The organization of a sheltered workshop

Abstract

Towards the end of 1961, the authors undertook a survey of the state of development of Industrial Therapy in mental hospitals of England and Wales (1). The results showed that already, of the 181 hospitals taking part in the survey 47·5% currently have Industrial Units and a further 15% are proposing to open them in the near future. This paper is a statement of some of the advantages and difficulties in opening an Industrial Therapy Unit. In discussing these problems we have drawn upon the experience we have gained over the past 6 years, the first 2 years of which we carried out sub-contract work and the last 4 years in running a commercially self-contained manufacturing business. The type of workshop that we have in mind is one dealing with a wide range of mental disability. The aims of the Unit will therefore be directed on many levels: the two principal levels being (1) preparing some patients for resettlement and (2) the occupational rehabilitation of patients with poor clinical prognosis within the walls of the hospital.