Archived: Lifeline Middlesbrough (Park Road North)

We do not currently rate independent standalone substance misuse services.

We found the following issues that the service provider needs to improve:

• Staff did not always act on risks highlighted in care records. Reviews of risk were not always clearly evidenced in the care records.

• The care records system contained both paper and electronic records. We found that information in the paper records was not always in the electronic record. The clinical aspect of the service was subcontracted to the Fulcrum Medical Practice. The Fulcrum Medical Practice used a different care records system and we saw that up to date prescribing information was not always in the Lifeline care record.

• Mandatory training for staff was limited. The service had identified core training and had an action plan in place to ensure all staff attend their identified core training.

However, we also found the following areas of good practice:

• The service had enough staff to ensure clients were seen promptly.

• Procedures for safeguarding clients from abuse were robust and staff demonstrated a clear understanding of them.

• Clients received timely assessments of their needs. There were no waiting lists for access to the service.

• The model meant that the service had effective links with other providers which ensured clients had access to a range of services to support their recovery from substance misuse.

• The service had recently introduced measures to ensure reporting of incidents and learning from incidents was robust. This meant that there were chances to learn from incidents and prevent them re-occurring.

• Staff received an annual appraisal and regular supervision.