Personality disorder programme No longer a diagnosis of exclusion

Our guest blogger Sue Duncan from The Haven Project (dedicated to the support and treatment of people with a personality disorder) entertains us with her account of the day ‘the Italians’ went to visit!

Fridays at the Haven are generally very chilled, we have the Gardening Group in the morning, booked appointments; lunch followed by more appointments and Hand Reflexology in the afternoon, so what sets Friday the 2nd of December 2011 apart and makes it something to write about? Well, here we go; for a couple of weeks now, Heather our Chief Executive has been saying that we had some visitors from Italy coming, her tutor from her PHD course had asked if she could bring some visitors from Italy, they were only in the country for two days and as the window for them to visit was small, Heather had to alter some plans and it was arranged for Friday the 2nd, we were also facilitating KUF (Knowledge and Understanding Framework) training on that day too, but that was not a problem, as there would only be four or five visitors.
I should have realised on my journey to work that morning that things might be a little hectic! The traffic was awful and on arrival at the Haven, the car park, which although not large and is usually adequate, was already almost full.
At handover Heather asked that whoever answered the door would they please ensure that visitors had not parked in the Road outside, this would upset some of the neighbours (who we like to keep happy). She also spoke about her visitors who would be arriving around mid-morning, a pack of delicious chocolate chip cookies were laid out ready with some shortbread in reserve. A rather selfish thought passed my mind; I really hoped there would be some left over to enjoy with a coffee after our guests had left.
In the second part of November the Gardening Group transforms into a ‘Christmas Group’ we make Christmas cakes, sweets and for the first time this year, mince pies, Friday 2nd Dec was our day for making the mince pies which we would freeze them ready to bake for the Haven Christmas party, we were working away in the kitchen, myself and three enthusiastic and willing apprentices, Heather was taking photos of our endeavours, plus taking on her ‘Cecil B Demille’ film directors role to capture our efforts for her latest production.
Each time she walked into the kitchen she wondered where her visitors had got to, the time was rolling on, should she have her lunch, or should she wait? We received a call to say they were a little delayed, stuck on a bus somewhere, well I was not at all surprised at that because the traffic had been awful in the morning, I, also said ‘well its good they are coming on the bus as there is no room in the car park’ thinking they were on the Number 65 and on their way from the station.
Still time passed and Heather decided she would have her lunch, the ‘KUF’ also had a break for coffee, all activity in the kitchen stopped all our lovely sanitised work tops now covered in cups, the ‘mince pie group’ departed for a well-deserved break themselves.
Around 12ish we were once again practising our pastry skills when we noticed a huge white bus just peeping above the privet hedge, and then in ones and twos, people were walking into the car park, a sight to behold, all of a sudden there was a buzz about the place as the clients and staff, were dashing about (headless chicken metaphor would not be out of place but times by about ten) the word had got out ‘The Italians’ were here, whoever greeted them and I am not sure who it was, relayed to us and the word was spreading like wildfire there were twenty-nine in total.
A miracle would have to be performed with the two packs of chocolate chip cookies, (there goes my earlier fantasy)
You could not have made it up, I have never seen so much action and in seconds, clients were delegated, cups were being prepared, one of my apprentices, who is an especially good speaker, was nabbed in mid ‘Jalousie’ demonstration to co-facilitate this impromptu conference. You could really feel the adrenalin surge and I can only describe the response from our clients as something truly amazing, what a team!
Some Haven clients who find crowds difficult were allowed up to the ‘upstairs lounge’ and area usually reserved for people staying in respite beds. A couple of clients walked in and walked out again but on the whole, the spirit and the vibe was good.
‘Smiley’ our administrator, left her keyboard to make the teas, three pots made and the word was spread, talk first, teas after, the 29 visitors were all in the lounge.
We had in total with the KUF delegates 40 extra people on the premises 28 of whom did not speak English.
Thank goodness our Italian visitors brought packed lunches, because I am not sure what we would have done with two loaves of bread and 1/2lb cheese!!
Then the ‘KUF’ had their lunch break, and the grand tour of the project started, I am not sure if the groups were divided up into 5 or 6 but I met everyone as they visited the kitchen.
As I am typing this three days later I have a huge smile on my face, it was so funny, there had somewhere I am sure been a huge breakdown in communication, some assumption, some withholding of information and most definitely a lesson learned.
It was truly wonderful to see the way the Haven members, both staff and clients came together to produce a miracle and the best, I have saved till last, there was half a pack of shortbread biscuits that had been overlooked my fantasy had been fulfilled.
Heather got some amazing footage for her production, the KUF delegates learnt lots about ‘personality disorder’ and the coach that brought our visitors left and came back, so the neighbours were happy too. Bliss……