The Care Quality Commission
  • Community
  • Community substance misuse service

Archived: Lifeline Tower Hamlets

71 Johnson Street, London, E1 0AQ (020) 7790 1344

Provided and run by:
Lifeline Project

All Inspections

26 November 2013

During a routine inspection

At the time of our inspection, Lifeline Tower Hamlets was providing services to 509 people who were in active treatment. As part of this inspection we spoke with three people who were using the service on the day of our visit. Each person was very positive about services received from Lifeline Tower Hamlets. Once person said, "people like me need people like Lifeline. Without them I wouldn't be where I am today." Another person told us, "I am really grateful to be here. Staff are 100% always very positive and good mannered. They go out of their way to help you. You feel you are an equal person. It's very relaxing here."

Care and treatment was planned and delivered in a way that was intended to ensure people's safety and welfare. The provider assessed people's needs before providing treatment and there was evidence that risks to people's health were identified and managed by the staff. Lifeline Tower Hamlets provided a prescription service for some people recovering from drug misuse and worked in cooperation with local GPs, pharmacies and other agencies to ensure this was a safe and effective service.

There were appropriate recruitment and selection systems in place. This meant that people were cared for, or supported by, suitably qualified, skilled and experienced staff.

There was an effective complaints system available. Comments and complaints people made were responded to appropriately.

22 November 2012

During a routine inspection

Lifeline Tower Hamlets was a busy service with around 600 people in treatment per month. We spoke with five people using the service who were positive about the service they received. One person said, "there's a lot of guidance and reassurance". People told us they had received useful advice about treatment options and valued their meetings with their keyworkers. However four people said they had waited for a long time before being seen for their appointments.

People's needs were assessed before they received treatment and we saw evidence that risks to people's health were identified and managed by the staff. Lifeline Tower Hamlets provided a prescription service for some people recovering from drug misuse and worked with local GPs, pharmacies and other agencies to ensure this was a safe and effective service. The provider monitored people's treatment and recovery rates and shared information with relevant agencies. Staff understood their role in relation to safeguarding people using the service and their relatives and raised alerts when they had concerns.

We saw evidence that the service responded to people's feedback and was involving people who had used the service in the delivery and development of the service.