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About Us
Our Values
Our Activities
The Quest Care Culture
Residential Program
Daily & Weekly Routines
Referral Information
Our Values [top]
Quest Care is an inclusive, holistic, person-centred, recovery-based program in which our staff strive for professional excellence in all they do.
1. Inclusive – mental illness is no respecter of persons. The truth is that the mentally ill are found in every ethnic, economic, social, and religious group. Quest Care therefore seeks to be inclusive. We strive to reduce and, where possible, to eradicate barriers. We also seek to be client-centred and client involving at all levels of services.
2. Professional Excellence – Quest Care workers have appropriate qualifications and are expected to meet the standards set by their perspective professional bodies as well as to live with the Quest Care ethical standards as set out in our By-Laws. They are also expected to both au fait with and engage in best-practice;
3. A Recovery-orientation is central to the treatment and rehabilitation of people with serious mental illness. Such a recovery approach emphasises dignity, autonomy, hope and a responsibility to share in a client’s journey. It requires a commitment to use the best available evidence within the context of available resources. It recognises the importance of the way consumers contextualise their experiences and their environment and the important influence that cultural, economic and social factors have on a person’s journey. Our emphasis is upon well-being [relationally and bio-psycho-socially] rather than illness; and upon strengths rather weaknesses. Our emphasis is upon building sustainable mental health.
4. Holistic – a holistic approach finds resonance amongst many professionals. Our family-base residential program provides not only basic psychological safety but also a valuable context for concretising this approach.
5. Person-centred - we assert that every person is a child of God whose uniqueness [1] needs to be honoured and respected. We each have a mix of strengths and weaknesses; assets and problems. We aver that each person is of equal worthy and deserves a ‘fair go’ that is, equal respect, dignity, tolerance, compassion and justice. This perspective leads us to strive to truly ‘be there’ with the troubled person in his or her psychological pain. It also leads us to place residents’ and clients’ needs foremost in Quest Care’s decision making. And finally, to consider the individual needs equally with the community’s needs as we create a climate of safety, acceptance, appropriate responsibility, growth-orientated limits, active participation, a spirit of mutual help, and, as we inculcate the practical values & skills involved in relating well with oneself and other people.
6. Christian Ethos – Our passion for God underpins our compassion towards the mentally ill. It also shapes our approach to mental illness.
Firstly, we contend that spirituality is intrinsic to humanity. Sociologists attest to this by describing religion as a cultural universal, that is to say, in every culture and in every time, humanity seeks God.
Secondly, we see the spiritual journey of the psychiatrically troubled person is often confused, guilt-ridden and tainted with unreality. Helping the troubled people find a spiritual expression, a synergy, that satisfies their deeper longings, enhances their overall wellbeing and creates sustainable mental health. To achieve this: -
a. We lay emphasis upon our creation in God’s image as the primary source of innate worth, profound uniqueness, and wondrous physical, emotional and spiritual endowment.
b. We take a practical, balanced, lived-out approach to spirituality.
c. We stress the need to find Jesus-in-humanity: - that is, in problem-solving [2] and in the self-discovery that comes from living with and living for others [3]. d. Lastly promote the relational skills of living well with oneself and with others as not only the most important of all mental health skills, but also as the essential elements of Christian spirituality.
Quest Care’s activities can be divided into three. These are our residential facility with its three-part in-house program, our non-residents’ day-centre, and counselling of non-residents.
Residential ~ Quest Care is registered and accredited under the Residential Services Act. The main residence has a registered capacity for 15 residents. As needed, Quest Care also rents local residences for our phase-three clients. Currently there is one such rental housing three men.
Quest Care’s residential program offers more than just a bed, food & basic support. Participation in our program activities create a task-ordered day and a context for our three-phase recovery program that focuses on – (1) stabilisation, (2) helping residents change psychological & behavioural habits in order to build a sustainable mentally & spiritually healthy lifestyle (3) engagement / re-engagement with mainstream community life. Additionally, the three strands of the Quest Care culture - family, spirituality and community - make residential program both unique and successful.
Day-Centre Community Support ~ non-residents can participate in our residents’ in-house program on a day-centre basis. Inclusion in these activities is individually negotiated. Some come in for one or two days each week. Others, for instance those at a distance or those with family, have come for two days with an over-night stay. The ‘packaging’ of these arrangements is highly individualistic. Some of the information included on pages 3 to 6 is relevant to day-centre attendees as well as those coming into residence. There is a cost for this service. Availability is also subject to the number in residence.
The Quest Care Culture [top]
The Quest Care culture encompasses our beliefs, values, emotional ties and customary practice. Quest Care’s culture is like a rope made strong by the twisting of three strands into one [4]. These strands are family, spirituality and community. They provide a contextual framework for our program.
1. FAMILY
Quest Care is a ‘family-based’ alternative within the mental health field. It began with one family’s response to the needs of the mentally ill and the work has continued to have a family focus. The family concept continues to take precedence over organisational and bureaucratic demands, and this makes all the difference.
