The Care Quality Commission
  • Community
  • Community substance misuse service

Archived: Young Addaction - Grantham

71 High Street, Grantham, Lincolnshire, NG31 6NR (01476) 512950

Provided and run by:
We are With You

All Inspections

14 December 2016

During a routine inspection

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 complete or upload all details of a risk assessment onto the electronic database in a timely manner. Staff kept key pieces of paperwork with them while working away from base. This meant some key information was not being captured on the electronic system.

  • The service operated both an electronic recording system and a paper-based system. Staff were not regularly uploading key information and staff reported they prioritised clinical intervention over this administrative task.

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

  • Clients and carers spoke positively about the service, they felt supported by staff, knew who their key workers were, and said they were always kept informed of meetings and appointments.

  • Staff engaged positively with clients to promote recovery. The service used a combination of intervention strategies, staff were creative in adapting information to meet clients and carers varied needs and levels of understanding.

  • The service had experienced staff to deliver care and there was a low staff turnover rate. The service had not used bank or agency staff in the twelve months before this inspection. One hundred percent of staff had received mandatory training including safeguarding children and young people. Staff were knowledgeable about safeguarding clients. The service prioritised staff supervision and regular team meetings.

  • As well as providing information in other languages, staff encouraged some clients to use a 'speak loud' service via the intranet this read information in different languages. The service addressed a range of cultural and social needs, evidenced by a staff member who worked skilfully with a client dealing with transgender issues.

  • There was strong leadership within the service. Staff spoke positively about the managers. Morale was high and staff were passionate about working with the clients in their service.

  • The service had established effective working relationships with local and national agencies and organisations. The service had responded to feedback from external agencies and made changes accordingly, such as reviewing the threshold for safeguarding reports, and enabling staff to work flexibly and away from base.

  • Staff were aware of their responsibilities within the Gillick Principles and Fraser Guidelines for under 16’s. The principle and guidelines relate to legal terms used to determine whether to give contraceptive advice or treatment to under 16 year-olds without parental consent.

17, 18 December 2013

During a routine inspection

We spoke with the Registered Manager, three people who used the service, six members of staff, a student and a member of an outside organisation. Young Addaction Grantham used an office in the town as a base for administration purposes. The young people's workers carried out their work at schools, youth centres and GP practices.

People we spoke with were very positive about the support they received from Young Addaction Grantham.

The registered manager told us, 'Young Addaction is much more creative, we don't just sit and go through paperwork. We use many different ways to engage with the young people.'

Young Addaction was responsive to the needs of the young people it supported. We found that people's needs were identified in their recovery plan/care plan. Records we looked at and people we spoke with told us that they had been involved in their care planning and had consented to the care, support and treatment they received.

Young Addaction Grantham had access to a young person's nurse who covered the county of Lincolnshire. Part of their role was to support the young person's worker if a clinical assessment was required. There may be additional concerns for example if the young person suffered with diabetes. The young person's nurse would do a joint visit with the young person's keyworker to give a pharmacological perspective.

People we spoke with on the day of inspection told us they felt safe when they accessed the service.

We found that relevant training and support was provided to staff so that people's welfare and safety was promoted. Staff told us Young Addaction was well led.

People who used the service were asked for their views about their care, support and treatment.