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Mental Health Social Work
The local catchment hospitals which take patients from the Borough have a Mental Welfare Officer
Representative attend hospital staff and patient group meetings. This provides a close liaison between
the Mental Health Section and the hospital service and creates the co-ordinating link necessary to
ensure that the patients receive the optimum support from this Department. We are fortunate that the
hospitals which serve this area allow complete access to in-patients so that these necessary links for
continuity of care in the relationship between the patient and the social worker can be maintained.
Mental welfare officers attend regular case conferences inthe hospitals. These conferences are attended
by the hospital doctors, nurses, social workers, and students from many other disciplines.
Mental Health Year
This was an eventful year being the middle one of the three-year programme organised by the
National Association for Mental Health to publicise the need of the mentally disordered for greater
tolerance, understanding and acceptance, with special reference to the community, to remind everyone
how necessary it is to try and appreciate the difficulties experienced by those who have had a spell in
hospital, or under treatment, and for us all to play our part in smoothing the path of rehabilitation.
Haringey's contribution to Mental Health Week was marked by articles in the Press by Dr. Orton and in
the local papers by their own correspondents. A poster competition was organised and very well
supported, and very many interesting entries were submitted. Prizes were awarded to the winners by
the Mayor, Alderman Gellay. The main feature of the week was a Symposium on Mental Health held in
the Council Chamber atthe Civic Centre. Council lor C.D. Moss the Chairman of the Health and Welfare
Committee gave a preliminary introductory talk to the meeting. Mr. David Hobman, Director of the
Social Work Advisory Service, took the chair. The speakers were Dr. Moran, Consultant Psychiatrist,
Claybury Hospital Dr. Bruce, Consultant Psychiatrist, Friern Hospital: Dr. Shapiro, Physician
Superintendent, Harperbury Hospital: Mr. John Wilder, Director of the Psychiatric Rehabilitation
Association: Mrs. Joan Meigh representing the Samaritans: Mr. Phillips of the National Society for
Mentally Handicapped Children and Miss J. Sherlock of the National Institute of Social Work Training,
each of whom spoke on their own organisation's role in the mental health field. This was followed by
lively, thoughtful questions from the audience and gave rise to some very interesting discussion.
Throughout the entire week an exhibition on mental health was open to the public in the foyer of the
Civic Centre. This showed the various facets of the work being done. The stand supplied by the
Borough Architect on which plans and models of current projects were displayed created an immense
amount of interest. There was a display of handiwork contributed by the mentally ill and the mentally
subnormal. The winning posters were also on display. The week ended with a garden fete in aid of
the Haringey East Society for Mentally Handicapped Children in the grounds of the Civic Centre. This
was attended by the Mayor and Mayoress who awarded prizes donated by the Society for the best
handicraft entries submitted by handicapped children. Many of the Borough Council's members and
staff and general public attended the function. As a result of these activities in connection with
Mental Health Year there have been offers of help from people in connection with existing and future
services, and a number of volunteers are now assisting in mental health community care especially in
the social clubs and allied projects. One grammar school in particular has followed up a number of
ideas for voluntary help in the mental health field.
Re-organisation of Hospital Board Facilities
There has been a re-organisation by the North West Metropolitan Regional Hospital Board of the
facilities to be provided by Friern Hospital, New Southgate, N.11. This hospital covers the Hornsey
and Wood Green part of the Borough. Under the new arrangements, one psychiatric team at the hospital
take over in-patient and out-patient treatment for the Borough residents. This is particularly welcome
as it is hoped that this will secure a consequent improvement in the overall service and continuity of
care in the service we give.
SERVICES FOR THE MENTALLY ILL
Boarding out Scheme
During the year inquiries have been pursued as to the most efficient way of running a boarding out
scheme for patients recently recovered from mental illness or suffering from mental handicap. A
discussion took place with the Borough's Housing Manager to clarify the position of any Council tenants
who wish to participate in this scheme and health visitors and old people's welfare workers were
circulated about this scheme. Advertisements were placed in the five IocaI papers and posters displayed
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