Archived: Compass - REACH

Updated 5 October 2018

• Compass Reach works with young people in North Yorkshire who are aged between nine and 19 years old (the service works with young people up to 25 years that have special educational needs and/or disabilities) and are commissioned to provide support to those identified as being at risk of:

• Substance misuse, including alcohol and legal highs.

• Poor sexual health, including preventing early pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections.

• Issues with emotional wellbeing or mental health.

They employ a nursing team who can prescribe medicines, screen for infectious diseases and provide vaccinations. The nurses in their professional capacity also support the young people to complete work around ceasing the use of addictive substances.

The service is registered with the Care Quality Commission to provide diagnostic and screening procedures and treatment of disease, disorder or injury regulated activities. There is a registered manager in place.

Compass REACH staff are based in Prevention offices throughout North Yorkshire and deliver the service in a wide variety of young people friendly community sites. These are in:

• Craven

• Harrogate

• Selby

• Hambleton and Richmondshire

• Scarborough, Whitby, Ryedale

The staff team work flexibly across North Yorkshire to best meet the needs of identified vulnerable young people. At this inspection we visited the Northallerton Office.

Compass REACH is part of the Healthy Child Service in North Yorkshire and as such works closely with Healthy Child Practitioners who deliver universal services and with Family Outreach Workers.

We last inspected Compass Reach in 2016 and the service was found to be compliant in all the outcome areas.

Updated 5 October 2018

Since July 2018, CQC has had the powers to rate substance misuse services provided by the independent sector. Planning for this inspection started before that date.

• We saw that risks had been identified in client files but the follow up management plan had not always been completed.

• We did not find an audit tool to ensure the electronic client files contained relevant documentation and that they had been fully completed

However, we found the following areas of good practice:

• Staff treated clients with compassion, dignity and respect, were non-judgemental in their approach and protected their privacy and dignity. Care plans identified the needs of the client and staff worked with them to develop their own recovery plans

• Clients either self-referred or were referred through a partner agency, their family, a carer or their school and were usually seen within five days of a referral, where a comprehensive assessment was completed.

• Staff followed up cancelled appointments and unexpected discharges to ensure that vulnerable people were not left without support. Staff were responsive to the needs of all their clients.

• Staff were aware of the diversity of their clients and provided appropriate support.

• Staff understood their responsibility for reporting incidents of harm or risk of harm and concerns related to safeguarding people from abuse. Clients were seen at school or in a safe and comfortable alternative place to the office.

• Staff followed guidance in line with the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence and Drug misuse and prevention: UK clinical guidelines on clinical management 2017.

• The service had enough staff with the appropriate skills, experience and training to provide safe care. Staff received specialist training that enabled them to carry out their role safely.

• Staff received mandatory training, regular supervision and other professional training identified in their supervision. A wellbeing day had been organised for staff to explore some alternative therapies to manage their stress

• The service had a formal complaints procedure but had not received any complaints in the 12 months leading to our inspection. They had received three compliments during the same period

• Staff could articulate the vision and values of the organisation clearly and how this impacted on their role. There were clear lines of management through the organisation and strong leadership at local level.

• The service had a risk register that meant everyone in the organisation was aware of any risks and what action had been taken to reduce them.

• The organisation was committed to improving services for the clients, and sought client views through questionnaires.