Nelson House

Updated 4 April 2019

Nelson Trust provides residential rehabilitation for people with drug and alcohol problems using an eclectic model of treatment. It combines a holistic, person centred approach with cognitive therapy including specialised trauma work. The service includes an integrated educational training and employment programme and continuity of care through their resettlement programme.

Nelson Trust is registered to provide accommodation for persons who require treatment for substance misuse and treatment of disease, disorder or injury. There is registered manager in post.

The service works with clients in the criminal justice system and has a dedicated woman’s service for clients who would benefit from treatment in a female only environment. The Trust works closely with families who attend family weekends where they can share learning and receive family therapy sessions. There is a self-contained flat available for family members or for women who had planned overnight contact with children.

The abstinence based residential treatment for clients who are, in the main, funded by their home local authority but the service also admits self-funding clients. The service takes people from the age of 17.

Nelson Trust operates from four locations in the village of Brimscombe. There are two mixed gender houses, Stafford house and Nelson house. One offers accommodation for 16 clients and the other for nine. The smaller house is for clients who would benefit from a calmer environment to reduce anxiety. There are two female-only houses. These were East Wharf cottage and Covington house. Both were supported by female staff on site 24 hours a day. All treatment houses have 24 hour staffing.

Our previous comprehensive inspection of Nelson Trust was in November 2016. We did not rate the service at that time. At that inspection, we told the provider they must ensure that all medicines were safely managed at Nelson House.

Updated 4 April 2019

We rated Nelson Trust as good because:

• Staff were proactive at identifying and managing risk. There were effective systems in place to ensure the management of clients’ risks. Risk assessments and recovery plans were personalised, thorough, and understood by all staff. All staff understood how to report incidents and near misses. Managers reviewed incidents in governance meetings and involved staff in discussing the learning from incidents and implementing change. Incidents were also reviewed by the risk and assurance team.

• The premises were safe for the clients. The managers had completed ligature and environmental risk assessments on the premises in 2018. These were reviewed every six months.
• Care plans and crisis plans were up to date or comprehensive to assist the teams to deliver safe care and treatment to clients. They were holistic, personalised and promoted recovery and met the individual needs of each client. They included physical health care checks from clients’ GPs.

• Clients and their families were encouraged to work together. Families were offered weekend workshops to assist and understand their relative’s recovery. Family members spoken with were very positive about this.
• The service ensured clients were integrated into the local social networks, employment and education opportunities. Many clients remained in the local area after completing their treatment and became part of the community.
• The service ensured there was a wide choice of treatments and clients’ individual needs and preferences were central to the planning and delivery of tailored services. There was an education academy where clients completed educational courses in conjunction with the local college. There was also a maintenance team in the service where clients could learn new skills.

• Senior managers in the service demonstrated clear, effective and inclusive leadership with a strong sense of direction and objectives. All staff spoken with were aware of the developments and direction of the service.
• The board of trustees, the senior management team and the Chief Executive Officer were visible across all sites. They visited the houses and attended community meetings. Clients and staff were confident they could raise concerns with any of the senior management team and they would be acted upon.

However:

• Staff members did not ensure clients had access to advocacy services.

Updated 4 April 2019

Nelson Trust is a residential rehabilitation service for substance misuse.