Archived: Compass Harrow

Updated 3 November 2016

Compass Harrow is provided by Compass – Services to Tackle Problem Drug Use and is registered to provide the following regulated activities:

• Treatment of disease, disorder or injury

• Diagnostic and screening procedures

There was a newly registered manager in place for the service at the time of the inspection who had been in post since October 2015.

Compass Young Peoples Service Harrow provides targeted and specialist interventions for young people aged up to 18, who are affected by their own or another’s substance misuse. The service operates on an outreach basis from an administrative base located in central Harrow.

The service had 85 young people at the time of the inspection, commissioned by Public Health England.

We last inspected Compass Harrow in September 2014 (when an adult service was also provided) and the outcomes inspected were found to be compliant. Since then the service was re-commissioned in October 2015 following which a service to young people only was provided.

Updated 3 November 2016

We do not currently rate independent standalone substance misuse services.

We found the following areas of good practice:

• Young people using the service were very positive regarding staff approachability and support. Some young people linked their reduction in substance misuse directly to the help staff had provided.

• The service was proactive in providing positive outreach to the local community including schools, colleges, and youth clubs, to meet the needs of the local population.

• We received very positive feedback from the school leads, and a service commissioner about the service’s reliability, flexibility and responsive and proactive approach.

• Staff from the service worked effectively and productively with a range of other agencies and attended relevant boards including the local safeguarding children board, multi agency safeguarding hub, and multi-agency risk assessment conference.

• Staff provided training and workshops in the local community and attended school and fresher fairs, and parents evenings, to promote the service.

• We saw evidence that further engagement was sought with local primary health care services and minority communities.

• Feedback was sought from young people to look at ways in which the service might improve.

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

• Staff did not have sufficient training in their work with young people with challenging behaviour and in the Mental Capacity Act 2005.

• There was some variation in the quality of recording of risk assessments, management plans, interventions, and re-engagement support provided to young people.

• Not all young people were offered a copy of their care plan, including a plan for unexpected treatment exit to ensure their safety as far as possible.

• Not all young people’s records were dated. Mental capacity assessments were not sufficiently detailed and not reviewed on a regular basis.