How we regulate specialist substance misuse services

About this consultation

We recently consulted on a draft provider handbook for specialist substance misuse services, and the main changes proposed were:

• introducing new ways to inspect services, with teams that include clinical and other experts, such as inspectors with further training in substance misuse treatment services and people with experience of receiving care (Experts by Experience), led by the Deputy Chief Inspector of Hospitals.
• using a new system of intelligent monitoring to help us decide when, where and what to inspect.
• listening to people's experiences of care and using the best information across our monitoring system.
• judgements based around the five key questions we ask of all services:
  • are they safe?
  • are they effective?
  • are they caring?
  • are they responsive to people's needs?
  • are they well-led?
• Ratings for independent standalone substance misuse services, based around the five key questions.
• Looking at the  experiences of people who are in vulnerable circumstances or are from specific population groups, along with transitions between services, as part of inspections.