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Drug & Alcohol Rehabilitation

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House Rules

All resident and prospective residents are advised to read through these House Rules and Guidelines prior to and on Admission. Please keep your copies in your Green File for future reference.

Admission

On Admission to Westcliffe you will be both drug and alcohol tested by two members of staff. If results are acceptable to Westcliffe, you will be required to un-pack with staff present. Please do not bring any items that could jeopardise your place – always check with staff first.

Alpha Group

This group is generally for those in the first seven weeks of residency. For those on a 12 week programme this time may be reduced to 4 weeks. This group has a Representative and Trainee Representative who will present Alpha Group views to others and to management.

Appointments

All clients are to check with Senior Therapists prior to any appointments being made with external organisations, including doctors and dentists. Appointments that are approved must be made outside of therapy time wherever possible. Check with Staff before confirming them.

Be-frienders

On Admission, a new client will be allocated a Be-friender and Co-Befriender from the existing client group, who will act as mentors.

Bedrooms

Clients are expected to keep their rooms clean and tidy and to refrain from smoking in them as this is a fire risk. Under no circumstance is it acceptable that bedrooms are used as social areas or be used to entertain people (clients or visitors) of either opposite sex. Remember these are dischargeable offences.

Complaints

There are several ways of addressing a concern or complaint for residents.

  1. Westcliffe House has Group Representatives – two for Alpha, two for Omega and two for Prep. If you have any concerns about any aspects of daily living, please raise them here
  2. Your Key Worker.
  3. Your Referrer or referring agency can be contacted at any point.
  4. If you wish to a formal complaint – please raise the issue with either Melissa Williams (Deputy Manager) or Pat Bugler (Manager) who will undertake a full investigation.
  5. Should a client’s grievance not be resolved with the Manager, access to the CSCI is made available. The Inspectorate can be contacted at the following address:
    CQC, South West Regional Office, 4th Floor, 33 Colston Avenue, Bristol , BS41 9BS, Tel: 0117 9307110
    This address is on the main notice board in the foyer.

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Dining Room

All residents are expected to attend mealtimes.

Breakfast - 8.00am Lunch 1.00pm Dinner 6.00pm

Residents are requested to be seated five minutes prior to a meal being served.

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Discharge

In the case of Discharge being instigated by Westcliffe, your referring agent will be notified early in the proceedings and you will be given the opportunity to discuss the circumstances directly with them. Please ensure that you have read the Guidelines thoroughly, as failure to do so could result in a Discharge in addition to having your funding withdrawn.

In the case of Self Discharge the Senior Staff will endeavour to explore the reasons behind the decision directly with the client concerned. Assistance with travel expenses in both cases is dependent on the policy of the Referring Agent.

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Dress Code

Clients are reminded that shorts / miniskirts / cropped tops etc are not to be worn during the therapeutic working day.

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Drug Testing

Drug / alcohol testing is undertaken on a regular basis whilst at Westcliffe. There will be regular testing on Admission, following a leave or visit, when Be-friending, and randomly as the Staff see fit. Where the sample is suspicious, there is an anti-tamper device that is used to ensure that there has been no inference to the sample. Where it is felt that a client has deliberately intended to deceive staff around the sample, it is taken as a serious breach of the rules and Discharge will be instigated.

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Environment

Lights out at 11.30pm. Residents must be in the House by 10.00pm except by special arrangement with Senior Therapists.

Client’s rooms and all communal rooms must be kept clean and tidy at all times. No blue tac on walls please.

No exercise equipment, personal computers, televisions to be brought onto the premises. Please check with staff before bringing any equipment into Westcliffe.

Social time on Saturdays is based around fortnightly House clean. Please watch notice boards for information. Social time on Sundays is restricted to afternoons following the morning therapy group. The exception would be those who have agreed visits with Senior Staff.

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Fire Procedures

Standard procedures for Fire Safety are displayed on the back of each bedroom door and in the hallways. Please ensure that you have read them. Under no circumstances should they be covered or removed.

When smoking always use the ashtrays and outside bins provided. Smoking in un-authorised areas puts others at risk.

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First Aid

Designated First Aid Posts are to be found in the Kitchen and Support Worker’s Office.

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House points

The client group is encouraged to take active participation in communal living and consequently has evolved a House Point system. Failure to undertake responsibility for self, clean own areas, abide by Health & Safety guidelines, undertake community tasks etc will result in House points being awarded. These are presented to the Manager each week at the Sunday Group.

