Characteristics of the social environment of small group homes for individuals with severe mental illness

As part of research into small group homes run by local authorities for those with severe mental illness the characteristics of the social environment was investigated. The ideal and real versions of the Community Oriented Program Environmental Scale (COPES) were administered to residents and staff of small group homes in a county in southern Sweden. Both these groups were also interviewed on their opinions as to the main characteristics that should exist in the social environment in small group homes. High levels of support, order and organization, and program clarity and a low level of anger and aggression distinguished the real social environment according to the residents. Differences between residents' and staff's perceptions were less pronounced than in most other studies, probably owing to a greater level of resident--staff interaction in the home-like milieu. In the interviews both the residents and staff emphasized the importance of social interaction as a major constituent in the social environment of small group homes. The COPES instrument appears to be valid for use in small group homes, although some concern can be raised about two of the subscales, Involvement and Practical Orientation. The social environment, as rated by the residents and staff, was similar to that recommended for psychotic patients and to that proposed as a suitable supportive profile together with low levels of staff control and anger and aggression.