good because:

• The service provided safe care. All premises where clients received care were safe, clean, well equipped, well furnished, well maintained and fit for purpose. Staff followed good practice with respect to safeguarding.
• The service provided a range of treatments suitable for the needs of clients’ and in line with national guidance about best practice.
• Managers ensured that staff received regular supervision and appraisal. Staff told us they felt supported by their managers.
• Staff treated clients with compassion and kindness and understood the individual needs of clients. Clients that we spoke to were happy with their treatment and they felt they were actively involved in their recovery.
• The service was operating out of hours telephone and virtual appointments to reduce waiting list times.
• The service was well led, and the governance processes ensured that its procedures ran smoothly.

However:

• Care records were brief and lacked detail and goals particularly around recovery planning.

Updated 18 May 2022

This was our first inspection of this service. The service provides support and treatment for children and adults affected by substance misuse who live in Staffordshire.

Our rating of this location was good because:

• The service provided safe care. All premises where clients received care were safe, clean, well equipped, well furnished, well maintained and fit for purpose. Staff followed good practice with respect to safeguarding.
• The service provided a range of treatments suitable for the needs of clients’ and in line with national guidance about best practice.
• Managers ensured that staff received regular supervision and appraisal. Staff told us they felt supported by their managers.
• Staff treated clients with compassion and kindness and understood the individual needs of clients. Clients that we spoke to were happy with their treatment and they felt they were actively involved in their recovery.
• The service was operating out of hours telephone and virtual appointments to reduce waiting list times.
• The service was well led, and the governance processes ensured that its procedures ran smoothly.

However:

• Care records were brief and lacked detail and goals particularly around recovery planning.