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Illness

Clients who are feeling unwell should always inform the Staff immediately. Self medicating is not recommended.

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Key Worker

Each resident is given a Key Worker who co-ordinates their Care Plan and who undertakes individual counselling sessions with them. In some cases however, some clients may be referred to work with additional members of the Senior Team in order to undertake specialist work. All requests should be made to the individual Key Worker especially around visits, home leave etc., who will then raise it with the counselling team. Applications for these need to be given to the Key worker in writing at least ten days prior to the event taking place. The application will be discussed within the Monday morning Staff meetings. You will be informed the same day of the Staff decision.

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Laundry

There is a washing machine and tumble dryer for resident’s use. There are time slots allocated for each residents – these are displayed on the Notice Board in the Dinning Room.

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Literacy

Literacy classes and assessments will be arranged for those clients who feel that they would benefit from undertaking classes. The sessions are held on an individual basis outside of group sessions.

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Meals

All residents will complete a Special Need form on Admission – indicating any special food requirements.

For times of meals see Dining Room.

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Medication

On Admission you are required to hand all medication (prescribed and non-prescribed) to Staff to be logged on your Medical File. This includes all medication purchased over the counter and herbal remedies. All clients are expected to hand all items to Staff on return from the Drs / chemist/hospital etc in sealed packages. Clients are reminded that random drug / alcohol testing is undertaken at Westcliffe and that certain herbal remedies / self medications will give a positive result which could result in Discharge.

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Money

Clients are reminded that they are expected to contribute towards the cost of their care and will have undertaken a Financial Assessment with their Referring Agency prior to Admission indicating the amount to be paid to the House. Please ensure that you make your payments regularly as it may jeopardise your place. Referrers have to right to withdraw your funding if you fail to pay your client contribution.

No lending or borrowing is allowed between clients.

Westcliffe is not responsible to meet any costs for clients in attending Courts, Doctors, Probation Offices etc.

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Mobile Telephones

Mobiles are not to be used at Westcliffe. Any brought in are to be handed into the Office upon Admission. For the first fourteen days, there will be no direct contact with family or friends because it may prove to be un-settling. You may communicate by letter. There is a payphone in the dining room for client use. See under Telephone for more details.

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Noise

Residents are reminded that Westcliffe is a communal home in addition to being a therapeutic community and are therefore required to keep noise to a minimum. Any music played in individual bedrooms should not be overheard elsewhere. All radios and music systems should not be played during therapeutic times. Use of televisions/stereos in communual rooms is restricted to after Support Groups in the evenings and after week-end groups / duties.

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Omega Group

This name is given to those residents 7 -15 weeks at Westcliffe. It is whilst in this group that a resident will present their Life History. This group has a Representative and Trainee Representative who will put forward Omega Group views to others including the Management.

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Outings

Clients and Staff work together in planning certain outings and events on a regular basis. We encourage active participation by all to enhance the community spirit.

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Personal Responsibility

As a resident at Westcliffe you are encouraged and expected to begin to undertake a personal responsibility for self and to abide by the House Rules and Regulations that are provided – both at the Assessment and upon Admission when they are worked through on an individual basis with a member of Staff. A Confirmation of Understanding is subsequently signed by each resident in the presence of their Key worker. Westcliffe therefore holds each client responsible for:

All the above to take priority over socialisation / free time.

You may receive Verbal / Final Warning if you fail to show due commitment and motivation to the above.

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Post

Client’s mail is placed on the rack in the Foyer. Residents need to be aware that Staff  may ask for letters / packages etc to be opened in their presence. All correspondence from Dept. of Works and Pensions will be opened in the presence of Staff, photocopied and placed on the individual client’s Financial File.

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Prep Group

This group is for those in the last six weeks of therapy and focuses on re-settlement back in the community – After Care Services, educational and work based organisations etc. This group has a Representative and a Trainee Representative who will represent their Prep Group views to others, including Management.

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Relationships with others

Please show respect for others at all times. Residents are not to form exclusive relationships (1-1) with others within and outside of the House. Be aware that this will result in Discharge.

The cultivation of relationships with members of the public, who are not connected with Westcliffe are to be brought to the attention of your Key worker. This is to reduce the risk of a possible relapse or discharge.

