What Is Rehab?
Residential Treatment Services - also known as residential rehabilitation or just rehab - are one of the foundations of the modern drug and alcohol treatment system.
Scroll down to learn out about the different models and features of rehab.
An Overview of Rehab
Rehab is a recovery service that offers accommodation alongside treatment and support. This is generally all provided on one site although some services have accommodation separate, but close to the location where treatment is provided.
Some services offer detox services onsite or work closely with independent detox services for residents prior to entering rehab.
You may also hear of models such as community rehab where there is intensive support but accommodation is not provided.
Provision of residential accommodation for people together with treatment for substance use is a regulated activity and so services and service managers are registered and regulated by the Care Quality Commission in England.
NICE Guidance Quality Standard 10 defines Residential Rehabilitation as:
“Residential rehabilitative treatment provides a safe environment, a daily structure, multiple interventions and can support recovery in some people with drug use disorders who have not benefitted from other treatment options. For people with drug use disorders to make an informed choice about residential rehabilitative treatment, taking into account personal preferences, it is important they are aware of the NICE eligibility criteria.”
Within this sector there are a range of different models of residential rehabilitation. Most operate a mixed approach.
Common treatment models
12-Step
Stems from the 12 steps of the Minnesota Model and is associated with the approaches of Narcotics/ Alcoholics Anonymous (NA/AA).
Eclectic/Integrated
These are programmes which do not adhere to a particular philosophy and use a range of different methods and interventions focused on meeting the needs of individual residents.
Therapeutic Community
In a therapeutic community, staff and clients participate together as members of a social and learning community.
Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy (CBT) And Social Learning
These are programmes that include psychological treatments such as CBT, in which actions are believed to influence future behaviour.
Christian Philosophy/Faith-Based
Services have religious staff and may or may not require residents to share their faith or participate in faith-related activities.
Personal And Skills Development
The programme in a service operating a personal or skills development model may focus less on psychological therapeutic interventions and more on the practical skills and knowledge needed to get by in the wider community.
Common features of rehab
Most modern Rehab units adopt an eclectic approach to meeting residents needs within a primary philosophical framework.
Rehabs offer intensive support that is often difficult for people to access and coordinate in their home settings. Here are some features typical of residential treatment in England.