Psychiatric Rehabilitation Association Projects
Residential Care Projects | Darnley Road Groupwork Centre & Training Centre | Et Cetera Art Gallery and Studio | Et Cetera Workshop | Mitchley Industrial Education Unit | Stean Street Industrial Education Unit | Out-of-Hours Sunday Group
Southwood Smith Centre
11 Southwood Smith Street, London N1 0XN
Situated in the London Borough of Islington, the centre is a joint project between Camden & Islington Community Health Services NHS Trust, the Local Authority Mental Health Services and PRA. Users find the centre is a place where they can be accepted, without pressure to participate, but with encouragement and support to do so when they are ready. The programme is responsive to their needs and encourages them to take as much responsibility in its management as they can comfortably handle.
Objectives of the Centre
- To prevent relapse
- To rehabilitate those who can eventually move on to employment and independence.
- To provide support and aftercare for those who may not achieve full independence.
- To ensure that ethnic minority needs are addressed.
Caring Environment
Before members are ready to seek open employment they may need a period of preparation. For those whose impairments are likely to be long lasting, the day centre provides sheltered conditions for occupation and stimulus and the opportunity to develop relationships with others. Families of those referred often welcome this respite, which can be beneficial for all. Our caring environment helps people gain new skills or develop ones which may have been impaired during the course of their illness. It provides challenges required for personality growth without being threatening so that confidence is gained. The emphasis is on Groupwork, that is, working together to achieve an objective.
Activities
Activities are planned in response to the needs and requests of its members which include:
- Arts and crafts
- Massage and relaxation
- Computers and IT
- Self care
- Cookery
- Gardening
- Communication skills
- Assertiveness training
- Yoga
- Keep-fit
- Photography
- Jewellery Design and Making
- Discussion groups
As well as trips to the local swimming pool, the sports centre and other places of interest, holidays and social events are organised. Members also have access to the Centre for Better Health facilities, such as stress management and counselling.
Premises
The Southwood Smith Centre was purpose built to provide opportunities in the community to redevelop life skills, particularly for those who had lived for many years in the institutionalised environment of Friern Hospital.
The centre is a base rather than a container. A main objective is to enable participants to gain confidence and knowledge and to constructively use the local community. The centre facilities include an assessment kitchen, a craft room, an IT computer suite, smaller rooms for discussion groups, teaching programmes, and a conservatory for horticultural projects.
Who would benefit from this environment?
- Those who live alone especially benefit from meaningful occupation, which relieves their loneliness and stress from this.
- People discharged from hospital who will eventually find work but are not yet fit. The centre helps them to maintain their working mode, which would soon be lost if they were left for long periods without occupation.
- For others who have been chronically ill, or are recovering slowly from an acute illness, this is the first step towards rehabilitation.
- For those who require permanent sheltered conditions our Day Centres offer a supportive environment.
There are, inevitably, some people who are difficult to integrate into any group and who, reluctantly, we are unable to accept if we are to maintain a reassuring milieu for the rest.
This day centre is not appropriate for persons who present intractable problems of violence, alcoholism, drug abuse or arson, or have physical disabilities that require one-to-one attention.
Web design by the Blue Lizard Ltd.