Archived: The BAC O'Connor Rehabilitation Centre - Newcastle Under Lyme

Updated 14 July 2016

The O’Connor Centre provides a residential rehabilitation substance misuse service using a recovery focused model of abstinence. The O’Connor Centre provides a residential service to 22 clients. Clients participate in a structured 18 week programme consisting of 14 weeks therapy programme and a four week resettlement programme. Following this they may move to supported accommodation for up to six months, provided at present by a partnership organisation. The provider told us that referrals come from prisons, community drug and alcohol teams and other substance misuse services. Clients can also self-refer.

The service is funded through Local Authority funding, clients Housing Benefit and clients are expected to make a contribution towards food.

Clients who had attended the programme were encouraged to come back to the service to attend groups as part of a two year after-care package.

The O’Connor Centre is registered for accommodation for persons who require treatment for substance misuse. This service does not take clients detained under the Mental Health Act. There is a registered manager in post.

The Care Quality Commission last inspected the O’Connor Centre in January 2014. At the time of inspection the O’Connor Centre was meeting essential standards, now replace by fundamental standards.

Updated 14 July 2016

We do not currently rate substance misuse services.

We found:

• The unit was staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
• Mandatory training had been completed by all staff. Electronic records demonstrated this alongside recording in personnel files.
• Clients who required alcohol detoxification completed this prior to admission at the providers’ detoxification unit in Burton on Trent or at other detoxification facilities.
• There was evidence of reporting and learning from incidents and there had been no serious incidents in the service during the past twelve months.
• Thorough assessments took place prior to admission including pre-rehab groups held on a weekly basis.
• The treatment records seen all contained recovery plans that were up to date, personalised, holistic and recovery orientated
• Information was stored securely, some information was stored electronically but the majority of treatment records were paper based
• Clients signed a written treatment contract which included consent to bag searches, urine screening, and breathalyser testing, reduced access to the telephone and no unescorted leave.
• There was a family/carer group which ran on a weekly basis.
• Therapies on offer included relapse prevention, relaxation, anger management, and stress management, cycle of addiction, life story work and 1:1 therapy sessions tailored to individual needs.
• The provider had a two year aftercare programme in order to continue to support clients in their recovery journey after completing the residential programme.
• A clear structure was in place for reporting complaints with timescales for response.
• Staff knew and spoke confidently and with passion for the organisation’s recovery focused values.
• Both the Chief Executive Officer and senior managers had a visible presence and staff told us they were approachable.

Updated 14 July 2016

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