Blog
Guidance for substance misuse care homes
Drug rehabs make up only a small proportion of care homes and they often struggle to fit in with a regulatory system that built around long stay care.
The National Treatment Agency for Substance Misuse has only begun to pay much attention to residential treatment in the last couple of years, though a new document out today offers further encouragement that they are taking this sector seriously.
The NTA worked with the Healthcare Commission on a review of residential substance misuse treatment, which included drug / alcohol rehabs as well as NHS run detoxification units. The review itself resulted in published data about the performance of these services.
We have been able to use this data within bestcarehome.co.uk by creating a 'quality and memberships' category specifically for houses that scored high marks in this review. This will increase the rankings of rehabs that did well.
The latest guidance explores best practice in both commissioning of these services. It will be of little interest outside this sector, though for those providing these services it is a must read. Of particular note is the 'checklist' of best practice suggestions, mostly things that should already be done in most substance misuse focussed care homes, but valuable all the same.
Highlights include:
- Detailed suggestions on information packs
- Ideas on how to keep waiting times low
- Guidance on eligability criteria
- Making exit strategies work
- Developing unplanned discharge policies
- Using evidence based treatment manuals
- Reviewing and adapting treatment programmes
- Supporting staff in delivering treatment
- Ongoing risk assessment
The full document is available from the NTA website (pdf format)
Written: 03/06/2009