The Care Quality Commission
  • Community
  • Community substance misuse service

Archived: We are With You - Croxteth Liverpool

Overall: Good read more about inspection ratings

83-93 Stonebridge Lane, Croxteth, Liverpool, Merseyside, L11 4SJ (0151) 546 1141

Provided and run by:
We are With You

Important: This service is now registered at a different address - see new profile

All Inspections

21 and 22 January 2019

During a routine inspection

We rated Addaction Recovery Centre – Croxteth Good because:

  • Staffing levels and skill mix were planned, implemented and reviewed to keep clients safe at all times. Any staff shortages were responded to quickly and adequately. There were effective handover, risk management and multidisciplinary team meetings held to ensure staff could manage risks to clients.
  • Clients’ care and treatment was planned and delivered in line with current evidence-based guidance and outcome measures were in place to check consistency of practice. Clients’ individual needs and preferences were central to the planning and delivery of tailored services. Clients had comprehensive assessments of their care needs which considered physical, mental and emotional health.
  • There was an effective and comprehensive process in place to identify, understand, monitor and address current and future risks. There were defined and embedded systems, processes and standard operating procedures in place to keep clients safe and safeguarded from abuse.
  • The services were flexible, gave choice and ensured continuity of care. There was a proactive approach to understanding the needs of diverse groups of clients and to deliver care in a way that met their needs and promoted equality.
  • There was a clear statement of vision and values, driven by quality and safety. Leaders prioritised safe, high quality, compassionate care and promoted equality and diversity. There was a focus on continuous learning and improvement. Leaders were visible within the service and valued by the team.
  • However, the provider should ensure:
  • Risk assessments and risk management plans are started at the point of assessment.
  • Care records hold all necessary essential information for providing care and treatment, including recovery goals and audit of alcohol consumption.
  • Missed appointments are recorded without delay.

07 September 2016

During a routine inspection

We do not currently rate independent standalone substance misuse services.

We found the following areas of good practice:

  • The service had robust management and storage procedures for prescriptions for substance misuse treatment. The service offered clients storage boxes to store their medicines safely at home.

  • Staff completed a range of comprehensive health assessments, risk assessments and care plans for all clients. Client care records detailed how staff had involved clients in decisions regarding their care and treatment. Clients told us that they knew what their care plan was and had been involved in its creation and regular review with their assigned key worker.

  • The service had established effective working relationships with other partners and agencies involved in the care of its service users. This included local GP practices, the local clinical commissioning group, local voluntary organisations, national substance misuse charities, hospitals and universities.

  • The service had low levels of staff sickness and no staff vacancies. The service also had a low staff turnover rate. Staff morale was high and staff were passionate about working with clients that had difficulties with substance misuse.

  • The service provided access to a wide range of training opportunities for staff to develop their professional skills and knowledge. All staff had completed mandatory training in safeguarding children, safeguarding vulnerable adults and substance misuse. All staff had completed mandatory training in the Mental Capacity Act and applied it appropriately within their practice.

  • The service truly valued its clients and promoted their recovery. The service offered a range of psychosocial interventions to assist service users in their recovery. The service provided a wide range of groups, activities, voluntary and paid employment opportunities to support clients in their recovery and to stay well thereafter.

  • The service had a full range of rooms and equipment to support treatment. This included group rooms, therapy rooms, a needle exchange room, urine testing suite and a clinic.

  • The service provided extensive support for family members of clients that were experiencing a substance misuse difficulty. This included 1:1 counselling sessions, carer support groups and a wide range of literature and learning based sessions on substance misuse.

  • The service had processes and systems in place to measure the effectiveness of treatment and its outcomes. Outcome measures were positive and benchmarked against national standards. Outcome measures evidenced that clients were recovering and staying well.

  • There was strong leadership within the service. Members of the senior management team had completed training courses in management and leadership. Staff told us that they felt supported by senior management and that they were approachable and listened to their ideas and concerns. We saw positive interactions between staff and senior management during our inspection.

  • The service participated in national and local research projects to develop more effective treatments for clients experiencing difficulties with substance misuse.

However, we also found the following issue that the service provider needs to improve:

  • In the twelve months preceding this inspection there had been five client deaths. Although the service completed serious incidents reports and conducted thorough investigations as per provider policy, they did not inform the Care Quality Commission of the deaths. Substance misuse services have a statutory responsibility to report all deaths of people using the service under the Care Quality Commission (Registration) Regulations 2009: Regulation 16: Notification of death of service user.

  • The clinic and needle exchange rooms were both carpeted, which was not in line with best practice in infection control. However, a service audit had identified the problem and plans were in place to install new flooring.

17 June 2013

During a routine inspection

During our visit we spoke with people who used the service and with staff. Everyone we spoke with was very positive about the service. People who used the service understood the treatment choices available to them. Their needs had been assessed and treatment had been planned and delivered in line with their individual recovery plan. People were happy with the service they received and felt involved and valued. One person we spoke with said, 'They are very good, I have no problems with anything or anybody'.

People who used the service told us that staff had worked closely with them to help them address their substance misuse. One person told us they felt they could express their views and that the staff took notice. We found that the service respected people's diversity, values and human rights. We saw this in signed agreements with people who used the service regarding confidentiality.

People told us they felt safe and supported by competent staff. Staff we spoke with were knowledgeable about people's needs and this meant they were able to provide people with appropriate treatment and advice. People who used the service, staff and visitors were protected against the risks of unsafe or unsuitable premises and comments and complaints people made were responded to appropriately.

9 October 2012

During a routine inspection

People were happy with the service they received and felt involved and valued. One person told us they felt they could express their views and that the staff took notice. We found that the service respected people's diversity, values and human rights. We saw this in signed agreements with people using the service regarding confidentiality.

Staff we spoke to were knowledgeable about the needs of the people using the service, which assisted them in providing appropriate care. Staff were supported in their approach to care through access to detailed and person centred care records, regular supervision and daily access to their line manager for guidance. People expressed their views on how they felt about any issues using the treatment outcomes profile which was in place and up to date in the care records we looked at.

Staff we spoke to were knowledgeable about the process to follow if they had safeguarding concerns. Staff received appropriate professional development. The learning and development needs of staff were based on the needs of the people using the service. The service had systems in place to inform and listen to staff in order to continuously monitor and improve the care provided.

The provider organisation had systems and processes in place to assess and monitor the quality of the service. There was evidence that individual issues were managed quickly and staff told us that they felt supported.