The Nelson Trust

Updated 12 July 2017

The Nelson Trust provides residential substance misuse treatment for clients in four houses in the village of Brimscombe. The service is registered to provide accommodation for persons who require treatment for substance misuse and there was a registered manager in post. Clients were funded by local authorities.

Stafford House and Nelson House were mixed and accommodated both men and women. East Wharf Cottage and Covington House were for women only, and were staffed by women only. Covington House had an annex which was used as a self-contained flat for women who had planned overnight contact with their children.

Previously services at the Nelson Trust were inspected as separate services. Nelson House and Covington House has been inspected in January 2014, and East Wharf Cottage in August 2013. The service was compliant at these three inspections. Stafford House was registered in February 2015 and this was the first inspection of this house.

Updated 12 July 2017

Updated 12 July 2017

We do not currently rate independent standalone substance misuse services.

We found the following areas of good practice:

• The Nelson Trust provided a safe and caring place for people to recover from substance addiction. Staff worked collaboratively with clients to complete a holistic treatment plan. Staff helped arranged funding extensions when clients needed a longer stay.
• Staff managed risk at the service though client assessment and ongoing discussion with clients. There was good support for clients to help them engage with the service when they were admitted and to help them prepare appropriately and maintain their abstinence when they moved on from the residential treatment. Clients often maintained contact and supported others in their recovery.
• Staff maintained a safe and supportive environment and conflict was well managed. Clients said they felt supported and spoke positively of their care.
• The Nelson Trust offered extensive aftercare, the potential for a staggered end to treatment and opportunities for clients to engage in the local community during and following their residential treatment.
• All staff from the chief executive down were passionate about providing good care. We found positive leadership across the Nelson Trust.

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

• We noted that a store room in an outbuilding adjacent to the laundry area in Stafford House that should have been locked had been left open for at least several days. This room has furniture piled up high and an iron girder across the ceiling with a rope hanging from it; presenting a ligature risk and potential hazard.
• The provider had not ensured that medicines were always managed safely at Nelson House.