‘So Then We Will Be Outsiders’: One Resettlement Team's Experience of Assessing and Preparing People with Mental Handicap for Life in the Community

Abstract

At present there is much interest in the plans for mentally handicapped people to live in the community. This article describes the role of one resettlement team and the task given to two of its members (principal psychologist and head occupational therapist) to set up an assessment programme. It describes the planning and implementation of the programme, gives a summary of the areas covered by the assessment and a sample timetable, and provides examples of the recommendations made and the progress of 91 residents following assessment. It is hoped that the article will make others feel less daunted when faced with the task of assessing and preparing large numbers of hospital residents for life in the community.