The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has rated Tom Harrison House in Anfield, Liverpool, as outstanding following its first inspection from 7 to 8 October.
Tom Harrison House provides residential rehabilitation for people who require treatment for substance misuse. It has five locations – number 4 Tom Harrison House, number 11 Tom Harrison House, Eskburn, Lisburn and Fairburn.
The service specialises in supporting UK armed forces veterans, including those still serving, as well as people working in emergency services. It provides a 12-week structured programme of group work, therapies and activities for people over 18 years old.
CQC has rated Tom Harrison House and its five locations as outstanding overall and for being well-led and caring. They have been rated good for being safe, effective and responsive.
Craig Howarth, CQC deputy director of mental health in the north-west, said:
“At Tom Harrison House, we found a service delivering outstanding care to people recovering from addiction. It had strong leaders who were promoting high-quality, person-centred care. As well as kind and compassionate staff who were dedicated to creating an inclusive environment to help people through their recovery.
“As the only service of this type in the country, Tom Harrison House uses a unique veteran-focused approach. The treatment reflects military values, culture and communication styles, helping people reconnect with their identity and give them a sense of purpose.
“Even after discharge, the service continues to support people by ensuring they can contact a therapist when they need one. We heard how they were responsive and supportive and helped people continue with their recovery journey.
“It was also great to hear from people who had completed the programme. They told us that staff supported them to rebuild and maintain family relationships which helped with their wellbeing.
“Leaders and staff at Tom Harrison House should feel proud of these findings. It’s clear the service is committed to treating people as individuals and ensuring they receive exemplary care and support through a difficult time.”
Inspectors found:
- The service had achieved the Ministry of Defence Employer Recognition Scheme Gold Award, which recognised the work Tom Harrison House did to support the armed forces community.
- Staff understood how to protect people from abuse and the service worked well with other organisations to do so.
- The service used appropriate systems and processes to support people to safely manage, record and store their medicines.
- Staff felt confident in recognising and reporting incidents and could access support from senior staff when necessary.
- Staff were open and honest when something went wrong and provided a full explanation to people and their families.
- The service ensured that they had enough qualified, skilled and experienced staff to support people.