Drink unit staff 'had no training'

St Clements Court in Oldham which offers an alcohol reduction programme for men with alcohol dependency.

AN Oldham rehabilitation service for men with drink problems has been slammed in a damning report by the watchdog Care Quality Commission.

St Clements Court has been stopped from taking in new clients after commission inspectors said that none of the staff they interviewed had received training relating to alcohol dependency and treatment.

Community Mediation Housing Limited which runs St Clements Court was told to provide weekly updates about the care and treatment it provides.

The service offers an alcohol reduction programme for up to 29 men from its Falcon Street site.

Help focuses on reducing, gradually, the level of alcohol that is consumed rather than abruptly stopping, a method known as chemical detoxification.

England's chief inspector of hospitals has issued a report following the CQC inspection in December 2016.

Professor Sir Mike Richards said: "We found multiple breaches of regulations. Staff were working with vulnerable adults without adequate safeguards in place.

"None of the staff we interviewed had received training relating to alcohol dependency and treatment.

"There was no structured alcohol treatment programme and no policies, procedures or guidance relating to alcohol treatment. Staff were not correctly totalling alcohol intake or reviewing the total daily quantities for the clients undergoing a reduction.

"Staffing levels were unsafe and not sufficient for the service. There were no male support staff employed despite this being a service for men.

"We used our enforcement powers to take urgent action and prevent the provider from admitting any more people to the service. We did this to ensure that people received safe care and treatment. We also required the provider to send us a weekly summary of the care and treatment provided to people using the services."

Inspectors said there were no fire safety risk assessments or personal emergency evacuation plans despite several clients having mobility difficulties.

The CQC is also looking into the registered status of St Clements Court. Active treatment for substance misuse must be provided to clients as part of its registration but at the time of the inspection only one client was on an alcohol reduction programme.

The commission's visit in December was carried out as part of a national inspection programme to ensure health and care services are meeting the required standards although the CQC does not currently give ratings to independent standalone substance misuse services.

The CQC highlighted some areas of good practice at the rehabilitation service which had 23 clients at the time of the inspection. It commended the support given to clients with housing applications as well as the provision of a small gym and computers for clients. It also noted that the building was clean and tidy overall.

It added: "Clients described staff as positive, helpful and supportive and a carer was positive about the care their relative was receiving."

Further information detailing the CQC's response to its concerns is due to be published in a final version of its report.

The Oldham Chronicle approached Community Mediation Housing for a comment but there has not been a response.