We will always aim to admit clients as soon as possible, and at least within three weeks of their assessment, unless there are other reasons that this cannot take place (for example they require detox or will not be released from custody until after this date).

All clients travelling to the project by public transport will be met by a member of staff. A “buddy” will be allocated to each new client to help them to become familiar with their surroundings and the treatment programme.

Staff at Sanctuary will do their utmost to make new clients feel welcome and to help them to engage in the programme.

Specific interventions such as motivational interviewing, node link mapping and streamlining of paperwork are being utilised and have been designed to engage clients during the earliest days of their programme.

The admissions process as a whole is designed to encourage new clients to speak to staff and peers about any difficulties they are experiencing and to help them to find solutions.

Additional one to one sessions are available during this period in order to develop the therapeutic alliance that is vital to ensuring the engagement and retention of clients in treatment.