START - Hartlepool's Integrated Substance Misuse Service

START (Supporting Treatment and Recovery Together) is Hartlepool’s integrated substance misuse treatment service, delivered in partnership by Hartlepool Borough Council and Foundations.

The service, launched in September 2020, is commissioned by Hartlepool Borough Council’s Public Health Team to deliver community-based treatment services to adults and young people in the Borough.The Council provides both care co-ordination of cases and psycho-social support – structured psychological or social interventions to address substance-related issues – whilst clinical services such as substitute prescribing of opiate-based medications, a confidential needle syringe programme initiative and detox programmes are delivered by Foundations.

START is currently based at Whitby Street (TS24 7AB), and staff are also based in the Community Hub Central in York Road.