A REHABILITATION provider condemned by inspectors late last year has been forced to close a home for Solihull’s recovering addicts.
Changes UK received an ‘inadequate’ rating from the Care Quality Commission in September.
Its failings led to the scrapping of residential rehabilitation in the borough, the local NHS mental health trust has confirmed.
In an update to Solihull Councillors health scrutiny board, councillors were told the recovery services contract agreed in April 2019 could last for up to eight years.
The council recommissioned the NHS’s Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health Foundation Trust to provide rehabilitation services, which in turn uses the Solihull Integrated Alcohol Service (SIAS) partnership, made up of the trust and charities Aquarius, Welcome and Changes UK.
But since an ‘inadequate’ CQC rating, SIAS closed the rehab centre condemned in the report – leaving the borough with no residential recovery services.
Changes UK ran Clarity House in Chelmsley Wood as an ‘assisted detox centre’ for alcoholics and heroin addicts.
SIAS receives over £2 million per year for the services and provided staff to Clarity House.
Clients could stay for up to six weeks and receive addiction support, alternative therapy and life skills at the home.
Inspectors said Clarity House was ‘not safe’
A routine CQC inspection in June 2019 found the service was ‘not well led’, premises were not safe and staff lacked training, including in administering emergency medicines.
Inspectors said the service did not support clients’ privacy and dignity, with a female bathroom used as a ‘thoroughfare.’
Clients also had to share single gender bedrooms on occasions.
The trust confirmed it had ended residential recovery services its area, with no alternative provider.
Changes UK continues to give clients an ‘extended day care programme’, it said.
Response from the NHS trust
A spokeswoman for the foundation trust said: “Recovery care within the SIAS service is managed by way of an extended day care programme provided by Changes UK.
“During the period between July and September 2019, SIAS reviewed the inspection themes and the previous use of Clarity House and identified an opportunity to move away from residential rehabilitation to an extended day programme.
“SIAS, in conjunction with their commissioners, agreed to a change of contract to support the new programme, in which Clarity House closed and the existing Changes UK staff continued to support Solihull residents by providing an extended day programme, supporting recovery and abstinence within SIAS for an increased number of service users.”
The trust also confirmed it continues to provide Clarity House with staff.
In the scrutiny board report, health officers stated: “Feedback on the new arrangements is extremely positive and the peer mentors and volunteers from Changes UK continue to work productively with those entering treatment.”
Questions to SIAS and Changes UK were referred to the trust.