Our basic proposition is that a functional family experience can be therapeutic. At Quest Care the host-family provides a sense of safety; of belonging; and of being part of a family. This is important for de-institutionalising has too often left the troubled person alone, without adequate support. This ‘family’ community also provides a corrective recapitulation of the person’s primary family group. To achieve this, the Quest Care residence is home not only to broken, troubled people but also to the host-family ~ Bronwyn, Shayne and their children. There is a myriad of small and subtle things that are important ~ fun, work, special events, children, and pets all play their part.
2. SPIRITUALITY
Spirituality is intrinsic to our humanity. Sociologists attest to this. They describe religion as a cultural universal, that is to say, in every culture and in every time, humanity seeks God. The spiritual journey of the psychiatrically troubled person is often confused, guilt-ridden and tainted with unreality. One aspect of our work is to help troubled people find a spiritual expression, a synergy, that satisfies their deeper longings, enhances their overall wellbeing and creates sustainable mental health.
To achieve this we have a three-fold emphasis. Firstly, we acknowledge our creation in God’s image as the primary source of innate worth, profound uniqueness, and wondrous physical, emotional and spiritual endowment. Secondly, because words often seem so untrustworthy (especially to the mentally ill), we emphasise that Christ is to be lived, not just believed. This necessitates a balanced, practical approach to spirituality. Thirdly, we emphasise finding Jesus-in-humanity: - that is, in solving problems [5] and in the self-discovery that comes from living with and living for others [6]. We contend that the skill of living well with oneself and with others is the most important of all skills.
3. COMMUNITY
Our wider Quest Care Community includes the directors, the host-family, support workers and a small but highly committed group of volunteers who, like ripples in a pound, extend outwards to include the total Quest Care Membership. Initially residents lean heavily on this community. Increasingly they become co-partners within this community as it strives to be inclusive and of therapeutic value. At its best, this community positively engages its residents. It creates an increasing sense of belonging to a safe, caring community in which one can contribute to something worthwhile and bigger than oneself.
The Quest Care concept of living with and living for troubled people in a family-based community setting calls for real involvement and a genuine meeting of persons by all concerned. Such a meeting of persons Carl Jung [7] considered to be “like the contact of two chemical mixtures: if there is any reaction, both are transformed.” Residential Program [top]Progress through Quest Care’s three-part residential recovery program is dependent upon each individual’s unique needs, problems and abilities. The program’s three phases are not discrete; rather they are experienced as blending naturally one into another.
PHASE ONE
The emphasis in the emergent phase is upon instilling hope, creating a sense of safety and simplifying chaotic lifestyles. What is done with each person is highly individualised. During this period existing residential arrangements are maintained [if possible] either ongoing or until the person has a firm sense that the Quest Care residential provides a viable and more therapeutic alternative. Where possible work arrangements are maintained, but usually changes are necessary.
PHASE TWO
This is a crucial phase in which the emphasis is upon changing the troubled person’s problematic habits and incorporating a mentally & spiritually healthy lifestyle. The family-based community provides a safe, secure context in which troubled persons can experience caring and normalcy, and in which they can regain unresolved areas of personality.
The inevitable interpersonal conflicts & issues enable the person’s problems to be concretely related to present living. These problems provide the clay from which a sustainable mentally healthy life-style can be moulded. Resident counselling focuses on processing these issues and conflicts as they arise. This ensures two things. One, the person is not overwhelmed by having to deal with too much exposed hurt all at once. Two, counselling remains focused on the real issues.
An educational group approach provides skills training and also allows the person to be gently confronted without too much ‘emotional sting’. Overall residents are encouraged to gradually drop fronts, to develop interpersonal trust, to accept themselves, to gain insights, to be creative, and to forge new patterns of relating.
There are also opportunities for gaining interpersonal & work-related skills. The person in need is encouraged to assume basic responsibilities, and is given opportunities to awaken interests. Rights and responsibilities increasingly balance as the person dissolves his / her own version of the sick role, in favour of effective social participation.
PHASE THREE
In phase three the increasingly mentally healthy life-style is enhanced by the person’s increasing contact with mainstream life, while continuing to build upon the therapeutic thrust of phase one and two. Interpersonal and work-related responsibilities are promoted at a pace that does not jeopardise the fragile, but developing success identity; nor undermines the person’s sense of safety. Care is taken to ensure that the person does not feel abandoned or disconnected by virtue of new work situations or more independent living circumstances.
Increasingly our phase-three clients are settling in the suburbs around the Quest Care residence so as to avail themselves of the support of the Quest Care community – in particular counselling and day-centre involvement. As part of this trend Quest Care has established rental housing close to our main residence. Finally, phase-three clients are also encouraged in a changing but continuing role, within our larger Quest Care community.
An Ordered Lifestyle with a Balanced Routine [top]
We believe in a balanced routine and a task-ordered lifestyle. We see this as having therapeutic value. Their importance can be seen in that all families have their rhythm & pattern of life, and all work places have their routines. As an inclusive ‘family’ and as people whose work is ‘getting well’, we strive for a predictable rhythm of life. The weekly routines provide a starting-point, which, in time, is expanded upon to create a more individualised program of recovery.
