Centre told to improve drug storage processes

Silkworth Lodge said it had "immediately" addressed the matters raised in the Jersey Care Commission's inspection report

An inspection of the only residential rehabilitation centre in the Channel Islands has found "a lack of processes for the safe storage and administration of controlled drugs".

The Jersey Care Commission conducted the inspection of Silkworth Lodge in St Helier on 10, 12 and 13 June 2024.

The regulator said guidance for administering medicines at the facility should be revised and staff annual medication competency assessments should be introduced by December 2024.

Silkworth Lodge said it had "immediately" addressed the matters raised and it would continue to work alongside the commission "to ensure the very best standards of care".

'Lack of processes'

Among a number of findings in the 15 page report, the Jersey Care Commission said staff retention was high and staff members were accessible to clients around the clock.

It also said:

• staff recruitment processes were well-defined and improvements were being made to ongoing employment safety checks to ensure staff remained suitable for their roles

• risk assessments were tailored to each client, based on their specific circumstances and there was evidence they were regularly reviewed

• the staff team offered support and mentorship to help clients navigate the twelve-step rehabilitation treatment program and ensure they felt safe and well-supported throughout

• the program's ground rules were clearly communicated to clients during pre-admission and throughout their stay, although some clients felt that specific rules were outdated and could be revised and "brought up to date"

But the report also identified one area for improvement, to be completed by December 2024, six months from the date of inspection.

It said: "There is a lack of processes for the safe storage and administration of controlled drugs (CD’s).

"Guidance for administering medicines requires revision to incorporate infection control practices.

"Additionally, the staff team need annual medication competency assessments.

"Medication management requires review and the introduction of annual competency checks."

'Rare occurrence'

Jason Wyse, the registered manager and head of group at Silkworth Charity Group, told the BBC: "All medications are subject to our medications policy and on the rare occasion that we have a client on a controlled drug (ie medication for ADHD), it was highlighted to us that the storage of these drugs should be held in a separate locked cabinet in addition to the already locked storage medication area.

"It is a rare occurrence that we would have clients on a controlled drug and during the inspection we did not have any client on such a medication.

"However, during conversation around medication practices, this was a particular area that we needed to improve on for when we do have a client on such a medication.

"The area of improvement identified was addressed immediately with a review of the medication policy and an additional section within that around the storage of 'controlled drugs'."

Mr Wyse said a "monthly independent check around medications practices" had also been introduced and staff who administer medication had been registered for annual refresher training later in 2024.

"This goes to show the importance of annual inspections where the Jersey Care Commission works collaboratively with services to guide in areas of the Regulation of Care Standards," he said.

"We continue to work alongside our regulator to ensure the very best standards of care, ensuring that we make improvements or adjustments in our service delivery where necessary."