The Use of Goal-Planning in a Group Home for Mentally Handicapped Adults

A 1-year training programme carried out in a group home for mentally handicapped adults is described. A system of goal-planning was used, so that individual goals could be regularly set for clients and their progress monitored. Choice of goals was governed by an attempt to encourage clients to become more independent and more involved with the local community. The success of the training programme is described and the usefulness of the goal-planning procedure is discussed. Implications for residential care services are also briefly considered.