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The qualifications of social workers in the Mental Health team
at the end of 1967 were as follows:—
Professionally Qualified Social Workers :
Psychiatric Social Workers 8
Master's Degree in Social Work (equivalent to Mental
Health Certificate) 1
Certificate in Social Work 3
Social Science Degree or Diploma 4
Unqualified 1
Greater difficulty was experienced this year in recruiting trained
staff for the Training School and Centres. The qualifications of
training centre staff in our service at the end of the year were as
follows:—
Diploma for Teachers of the Mentally handicapped 7
Letter of Recognition (General Nursing Council) and
Certificate of Royal Medico-Psychological Association 1
Registered Nurse, Mental Subnormality and Certificate of
Royal Medico-Psychological Association 1
Untrained 6
Trainees (untrained) 2
Student Training
Heavy demands continued to be made on the Mental Health
team for the training of social work students and nurses. In 1967
two students from the Mental Health Course in Manchester spent
a period of two months in the Department. Seven students taking
the Younghusband Course at the North Western Polytechnic were
placed in the Borough for five and a half months each. A student
from the Child Care Course, Croydon Polytechnic, is spending a
period of five months in the Department. Six students taking the
Younghusband Course were attached to the Department for a
period of five weeks for visits of observation. In addition three
students on Social Science courses at the London School of Economics
and London University spent a period of a few weeks in the
Department and a student from London University spent one
month at Chellow Dene Hostel. A student from abroad spent a
month in the Department prior to starting the Mental Health Course
at the London School of Economics.
Fourteen nurses from Springfield Hospital Nurses' Training
School spent one week in the Mental Health office and arrangements
were made for nurses from West Park Hospital to spend an
afternoon visiting with the mental health social workers.
The training of students is extremely valuable. Contact with
the various Universities and Colleges helps to maintain and develop
the high standards of casework offered by the social workers and
enhances the reputation of the department. This in turn contributes
to the recruitment of keen and qualified staff.