Archived: Addaction - Cornwall

The service has significantly expanded since April 2013. The service provided the single point of contact for drug and alcohol referrals. It also provided an assessment service which incorporated health screening. The service provided community drug and alcohol medically assisted recovery services (prescribing services) including Opiate Substitution Therapy. Drug and Alcohol Detoxification services, blood borne virus screening and vaccination services were also now provided. The service provided the single point of access to residential detoxification and rehabilitation services. A needle exchange scheme was in operation which ensured intravenous drug users could obtain clean needles with the objective of cutting down the risk of HIV infection. We concluded the transition had been well managed.

The service continued to provide community outreach, group and one to one therapy, support with life skills, employment and education, volunteer and peer mentoring, family interventions and aftercare support.

Over four days we visited and spoke with approximately 15 people who used the service at three locality offices. We also met with staff members, and attended two recovery groups where we observed practice.

We were accompanied by a specialist advisor who was a doctor who had knowledge of substance misuse services. The specialist assisted us in our judgement of the clinical services Addaction provided.

Everyone we spoke with was positive about the service. People told us the support they received from Addaction had been extremely beneficial to assist their recovery. For example one person told us attending Addaction group and one to one sessions were 'the best thing I ever did'absolutely fantastic.'

We checked prescribing and medication systems in place and these were well managed. We checked how staff were trained and systems in place were satisfactory.

We visited and spoke with approximately 20 people who used the service at the three locality offices. Everyone we spoke with was very positive about the service. People told us they attended group sessions which assisted with their recovery, as well as one to one meetings with a designated worker. People also attended mutual aid groups with other people who used the service. At these groups people worked together to overcome their drug and alcohol problems.

Comments we received about the service included 'Addaction's support has been invaluable'they have provided me all the support I needed,' 'I cannot fault Addaction'if it had not been for them I would not have carried on, the staff do everything you ask them to do, and their approach is very good.'

We checked how staff were recruited and trained and systems in place were satisfactory. The organisation had satisfactory quality assurance policies and procedures in place which ensured service standards were maintained and where necessary improved.