Building a Working Community: Staff Practices in a Clubhouse for People with Severe Mental Illness

The trademark of mental health clubhouses is that members and staff work side-by-side in partnership to enhance members' autonomy, competency, and recovery. To explore the intricacies of this unique approach, the author conducted 53 in-depth interviews and 262 h of participant observation in 41 visits over a five-month period in a clubhouse. Findings indicated that staff members built the clubhouse as a "working community" by skillfully integrating three practice domains: social relationships, unit work, and individuals' needs and pursuits. Distinctive skillsets helped to develop genuine relationships with members and facilitate community building, suggesting a model of generalist practice with specific intentionality.