WEEKLY OUTLINE
MONDAY Cleaning & Maintenance
Board Games
TUESDAY ‘Skills Group’
Sports / Gym
WEDNESDAY ‘Values & Skills Group’
Gardening
THURSDAY ‘Discussion, Work & Fun Groups’
Town - shopping, budgeting, etc.
Hobbies & Art
FRIDAY ‘Tell me about ...’ (Information & Reading Group)
Library
SATURDAY Recreation & Leisure
SUNDAY Church / People Dynamic Group
DAILY OUTLINE
Physical Exercise ~ usually a half hour’s walk, but may also include aerobics, tai chi, etc;
Reading & Discussing Newspapers ~ increases concentration, reading & discussion skills, as well as creating an awareness of the world events;
Goal Group ~ setting and being accountable for attaining practical and interpersonal goals within a group setting;
Chores ~ each person cleans their own personal area and does a ‘household’ job. An ordered environment assisting in having an ordered mind & emotions;
Quiet time ~ this time is variously used. Prayer-group is one optional activity;
Communication Group ~ organises the day’s activities such as appointments, phone calls etc. It also works on the assumption of living by our decisions not our emotions;
Weekly Activities ~ as above;
1-to-1 Group ~ an exercise in non-problematic interpersonal communication;
Cooking etc. ~ basic living skills are ‘caught’ by tackling tasks within a responsible group.
Referral Information [top]
Who is eligible?
1. The person wanting to come into our home and our program needs to:
¨ Be capable of self sufficiency in matters of personal hygiene;
¨ Acknowledge that s/he has a problem;
¨ Work with us to overcome the problem by taking an active part in the Quest Care program and by following advice – including medical advice;
¨ Contribute to his / her financial upkeep. 66% of the person’s benefit, pension, or allowance is asked for in return for board, lodgings and the help received.
2. We are open to people in need and individually assess each person’s suitability. However:
¨ Any history of violence or criminality will be a consideration in deciding whether a person would be accepted into the program;
¨ We do not take known paedophiles (child molesters), as we have children in our home and have children visiting our home.
¨ We do take those with dual diagnosis - psychiatric disorder and alcohol / substance abuse problems. We do not take those who only have alcohol or substance abuse problems.
¨ We are very limited in the number of persons with a dual psychiatric disorder / intellectual disability that we can take into our program;
How long can a person stay at Quest Care?
There is no time limit on how long a person may stay at Quest Care. Some come on an emergent basis and undertake to stay only a matter of days or weeks. Others, for example, those who are married and have children may only be able to stay relatively short periods. Experience has shown that those who gain the most commit themselves to stay for at least 18 months to 2 years.
What is the referral / assessment process?
1. Applicants access the information contained in this handout and discuss it with trusted love-ones and professionals involved in their care.
2. Applicants are interviewed at Quest Care prior to admission. We do not do phone interviews.
3. Applicants are given an Application Form at this interview. It must be completed and returned with a letter from a GP, psychologist, or psychiatrist confirming his or her diagnoses prior to the Quest Care team considering the applicant’s suitability. Where other professionals [including IMHS] are involved a written referral and / or discharge summary is required as well.
4. The Application Form must be returned prior to being offered a placement or being placed on the waiting list.
5. New residents are accepted on a trial basis only [four weeks]. There are reviews at the end of each week culminating in a formal review at four weeks.
Upon arrival
1. Upon arrival the applicant is to have with him or her written instruction from the supervising G.P or psychiatrist re current medication. The new resident is to bring all current scripts and current medication.
2. Two weeks in advance must be paid in full upon arrival, that is, on day one. S/he must also have sufficient money for his or her medications also.
3. The new resident is to provide his or her own towels, pillows cases and sheets toiletries and washing powder. Quest Care provides pillows and blankets but residents are welcome to bring their own.
4. While a small amount of storage space is available at Quest Care for each resident, furniture storage is not possible.
5. No pets or mobiles are permitted.
6. To assist the resident to settle in a Residents’ Handbook is given to each new resident at admission.
Contact with friends / relatives
Generally we find that the applicant settles more quickly and therefore has a better chance of gaining from the program, if s/he is given about a week before resuming contact with friends / relatives etc. We also appreciate friends, relatives, and other workers discussing proposed plans with us prior to raising them with their loved one or client.
[Back to Top]
[1] God is unique; there is no one like him. If this is so then we who are made in his image are also unique
[2] Mat 25:34-40 & 18:15-20
[3] 1 Jo 4:20; Mat 22:37-40
[4] “A threefold cord is not quickly broken.” Eccl 4:12 b.
[5] Mat 25:34-40 & 18:15-20
[6] 1 Jo 4:20; Mat 22:37-40
[7] Carl Jung, Modern Man in Search of a Soul, Routledge 1961, p 57.
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