Living in the community after leaving an ATU
We are researchers from Bristol University and we are very interested in talking people who have left an Assessment and Treatment Unit (ATU).
This project is called ‘Narratives of Home’ because it is all about people’s stories about what life is like in their own home now after leaving an Assessment and Treatment Unit, and what is important to them. It is funded by NIHR- School for Social Care Research.
What is an Assessment and Treatment Unit?
There are lots of different types of Assessment and Treatment Units, and they are supposed to provide care and support to people who may be having difficulties which were not able to be managed in their home.
A few years ago a BBC programme showed that people were being treated very badly in one Assessment and Treatment Unit when the staff were supposed to be helping them. This made the Government decide to reduce the number of these places so that people could get the help and support they need near where they live, or in their own home. Right now, many people are being moved from ATUs into homes of their own.
Why are we doing this project?
While some people who have experience of being in an Assessment and Treatment Unit have been asked about what it was like for them, not many people have asked them what their life is like afterwards! We think it is really important to find out what people say about this.
These changes are happening right now, and we hope that we can find out about what people who have left ATUs say about their lives now, what is working well, what they need more help with, and what they think could be done better. We will collect together people’s stories and write a report so that we can send it to the people who make decisions about their lives. We think it is really important that people have their voice heard when the Government makes changes that affect them.
How could you take part?
If you would like to talk to us about what your life is like after leaving the Assessment and Treatment Unit, what your home is like, and what is important to you now, then please get in touch!
Or maybe you know someone who might be interested in this project? We would love to hear from you. If you contact us, we can tell you more about our project. I hope you can help us with it!
You can contact us on email: Joe Webb joseph.webb@bristol.ac.uk or Sandra Dowling s.dowling@bristol.ac.uk
Or by phone: 0117 33 10712 (Joe) 0117 33 10974 (Sandra)
Or you can write to us here: Joe Webb, Norah Fry Research Centre, 8 Priory Road, Bristol, BS8 1TX