Haringey Alcohol Service

Updated 11 November 2022

The service is provided and run by Humankind charity – Humankind creates services and support to meet people’s complex health and social needs, helping them to build healthier lives that have meaning and value for themselves and their families. They support local people to create stronger, better-connected communities.

Haringey Alcohol Service works alongside a service for young people and their families and a substance misuse service for people who use illicit drugs.

Referrals can be made by GPs, other professionals or by self-referral. The service works with other local agencies, including the NHS, the local authority, GPs and pharmacies. If clients require medical interventions, such as prescribed medicines, the service works closely with clients’ GPs to ensure this happens as its staff do not provide medical treatment directly.

The service offers the following services:

• One to one support
• Community detoxification
• A 12-week alcohol stabilisation programme
• Counselling support
• Online video appointments
• Domestic violence support
• Polish speaking service

These services are offered mainly from one location, but some sessions take place in other Humankind locations or GP practices.

This was the first time we have inspected Haringey Alcohol Service.

What people who use the service say

All clients we spoke with were extremely complimentary about the service they were receiving. Clients told us their treatment had been clearly explained and they had received clear advice throughout their contact with the service.

All clients felt involved in their treatment and stated that they were encouraged to take responsibility for their own recovery. Clients told us that there were no problems with communication, and everyone stressed how supported they felt whatever their needs.

Updated 11 November 2022

Haringey Alcohol Service provides standalone alcohol treatment and support for adults in the London Borough of Haringey. They offer groups, key working sessions, online recovery tools, counselling and outreach support for community detoxification and rehabilitation.

Our rating of this location was good because:

• The service provided safe care. The premises where clients were seen were safe and clean. The number of clients on the caseload of the teams, and of individual members of staff, was not too high to prevent staff from giving each client the time they needed. Staff managed risk well and followed good practice with respect to safeguarding.

• Staff developed holistic, recovery-oriented care plans informed by a comprehensive assessment. They provided a range of treatments suitable to the needs of the clients and in line with national guidance about best practice. Staff engaged in clinical audit to evaluate the quality of care they provided.

• The teams included or had access to the full range of specialists required to meet the needs of clients under their care. Managers ensured that these staff received supervision and appraisal. Staff worked well together as a multidisciplinary team and with relevant services outside the organisation.

• Staff treated clients with compassion and kindness and understood the individual needs of clients. They actively involved clients in decisions and care planning.

• All clients that we spoke with were happy with the level of service they were receiving and felt well supported by staff.

• The service was easy to access. Staff planned and managed discharge well and signposted people to alternative pathways if they could not meet their needs.

• The service was well led, and the governance processes mostly ensured that it ran smoothly.

However:

• The nursing assessment in two clients’ care and treatment records failed to mention significant physical health conditions although these were included in both clients’ referral information and the initial risk assessment. This meant there was a risk of incorrect care and treatment, although the manager said that staff looked at all information before proceeding.

• The service’s grab bag which included first aid items, emergency medicines and a defibrillator was not easily accessible.

Updated 11 November 2022