Contents

Acknowledgement

Introduction

Preface

The Interviewees

Internal Structure

The Staff

Conclusion

Appendix 1. -

The Questionnaire

Appendix 2. -

Questionnaire Data

The Staff

It became obvious from the outset of this project, that there is a great depth of feeling and commitment on the issue of staffing levels. For example what type of staff and also what expectations were of what they should provide.

In the first three questions in this section we cover the options of what type of staff people would like to see. Overwhelmingly, Service Users (85%) would expect staff to dispense prescribed medication with the voluntary agreement of the User.

Concerning the type of staff, 25% of Service Users wanted medically trained staff and only 6% wanted care staff, although 67% wanted a mixture of both and saw a benefit in the staff being flexible in their approach. To reinforce this we asked if ex-clients' input would be helpful. 89% of those questioned thought this could be a very positive new direction, in that they would find it easier to relate to someone who had actually been through the Psychiatric system. This became more apparent when we asked what would be expected from ex-clients' involvement. Out of this multiple choice question the answer came that it would be really valuable for someone to spend some unhurried time listening. Other suggestions made run from just talking or listening, through to sharing experiences, making tea or coffee, or playing board games (cards, chess etc).

Most importantly just to spend some quality time with the person in crisis and perhaps help just through talking and sharing experiences.

The next question was about what structured activities they expected to find in the Crisis House. Very positive expectations were expressed with regard to what they would hope to gain from the staff. These pointed towards pro-active input from the Service User in taking responsibility for what they could do to help themselves in the Crisis House. 81% said they would like help from a Keyworker, 80% said they would like one-to-one counselling, 66% would like support groups to be available and 60% would like house meetings. These being the basic tools to help the Service User climb out of their crisis. It indicates that people want to be able to improve their quality of life after their crisis. Other interesting suggestions for activities were as follows: alternative therapies, community jobs, goal setting groups, and directive counselling.

We asked if they would like access to workshops run by volunteers and there was a great deal of support for this idea. 90% of those questioned saw this as an opportunity to get a different approach into tackling their mental health needs. It was thought that volunteers could run these workshops, if funding could not be found for these facilities. Some of the suggestions for workshops taken from the questionnaire are: alternative therapies; massage; acupuncture; shiatsu; reiki; aromatherapy; chi-gong; creative therapies; art; poetry; pottery; music; drama and creative writing.

Quotes:

- "Any alternative therapy, massage, poetry, creative stuff"

- "Creative writing, current affairs, men's group; social skills"

- "Music, art, therapy, dance and drama therapy - not necessarily by qualified staff"

- "Drama therapy, self-analysis, deeper understanding - a way out of my prison."

When asked if one member of staff working alone at night was adequate 88% of Service Users said "no", with a real concern that to feel safe, a minimum of two staff should be on duty at night.

We asked what kind of support Service Users would expect from the staff "in an ideal world". What seems apparent from people's answers is that it would be beneficial if staff set aside time to listen, to talk through with the client what the problems were that led to their Crisis House admission, and to consider longer term issues. The quotes from the questionnaire are useful here in that they give more reality to Service Users' needs.

Those who participated suggested the following:

- "Non-judgemental, caring, sensitive support"

- "Understanding listening and kindness"

- "Re-assurance, and attention to

Crisis needs"

- "A deeper understanding to what makes somebody mentally ill, rather than the lock 'em up attitude."

96% of our sample said it would be helpful to have a supportive care plan on leaving the Crisis House. This would allow support to be put into place for those issues which led to the crisis. Also it was hoped that this would prevent the revolving door cycle, which often occurs with hospital admissions. For example, 59% of our sample have been into hospital between one and ten times in the last two years.

The presence of a Crisis House in Islington has led to a reduction in hospital admissions.

At the end of the questionnaire we asked if people had anything they would like to add, here is a revealing selection: "I think that a Crisis House should have been up and running year's ago". "Why hasn't it been going for years?". "I think it is a really good idea, if possible there should be more than one".