22 May 2026
The Forward Trust is pleased to share a series of strong inspection outcomes that recognise the high-quality care, recovery support and partnership working delivered across our services.
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has rated both the Thurrock Drug and Alcohol Treatment and Recovery Service and STARS (Southend Treatment and Recovery Service) as Good overall. Each service also achieved a Good rating across all five key domains: safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led.
Inspectors praised Thurrock for its compassionate, person-centred approach, strong leadership, effective governance and positive culture. Service users described staff as kind, respectful and supportive, reflecting the service’s commitment to delivering high-quality, tailored care.
STARS was similarly recognised for its compassionate approach, alongside its accessibility and strong focus on helping individuals lead healthier lives. Inspectors highlighted the service’s person-centred care, robust risk management and effective partnership working as key strengths.
Further positive feedback was received following HM Inspectorate of Prisons (HMIP) inspections at HMP Aylesbury and HMP Downview. Across both sites, inspectors commended strong clinical and psychosocial leadership in the Forward services run at the prisons, which provided personalised care and demonstrated effective collaboration between themselves and other services.
At Aylesbury, the incentivised substance-free living unit was identified as an area of particularly strong practice. Meanwhile, Downview received recognition for its integrated support model and recovery-focused approach for women, with inspectors highlighting the continuity of care provided.
These outcomes reflect the professionalism, dedication and compassion demonstrated every day by colleagues across our services nationwide. Their work continues to make a meaningful difference in some of the most challenging environments.
Mike Trace, CEO of The Forward Trust, said:
"Our community-based drug/alcohol and mental health services are inspected for quality and compliance by the Care Quality Commission (CQC), and prison-based services are inspected by His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Prisons(HMIP). Four of our services received inspection reports this week, and the results are very reassuring.
"I want to pay tribute to the staff working across these projects, who are achieving these results in very difficult environments – truly living our mission of taking care and recovery into the toughest places.”
You could find out more about these four services on the below support pages:
