Original Article Reality of working in a community-based, recovery-oriented mental health rehabilitation unit: A pragmatic grounded theory analysis Stephen Parker, 1 Frances Dark, 1 Ellie Newman, 1 Nicole Korman, 1 Zoe Rasmussen 1 and Carla Meurk 2 1 Rehabilitation Academic Clinical Unit, Metro South Addiction and Mental Health Service; and 2 School of Public Health, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia ABSTRACT: In the present study, we explored the experiences of staff working at a recovery-oriented, community-based residential mental health rehabilitation unit in Brisbane, Australia, called a ‘community care unit’ (CCU). A pragmatic approach to grounded theory was taken in the analysis of the transcripts of semistructured interviews with eight staff. Convenience sampling was used, and there was representation of junior and senior staff across nursing, allied health, and non-clinical support roles. Four key themes emerged from the analysis: (i) rehabilitation is different to treatment; (ii) the CCU is a positive transitional space; (iii) they (consumers) have to be ready to engage; and (iv) recovery is central to rehabilitation practice. Staff understandings of recovery in rehabilitation work were complex and included consideration of both personal and clinical recovery concepts. Rehabilitation readiness was considered important to the ability to deliver recovery-oriented care; however, the shared role of staff in maintaining engagement was acknowledged. Threats to recovery-oriented rehabilitation practice included staff burnout and external pressure to accept consumers who are not ready. The reality of working at a community-based recovery-oriented rehabilitation unit is complex. Active vigilance is needed to maintain a focus on recovery and rehabilitation. Leadership needs to focus on reducing burnout and in adapting these services to emergent needs. KEY WORDS: Mental health rehabilitation, staff perspective, staff attitude, recovery-oriented rehabilitation, treatment. INTRODUCTION Recovery-oriented residential mental health rehabilitation services target people with severe and persisting mental illness (Killaspy et al., 2011). The interventions provided are complex, involving multiple treatment components and providers, competing demands, multiple target out- comes, and individualized care planning (Craig et al., 2013). There is an evidence base for some rehabilitation interventions that might be available at these services, as well as for a comprehensive ‘package’ of care (Hogarty et al., 1997; Roe et al., 2007). Understanding staff perspectives is important, because recovery-oriented practice requires a paradigm shift in attitudes to care, rather than incremental shifts in the content and structure of programmes (Le Boutillier et al., 2015). Insights of staff working in these services is valuable to understanding and improving their operation. In the present study, we explored the experiences of staff working at one recovery- Correspondence to: Stephen Parker, School of Public Health, The University of Queensland, 128 Main Street, Redland Bay, Brisbane, QLD 4165, Australia. Email: stephen.parker@health.qld.gov.au Stephen Parker, FRANZCP, MBBS, BSc (Hon) BBus (Man). Frances Dark, FRANZCP, MBBS. Ellie Newman, BPsySc (Psychology), BPsych. Hons (Psychology). Nicole Korman, FRANZCP, MBBS. Zoe Rasmussen, MMH, MSW. Carla Meurk, BSc (Philosophy), Grad Dip Sc. (Mathematics), M.Sc. (Hons, Mathematics and Statistics) and PhD (Anthropology). Accepted May 16 2016. © 2016 Australian College of Mental Health Nurses Inc. doi: 10.1111/inm.12251 International Journal of Mental Health Nursing (2016) ••, ••–••