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Respect

Please show respect for others at all times.

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Rules

It is recommended that each resident becomes familiar with the House Rules and Guidelines which are provided on Assessment and again upon Admission. If you are unclear about any issues around these please discuss them with either your Group Rep. or the Staff. Your Key Worker will undertake a session with you on the House rules and Guidelines At the Sunday morning group there is the opportunity to discuss all aspects of residency at Westcliffe with the Manager or her Deputy.

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Secrets

The holding of secrets / information which could harm the House or an individual client is actively discouraged and could result in a Discharge.

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Smoking

Smoking is restricted to the garden areas and after 7.30pm in the Dinning Room. Please ensure that you use the ashtrays provided in these areas.

Under no circumstance is smoking allowed in bedrooms. This is a serious fire risk

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Special Needs

If you have any special dietary requirements such as allergies, religious, cultural needs, these will be catered for if Senior Staff are notified at Assessment.

If you have any medical condition which affects your eating habits, please ensure you inform the therapeutic staff e.g. bulimia, anorexia, diabetic etc

If you have any disabilities, physical or educational, please inform your Key worker in order that they can provide you with the appropriate assistance.

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Telephone

Residents telephone number is 01934 635029. Please inform your family and friends that this telephone can be used at the following times

In the case of an emergency, the Office number is 01934 629897. This telephoned is manned over a twenty-four hour period and has an answering machine should Staff not be available to take the call.

New clients or those on a Final Warning are advised not to make or receive any telephone calls during the first two weeks of restriction as this could result in discharge. Clients who are not placed on restrictions, should not make telephone calls on behalf of others as this also could result in Discharge. In the case of an emergency, speak to a Senior member of staff who could authorise a supervised call.

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Television

There are no personal televisions/DVD players/computers/Gameboys etc allowed at Westcliffe House because it discourages clients from integrating and developing social skills. There are two televisions in communal rooms. These are not to be used until after the evening Support Group has finished and will be turned off just before lights out. At weekends, the televisions may be used after all communal duties have been completed. Clients are expected and encouraged to make appropriate choices of programmes. Where this is not the case staff will take appropriate action.

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Therapy Guidelines

Each resident is expected to keep a daily diary which is reflective of their thoughts and feelings. This should be handed into their Key Worker on a daily basis or placed on the Hall table in the foyer. Each resident is given a Time Table and is expected to attend all sessions as identified by their Key Worker.

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Therapeutic chores

There is a residents’ rota of therapeutic duties which are displayed on the Notice Board in the dining room. As the jobs are allocated each week, it is advised that residents refer to the notice each week. The job allocation is undertaken as part of the Sunday group session. The rota commences each Monday morning and ceases on Sunday evening. In addition, there is a fortnightly House clean (alternate Saturday mornings) in which all clients are expected to participate. The jobs for this will be allocated by the Support Worker on Friday evenings.

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Visits

Before arranging for a visit to take place, clients are required to discuss this fully with their Key Worker. This applies to both visitors to Westcliffe and visits made by the resident. In both cases, these are to be put in writing to the Key worker on the Thursday before the intended visit takes place. This allows the Senior Team to have full discussion before taking the decision as it will depend on the individual progress of each client. Home visits are usually restricted to those within the last six weeks of treatment. Contact address and telephone numbers will be required as will the daily telephone contact with Westcliffe.

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Visitors

There is the same requirement of being notified before the event, along with the written details. If the visit is granted, the resident will write the detail, who is coming, what time, whether family, friend etc. Unauthorised visitors are not allowed. In the case of no notification being given either by or to the resident, the Manager or her Deputy will make the decision. Clients should be aware that Westcliffe is not an open

House. Un-announced visitors, for whatever reason, will immediately be challenged by staff.

All visitors should remain in the Dining room unless it has been agreed by Staff that one of the therapy rooms may be used. Visitors are not to be entertained in bedrooms.

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Why these Rules and Guidelines

It’s simple – you asked to come to make the necessary changes to your life – wanting to be alcohol / drug free and lead a less chaotic life. It takes time and effort – we expect a great deal from you and will strive to work hard along side you to ensure that you give yourself the best chance of succeeding.

Staff have the same expectation of themselves as of you. That you are honest and open and demonstrate a real willingness to learn.

Care Quality Commission Excellent Rating