THE future of one of Scotland’s oldest residential rehabilitation charities has been secured, allowing it to continue its work reducing drug-related deaths in Greenock.
The two Jericho Society facilities in the town, as well as another in Dundee, will now be owned by Abbeycare, preserving 30 jobs and ensuring that 40 rehab beds are kept open.
Established in Greenock in 1970, the society is one of the oldest providers of residential rehabilitation in the UK, with a record of achieving excellent outcomes.
Residents of its houses usually stay for six months or more, with 68 per cent of those who complete the programme achieving lasting abstinence from substance use issues.
Its properties on Bank Street and Shankland Road have 28 rehab beds, giving residents a drugs-free approach to life through a holistic programme based on their needs.
Bank Street is open to men and Shankland Road to women, with most residents staying for six months or more and building strong links in the community, which help to maintain their recoveries after they leave.
Abbeycare, which already runs a rehabilitation facility in Erskine, has a longstanding working relationship with the society, with a successful referral pathway between the two services.
Both the Jericho Society and Abbeycare are founding members of the Scottish Recovery and Residential Providers Group, which works closely with the Scottish Government to shape practice, policy and improve pathways into residential treatment.
Under the new partnership, Abbeycare will take over operations of the three Jericho Society properties, enabling the services to continue to facilitate abstinence-based recovery.
Abbeycare’s facility in Erskine provides continuous care for people with alcohol and drug addictions under one roof, offering supervised detoxification and rehabilitation.
Its programmes also include harm reduction interventions, counselling, recovery care planning, family support and extensive aftercare, allowing people to address the underlying issues behind their addictions.
The centre accepts admissions from across Scotland, including both private patients and local authority referrals.
Paul Bowley, chief executive of Abbeycare, said: “We are both pleased and honoured to be able to take over the operations of the three Scottish services that formed part of the Jericho Society.
“An increase in residential rehabilitation beds is a vital part of the Scottish Government’s national mission on drug deaths, so it is imperative that these 40 beds remain accessible.
“Under Abbeycare’s stewardship, the core values that have established the Jericho Society as one of the most recognised services in Scotland for recovery outcomes will remain the same.
“It can now continue to provide vital interventions and essential housing support to those who are left vulnerable because of their substance use for many years to come.”
Michael Trail, manager of the Jericho Society’s Greenock houses, said: “Having worked closely together for a number of years, we are delighted to be joining the Abbeycare family.
“Over the last 20 years, Abbeycare’s forward-thinking approach has established it as one of the leading providers of residential rehabilitation in Scotland and the UK.
“We are all looking forward to this next chapter, where we can work together with Abbeycare to reduce Scotland’s alcohol and drug-related harms.”
