Information For Current Guests

Welcome

We welcome you to your stay as a guest at the Arbours Centre. During the time you are with us, we aim to help you to cope better with the feelings and the problems you are facing.

Helpful Guidelines

Meetings

When you arrive your Resident Therapist (RT) will introduce you to the other guests and RTs and give you a schedule of team meetings and house meetings. Art and Movement Therapy take place once a week at the Centre and this will be included in your timetable.

General

Please discuss any problems or questions that you may have with your Resident Therapist. We will be pleased to assist you in making contact with local facilities such as libraries, venues for classes, religious matters or any other interests you may have. We also have a small number of books at the Centre which you might wish to read. Occasionally we organise outings for the people staying here. The RTs will be pleased to hear your suggestions.

Medical Matters

Medical Cover

If you do not have a GP or he/she is relatively far away, we will arrange for you to register as a temporary patient at the practice of Dr. G. Wardle, 103 Crouch Hill, London N8
(Tel: 020 8340 2877), whose practice is connected with the Centre. He and his colleagues will be glad to assist you with any medical problems as well as to arrange a medical certificate, if necessary. The Resident Therapists will be glad to assist you to make an appointment with Dr Sewell's practice. If you have a GP and wish to stay on his/her register, we would like to make contact with him/her as soon as possible after you move in. In this way we can let the doctor know what help you will be receiving and to gain his/her assistance as may be necessary.

Medicines

Please tell your Resident Therapist if you are taking any medicines, and whether you have any medicines with you. We need to know what they are and we need to keep these medicines for you in our drugs cabinet. Your medicines will be obtained during your stay from the local pharmacy. The Resident Therapist will also help you to change the medicines or obtain new medication if this is necessary/appropriate.

Illegal Drugs

Any drugs for which you do not have a prescription are illegal. Please do not use them or bring them into the house as they are a danger to you and to other guests in the house. Should you be found using any illegal drugs, you may have to leave immediately.

Financial Matters

Should you have any valuables with you your RT will be pleased to advise you on safekeeping options.

Fire Procedures

We are very careful about fire safety. The house has a fire officer who will attend once a month to ensure the equipment is in working order and conduct a fire drill. There will also be weekly tests of the fire alarm. We would appreciate your co-operation. Your RT will show you the fire exits and alarm procedures.

Anger and Violence

In most households, people living together sometimes get angry with each other. Usually the Centre is quiet and peaceful, but if you do get angry with anyone for whatever reason, please talk about it in your team, or with the Resident Therapists or other guests. We do not allow people to physically hurt each other; if this happens the person concerned may be asked to leave.

Breakage

Occasionally damage to the house or furnishings may take place. We will ask you to replace or pay for any damage done by you to the house or the furniture.

Complaints Procedure

Should you have any reason to complain about your stay, please contact your Resident Therapist immediately. Should you not be able to resolve the problem with a Resident Therapist, the Crisis Centre has a complaints procedure. Information about this can be obtained from our office.

Leaving

Leaving the Centre can be a difficult time, requiring extra preparation and support; before as well as after your leaving date, your team will be able to help you with your anxieties about leaving. In addition, we offer two follow-up meetings with your team after you have left the Centre. These meetings are to help you to reflect on your stay, consider any changes that have taken place, review any problems, and help you to continue the work you began at the Centre. Many guests find it useful to attend the Arbours Support group for a few weeks or months after they leave the Centre. This group meets twice a week at the centre. Your Resident Therapist will be pleased to discuss this with you.

The Arbours Communities

Some guests move on to become a resident at the Arbours long-stay communities. This possibility is something which your Resident Therapist and team will be pleased to discuss with you.

Questionnaires

As part of the process of leaving, and of learning from your stay at the Centre, we will send you two questionnaires, the first one after three months and the second one after six months. Please fill them in and return them to the Centre. Many guests have said filling-in the questionnaires helps them to go over their stay, and it is also very useful for us to know how we are doing and to evaluate how to improve our service.

Thank you.