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62
community care, the lower the number of hospital admissions.
With the standard of L.H.A. services rising, the number of
hospital admissions persistently remain on the increase.
Mental Welfare Officer as Specialised Social Worker
The concept of deploying the M.W.O.'s skills in three general
directions—statutory duties, general support and intense case
work—has proved a sound one and the service has been fortunate
in the stability of the staff. There were no resignations in 1967.
The personalities and qualifications of new staff are very good.
We appointed two officers with P.S.W. qualifications, one with
C.S.W. qualifications and a trainee with an excellent school record.
The list of officers (staffs of mental health establishments is
considered separately), is given below by listing posts in the left
hand column and qualifications in the column opposite.
Principal Mental Welfare A.A.P.S.W. 3
Officer 1 Certificate in Social Work 3
Deputy Principal Mental Diploma in Social Studies 1
Welfare Officer 1 Declaration of Recognition
Senior Mental Welfare of Experience in Social
Officers 3 Work 1
Mental Welfare Officers 10 Undergoing full time Training *1
Trainee, Mental Welfare Officers *2
Others 8
17 17
*1 seconded on to C.S.W. Course in September, 1967.
The In-Service training, or rather staff development, continues
on lines described in the report for 1966. The figures below do not
include training of Training Centre staff nor the many case conferences
held throughout the year. The M.W.O.s attended 135
(92 in 1966) seminars and conferences, making an average of 9.7
sessions per officer (8.5 in 1966).
Towards a Comprehensive Mental Health Service
The attachment of two M.W.O.s both academically qualified,
to two Consultant Psychiatrists in the Borough, has worked
smoothly and harmoniously. Similarly, a third M.W.O. "loaned"
to the Child Psychiatrist to work at the L.A. Child Guidance
Clinic, The Willows, Chislehurst, has continued throughout the
year pending the appointment of a full-time P.S.W. The new
officer will work for over half of the time at the Clinic and for
the remainder in a consultative capacity within the rest of the community
Mental Health Service. As previously, all the M.W.O.s
have retained their own case loads and have continued to take
their turn on the duty roster.