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Domiciliary occupational therapy
One full-time and one part-time occupational therapist, registered
as medical auxiliaries, have been working in the community based
in the mental health section. The work is primarily that of visiting
and treating patients in their own homes, both mentally sick
and mentally subnormal patients having received regular visits.
The occupational therapists offer intensive help, aimed at
rehabilitation, to those referred by psychiatrists, general practitioners
and other social work departments, and often work closely
with caseworkers involved in community care. They are also able
to assess and analyse the facilities that the borough is using in
co-operation with neighbouring boroughs and, where appropriate,
are available for consultation on graded plans for rehabilitation
by co-ordinating these facilities—this being particularly relevant
to those with long-standing work problems. In general, the occupational
therapists see their role in the following broad terms:—
(a) Assessment and help to patients recovering from acute
mental illness in restoration to former work, home and
community function.
(b) Assessment and help towards re-adjustment for those whose
illness requires some modification in work, home or community
contacts in order to avoid further stress and repeated
illness.
(c) Provision of continuous support for those with long-standing
psychiatric illness and subnormality, often to relieve the
considerable burden carried by the relatives or neighbours.
(d) Recent evidence suggests that the additional observation
and assessment made by the occupational therapist may
contribute to accurate diagnosis.
The occupational therapists have also given one session a week
each in the adult training centres assisting with assessments both
for work and daily living problems.
Co-ordination with hospitals
Informal social work attachment to the psychiatric hospitals
and conferences held in the hospitals ensure a continuity and a
good working relationship between hospital and the community
services.
Our social workers attend out-patient clinics at St. James' Hospital
for Tooting Bec Hospital and at the William Harvey Centre
for West Park Hospital, and continue to carry out the social
work for the three day hospitals in the area. The psychiatric
social worker attached to Springfield Day Hospital, now run by
the medical staff of St. George's Hospital, attends the hospital
two days a week, not only seeing the patients at the Day Hospital