Outward Bound

Current mental handicap policies aim to bring about a shift in responsibility and resources for residential care from large institutions to small homely units. In practice this means closing long-stay wards or complete hospitals and moving the patients out into the community. This book examines the outcome of one such community care programme through the views and feelings of staff, families and the movers involved. It explores the experiences of two groups of people, one of which moved out of long-stay hospitals to take up places in locally based hostels, while the other moved out of hostels into independent living accommodation in the community. Based on the findings of a three year research project funded by the Joseph Rowntree Memorial Trust, the book addresses the personal issues and the policy implications of relocating people with learning difficulties in line with the government's plans for community care.