A rehabilitation facility in Pembroke has achieved a key international accreditation that strengthens its mandate to treat people who experience substance use and mental health disorders.

Dignity House learnt this month that its systems and in-house procedures met the certification standards of the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities, or Carf International.

The organisation, based in Tucson, Arizona, is an independent non-profit accreditor of health and human services.

With the accreditation, Dignity House can undertake detoxification and withdrawal management in-house for patients.

The certification recognised the facility for its treatment of people experiencing mental health issues and substance abuse.

It also certifies the facility in the provision of addiction services to adults.

Nicholas Darceuil, who runs Dignity House with his wife, Kim, said the accreditation bodes well for the future of the facility, which opened its doors in March 2022.

He added: “This has been an amazing achievement; it has been an amazing journey.

“What has been significant about this accreditation is that we as a facility rallied as a team; we didn’t use a consultant.

“We reviewed all Carf’s standards and we got three years accreditation, which was the maximum time.”

He said an official from the agency visited Dignity House to conduct assessments.

Mr Darceuil added that the representative was impressed by the services provided, including its “metaphysical” services, which comprise sessions in yoga and meditation as well as its treatment regimen.

Several recommendations were made to boost the facility in its provision of services.

Mr Darceuil said: “The team is working to put all the recommendations in place. We want to improve our customer service. We want to be more effective with the clients.”

Looking ahead, he added that Dignity House has its sights on providing health tourism services through the specialisation of its mental health services.

Mr Darceuil said: “One of our goals is to start promoting it internationally and Carf accreditation gives you that international trust.

“We really pride ourselves in giving our clients access to safe care.”

The facility was unsuccessful in its application for government funding, although Mr Darceuil said he was hopeful that such assistance would be provided in the future.

He added that new approaches in the provision of rehabilitation services were being explored, mainly through the Dignity House-7 hybrid support programme, which is for people who experience mental health challenges.

“Our success rate is at 98 per cent because when people come they get the help that they need,” he added.