Clubhouse Principle — MRCPsych Paper B MCQ
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Correct answer: A — Members and staff work together in running the service through a structured work-ordered day
The Clubhouse model is a non-clinical, recovery-oriented form of psychosocial rehabilitation in which members and staff work collaboratively to operate the Clubhouse. Its central programme is the work-ordered day: members voluntarily contribute to meaningful tasks required for the organisation's functioning, fostering belonging, agency and vocational skills. Transitional employment may also be offered, but it is not the sole defining principle. Professional control and a symptom-led medical programme contradict the model's participatory ethos. A token economy uses contingent reinforcement and belongs to behavioural treatment approaches. A sheltered workshop provides segregated work and differs from the Clubhouse emphasis on member participation, community integration and progression towards mainstream opportunities.
Reference: Tanaka K, Davidson L. Meanings associated with the core component of clubhouse life: the work-ordered day. Psychiatric Quarterly. 2015;86(2):269–283. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25417121/