THE Care Quality Commission (CQC) have said that a drug and alcohol addiction recovery service in Herefordshire is providing a "good" standard of care.

The CQC gave Turning Point Drug and Alcohol Recovery Service an overall "good" rating, with every area of the inspection receiving a stamp of approval.

The report said: "All areas we inspected were clean and well presented. Risk assessments were in place and safety checks had been undertaken on all processes and equipment to support clients.

"Processes and services have been introduced to reduce stigma and encourage people to use the service.

"We found that leaders were visible within the service. Staff told us that they felt that they could raise issues and improvements and that they would be listened to. Governance structures were in place that ensured the smooth running of the service."

Herefordshire's Turning Point Drug and Alcohol Service provides free and confidential support for adults and young people around their use of drugs and alcohol. The service also offers support to families and carers affected by substance misuse or addiction of other people.

The CQC report continued: "During this inspection we spoke with the manager, a peer mentor, an independent pharmacist prescriber, three recovery workers, a team leader, a nurse and three service users.

"In the course of our inspection, the people we spoke with who use this service were all positive about the service that they had received. There had not been any delays to referrals or the service they had received."

As well as fighting addiction, the service also supports safer drug use.

"The service had developed a postal needle exchange service. This meant that people had access to a safe needle exchange without having to attend a service in person. This reduced the stigma of attending a service and meant that people were more likely to access this service," said the report.

Needle exchange services are for people who inject drugs, and are designed to keep people safe from infections, wounds and abscesses linked to dirty needles. The staff at these services are experts in safer injecting and service users can ask them about caring for wounds, avoiding infections and anything else to do with needles or syringes. They can also help with advice for preventing overdose and can be a gateway to other addiction services.

At Turning Point, addicts are able to receive this support via post.

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The main Turning Point hub is in Hereford with other localised services around the county.

Chris Franks, the service's operations manager, said: "The service and our staff work hard to keep people safe. We have introduced several new ways of working in the two years since we took on our service."

Councillor Carole Gandy, cabinet member for health and wellbeing at Herefordshire Council, saidshe was "delighted" at the result.