View report page

55
MENTAL HEALTH SERVICE
Mr. K. Chambers
Principal Mental Welfare Officer
During the year under review the total number of referrals to
the Mental Health Service was 1,318. This compares with 1,291
referrals for 1969. For the second year in succession the number of
referrals was almost identical and this illustrates the value of the
intensive casework and continued community care provided by the
mental welfare officers.
As stated in my last report there has been a levelling off in
the referral rate and this trend continued during 1970.
Staff
The number of staff remained unchanged throughout 1970 and
consists of Principal Mental Welfare Officer, Deputy Principal Mental
Welfare Officer, 7 Senior Mental Welfare Officers, 3 Mental Welfare
Officers and 2 Trainees. One of the senior officers has been seconded
to the one year Younghusband Course at Enfield Technical College.
As in previous years members of the staff have attended courses
and seminars which have been arranged by the London Boroughs' Training
Committee. A new departure has been the acceptance of students
taking various social work courses at Chiswick Polytechnic for their
practical social work placements. The students are supervised by
senior officers of the department.
Admissions to Hospital
Of the persons referred during the year, 285 were admitted to
psychiatric hospitals under the statutory provisions of the Mental
Health Act, 1959, and a further 110 were admitted informally. These
figures are similar to those recorded for 1969.
Community Care
Mental Welfare Officers initially visited 998 persons during the
year. The number of visits made to individual patients varied
according to their needs.
The average case-load for officers at 31st December, 1970 was 47
and included the mentally ill and mentally handicapped.
Residential Care
Long term residential care was authorised for 32 persons who
were mentally ill or mentally handicapped and in a further 23 cases
short term care was arranged to provide relief for parents and relatives
from the strain of caring for the mentally handicapped.