Sanctuary Addiction and Alcohol Services, Weston-super-Mare
Abstinence based treatment providing a safe environment for clients to address their alcoholism.
About us:
Sanctuary Addiction and Alcohol Services offers a tier four quasi-residential rehabilitation programme, in addition to various other packages. All our services are of the highest standard and treatment approaches are informed by current research on effectiveness and feedback from both service users and commissioners. Treatment is delivered through group therapy, individual counselling, lectures and other activities designed to support the therapeutic process.
We believe that the therapeutic alliance is the most fundamental element in ensuring that clients engage with and truly benefit from this service. Our professional, friendly and highly experienced staff are committed to ensuring effective service provision for all our clients and work within the bounds of ethical practice at all times.
Sanctuary Addiction and Alcohol Services was founded with the aim that the needs of both service users and commissioners will be met by a service that is both cost effective and provides the highest standard of care to those accessing its services.
We first opened our doors in December 2003, and since that time we are proud to announce that 74% of our service users have completed treatment drug free. Our founder envisioned a project that would provide quality services to individuals whose needs were not being met by existing service providers.
We believe that the practice of placing individuals in residential rehabilitation units, where they are treated and housed within a single property, can, in some cases, serve to further isolate and alienate the individual from mainstream society and increase the institutionalisation and social exclusion that many of our service users have experienced.
The programme at Sanctuary Addiction and Alcohol Services is abstinence based and is designed to address both the substance misuse issue and other related issues that are impacting negatively on the client’s life.
We believe that once the immediate effects of substance misuse are overcome, the underlying issues that often predate the use of chemicals start to come to the surface. Often clients have few skills in managing their emotional reactions to life events or interpersonal relationships; find it difficult to manage their anger appropriately; fail to recognise that their thinking and cognitive processes are not helpful and are not producing the desired outcomes; and have unresolved issues that still cause them pain.
Primary Care: Primary Care is the first stage of an individual’s treatment programme at Sanctuary Addiction and Alcohol Services and is a more intensive 12 week phase during which a structured timetable is in place. See the Primary Care Timetable.
In addition to the traditional group therapy and one to one counselling sessions, all clients participate in basic skills education and computer training courses, a programme of physical exercise, menu planning and healthy eating advice, holistic and complimentary therapies and attendance at smoking cessation groups (although there is no requirement to give up smoking during the treatment programme).
Clients also have access to local medical services and are encouraged to attend for a full health check at the time of their admission to the service, with support available to enable them to attend any further medical appointments that may be required. As many of our clients have pre-existing dental problems when they arrive, we also encourage them to access local NHS dental service providers.
Secondary Care: Secondary Care is designed to meet the needs of clients who have completed the Primary Care element of their Treatment programme and wish to build on the progress they have made so far. Clients who access Secondary Care are beginning to make the transition into a more independent lifestyle but still require the support and care offered by a structured programme in order to sustain the major life changes they have begun to make.
Ensuring that this transition is made in a planned and manageable way is vital and therefore the level of structure and support will be monitored and reviewed to ensure that it meets the needs of the client. The existing social and coping skills of the client will be considered before any additional responsibilities are placed on them to ensure that the rate of progress is realistic and sustainable for them.
During this phase the timetable is less structured but clients are still responsible for ensuring that they attend all timetabled activities. One to one counselling and group therapy sessions remain a major part of the programme, but additional time is given over to taking part in voluntary work and education or training opportunities.
Third Stage Care: Third stage supported housing is the final phase of the treatment programme, leading to a gradual and phased return to independent living.
Depending on the needs and wishes of the individual, this final stage can last up to 2 years.
During this phase, clients are supported in developing short, medium and long term goals for the future and exploring the options available to them.
Clients are encouraged to continue to engage with local education and training providers as well as participating in voluntary work and considering longer term plans for returning to or gaining employment.
Clients will receive one to one and group support sessions as well as having access to complimentary therapies and group activities. Third stage supported housing will be fully funded through Housing Benefit and supporting people.
After Care: Sanctuary Addiction and Alcohol Services recognises that the transition from rehabilitation to independent living can be a difficult and testing time for many people. In order to provide clients with continuity of care and to ease this transition, aftercare, consisting of group and one to one sessions, will be made available to clients for up to one year following discharge.
During this phase of the programme, the focus will be on managing change and challenges, building support networks, goal setting and monitoring progress.
The aim of providing aftercare to clients leaving the service is to build on and consolidate the progress that they have made so far and to ensure that clients are not left without appropriate support once they have successfully completed the treatment programme.
Contact Details:
Sanctuary Addiction and Alcohol Services
12a South Parade
Weston-super-Mare
Somerset
BS23 1JN
Telephone: 01934 614 700