Abbeycare has taken over three Jericho Society facilities
The future of one of Scotland’s oldest residential rehabilitation charities has been secured, allowing it to continue its important work reducing drug-related deaths.
Three Jericho Society facilities located in Greenock and Dundee will now be owned by Abbeycare, preserving 30 jobs and ensuring that 40 rehab beds are kept open.
Established in 1970, the Society is one of the oldest providers of residential rehabilitation in the UK, with a record of achieving excellent outcomes for those who use its services.
It runs two houses in Greenock, one for men and one for women, with a total of 28 beds. Its Dundee house has 12 self-contained apartments for men.
Residents of the houses usually stay for six months or more, with 68% of those who complete the programme achieving lasting abstinence from substance use issues.
Abbeycare, which runs a rehabilitation facility in Erskine, has a longstanding working relationship with the Society, with a successful referral pathway between the two services.
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 due to their substance use for many years to come.”
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 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.
Michael Trail, manager of the Jericho Society’s two 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.
“Our new partnership will ensure that the Jericho Society’s 40 beds remain accessible to the people who need them, at the same time as preserving 30 frontline jobs.
“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.”
