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Nineteen trainees in the charge of members of the supervisory staff took part in
the annual two week seaside holiday at St. Mary's Bay, Kent.
One assistant supervisor, who had been seconded to the course for the National
Association for Mental Health examination, returned to duty in July after having
been awarded her diploma. Refresher courses were attended by three members of the
staff and a number are taking a course of evening lectures at Goldsmith's college.
The supervisor of the Lewisham centre completed an evening course on Montessori
methods.
The placing of subnormal children and adults for periods of short-term care under
the provisions of Circular 5/52 continued throughout the year and, despite some
difficulty in finding appropriate placings, 21 adults and 39 children were dealt with.
Of these 21 were found accommodation in hospital and 39 in approved homes.
Of the applications for long term residential care 19 admissions were arranged.
At the end of the year, 22 individuals were being maintained by the Council in
approved homes and 9 children and 7 adults were awaiting hospital admission.
One severely subnormal woman was transferred to the guardianship of the Council
on 1st April, 1965, in accordance with Statutory Instrument 1474. A responsible
medical officer has been appointed and designated members of the Health Committee
have been authorised to deal with the renewal of guardianship orders.
Before the appointed day the London County Council considered the problem
raised by the admission of women and girls with a history of mental disorder to a
mother and baby home in the Borough. Approval for case conferences at the home
was commended to Lewisham Council.
Accordingly a psychiatric social worker in the mental health team now pays
weekly visits to the home for consultation with the medical and nursing staff and
undertakes all necessary social work arising.
Emergency Service
The Council and the London Borough of Greenwich have a joint arrangement
for dealing with emergencies outside normal office hours, duties for the combined
area being shared by officers of the two boroughs in rotation. Officers within easy
reach may be on call at their homes and for others accommodation is provided at
Hither Green Hospital. Since April Lewisham officers on night or weekend duty
have been called to deal with 113 emergency cases.
Liaison with the hospital service and general practitioners is covered by monthly
meetings attended by Consultants from Psychiatric hospital medical staff, mental
health officers and supervisory staff of the Council's hostel and day centres.
Monthly case conferences are held at Bexley Hospital the catchment area of which
serves the greater part of the borough. These regular meetings are proving of considerable
value in fostering liaison.
Honor Lea Hostel
The first purpose-built hostel for the mentally ill was opened by the London County
Council in 1964, in Lewisham. Responsibility for its management passed to the
Borough in April, 1965. The hostel has places for up to 58 persons of both sexes
who have recovered from their illness but require a period of rehabilitation in a
sheltered environment.
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