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Co-ordination with hospitals
Working closely with the psychiatric hospitals which serve the
Borough has always been a priority with this section. Social
workers continue to attend out-patient clinics at St. James' Hospital,
Tooting Bec, and the West Park Hospital clinic at the William
Harvey Centre. We also hope to negotiate a similar attachment
to the outpatients department at the newly-established Clare House
wing of St. George's Hospital, Tooting. Two social workers give
time to the day hospitals at Tooting Bec and Springfield, and take
part in a great range of activities there, including participation in
group work. Apart from their particular work, the department
finds their general liaison with the hospital service extremely
valuable.
Oak House Residential Unit at Tooting Bec Hospital
We have two social workers seconded to Oak House who work
individually with residents who are in the process of moving from
hospital life back into the community, and also run a variety of
groups for residents and staff. The service which Oak House
offers has been an important addition to the services of the area,
providing as it does much greater flexibility in the problem of
adjusting to the outside world. The social workers concerned have
also been able to feed back into the section the problems of
institutional life and this has promoted greater understanding
between the department and the hospital.
Secondment of mental health social worker to Wandsworth
Town Child Guidance Unit
We have continued to second a mental health social worker to
this Child Guidance Unit, whose work is very close meshed with
the activities of our department, and this arrangement has proved
mutually beneficial.
Liaison with general medical practitioners
The number of social workers linked with medical practices has
increased to four this year. The style and range of activities undertaken
in these practices varies with the interests of the individual
involved but it is undoubtedly a most valuable means of fostering
opportunities for preventive work. For the patient this is a less
intimidating means of achieving contact with a social work agency.
Boarding-out of mentally handicapped patients
Only a limited number of clients have been boarded-out under
the scheme initiated last year by the Social Services Committee.
For such a scheme to expand, it is necessary to invest a great deal
of staff time in the recruitment and support of landladies. This
has not been possible at this juncture.