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MENTAL HEALTH
Miss Z. Mason, B.A., A.I.M.S.W., Principal Mental Health Officer
Introduction
On 31st December, 1970, the current case load was 1,351, an increase of 48 on the
previous year's figure. The number of new referrals of mentally handicapped persons
was 133, and of mentally ill persons 276.
Social Work
During the year one additional post of senior mental health officer and two basic
grade social work posts were added to the establishment, making a total of four
senior officers and 15 social workers. Towards the end of the year it became possible
to relieve overcrowding at the central office by opening a sub-office at 28 Sangley
Road to accommodate the two social work teams covering the southern part of
the Borough.
There was no change in the organisation of social work. Four teams of social
workers, under the supervision of a senior officer continue to operate; one senior
officer, in addition to his team responsibilities, specialises in social work with
alcoholism and drug addiction; one social worker specialises in work with the
mentally handicapped, liaising with the training centres and in keeping in touch
with both children and adults placed in long-term care. Another senior officer leads
a therapeutic group meeting one evening a week. A new development towards
the end of the year was to provide a social worker for one session a week at the
psychiatric clinic held at St. John's Hospital, S.E.13. This has proved successful
and the work here shows every sign of developing to make an important contribution
to community care in the Borough. The emergency rota shared with the
Borough of Greenwich after 10 p.m. on weekdays, at weekends and on statutory
holidays has continued. Owing to an unusually high proportion of new entrants to
the service this year, there has been a very heavy burden placed on the older
experienced workers, especially as far as manning the emergency rota is concerned.
The number of emergency calls concerning Lewisham residents, outside normal
office hours, has, however, decreased this year to a total of 156.
Services for the Mentally Handicapped
Special Advisory Clinics.—A specialist in subnormality, who is a member of the
Medical Adviser's Department, Inner London Education Authority, continues to
hold special clinics for backward children under the age of five years, at Amersham
Road and Central Lewisham health centres. During the year 42 sessions were held
and 166 appointments offered. This service plays a vital part in the care of the
mentally handicapped child. It is often the parent's first introduction to the mental
health service and opens the door to the other services which can be offered to help
both the child and the family.
Early Care Unit.—The fifteen-place Early Care Unit at Shaftesbury House Day
Nursery continued to be fully occupied and little reduction in the waiting list was
achieved.
Junior Training Centre.—All children in the Borough requiring special care were
catered for, but in order to achieve this the two special care units, with a total of
30 places, were at times overloaded. On 31st December there were 31 children on
the register. A few of these were under five years of age.
The physiotherapist sessions were increased from two to four in order to meet
the needs of the special care children.
The number of children on the register at the Junior Training Centre on 31st
December was 110, all of them Lewisham residents. A high standard of training was
maintained in spite of a year of staffing difficulties.
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