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50
MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES
Mental Health Social Workers
Cases are referred to the mental health social workers from a very wide range
of agencies, and increasingly, as the service becomes better known locally, from
members of the general public. Much time and skill is needed is assessing the
needs of cases at the time of referral and in providing an effective casework
service for patients and their families. Mental health social workers are also
authorised by the Council to act as mental welfare officers under the Mental
Health Act, 1959, in cases where compulsory admission to hospital is required.
In order to deal with emergencies outside office hours a twenty-four hour service
is maintained in conjunction with the neighbouring boroughs of Southwark and
Wandsworth, and operated through the Lambeth Emergency Control Service.
In view of the general shortage of trained personnel, five trainee mental health
social workers have been appointed. After a period of practical experience and inservice
training they are to be seconded on full-time training courses leading to
recognised professional social work qualifications. Two of the trainees have already
started on full-time courses and, in addition, two experienced but unqualified
mental health social workers are on similar courses. By this means, the majority
of the social work staff will be fully qualified within the next two to three years.
Day Care and Training Facilities
By the end of the year plans were well advanced for the adaptation of premises
for use as junior training schools for a total of 105 children. The former Macaulay
School, Clapham, will provide for 60 children and will include a special care unit
for 10 children, and a large house in Garrads Road, Streatham, will provide for
45 children.
Both of these premises will eventually be replaced by purpose built schools
and plans are almost complete for the first of these which will be located in the
Blenheim Gardens Redevelopment Area. It will cater for 114 children and will
incorporate a therapeutic pool which will be used by the children for therapeutic
training and recreational activities.
In the meantime we have been grateful for the continued use of facilities at
junior training schools in Wandsworth, Southwark and Lewisham, and at the
Fountain School at Queen Mary’s Hospital, Carshalton. In view of the general
shortage of accommodation, agreement was reached with the Manor Hospital,
Epsom, for up to 20 Lambeth children to attend their hospital school on a daily
basis. In spite of the distance involved the scheme has been working extremely
well. A small number of children who are too handicapped to attend a junior
training school receive regular tuition from a Home Teacher.
Ten children under 5 years of age attend the Special Nursery Unit for subnormal
children at Tulse Hill Day Nursery and a number of others attend ordinary
day nurseries throughout the Borough.