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of how people can learn and benefit from group experiences. A
programme of resident-participation in shaping their communal
life and developing many of the methods usually associated with
a therapeutic community has been introduced. A fortnightly
staff/residents meeting, which includes the senior social worker,
has been established. Although some residents have viewed this
with suspicion, the talkative few have made the most of this
opportunity to voice their real and imaginary grievances.
These group meeting have proved to be an effective method
of social control and have also provided a useful group-learning
situation. The residents are helped to appreciate the effects of their
behaviour on each other. The meetings also afford an opportunity
for the purpose of the hostel to be reinforced—that it is not a
substitute home, but an experience whereby residents are encouraged,
within their limitations, to take an increasingly large part
in running their own lives.
Next Step Forward
Naturally, we have had setbacks and regressions, but of the
first generation of residents, two have been rehabilitated to a point
where they were able to leave the hostel; one to shared accommodation
with two other "normal" girls in a large flat, the other to
a self-contained flat. Both these former residents return at intervals
to the hostel to talk to the other residents and have the occasional
meal and thereby maintain a very useful link and means of
support. Support is also given in the form of regular visits to the
ex-residents by the Senior Social Worker.
Alongside the activities in the hostel the staff are on continuous
lookout for sympathetic landladies for the residents when
they are ready to move on. The Section would offer regular support
for the ex-resident, and counselling advice for the landlady.
Much thought has been given to establishing a "group home",
i.e. a house where a group of ex-mentally ill could live together
either as the next step from the hostel or even from the hospital.
In fact the first of such group homes came into being in September,
1969. The following tables of admissions and discharges gives a
numerical picture of the hostel residents.