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63
This is a welcome development but it must be emphasised that
all the Mental Health Social Workers are involved with those
dependent on drugs in their day to day work, either directly or
indirectly through informal consultations with other agencies.
ATTACHMENTS OF MENTAL WELFARE OFFICER TO
GENERAL PRACTITIONERS
This attachment was commented on very fully in the previous
Report. The year 1968 saw extension of this important link with the
section of medical profession which play such a large part in
maintaining the mentally disordered in the community.
There was a new request for a Mental Welfare Officer attachment
from a large Group Practice in St. Paul's Cray and this was
readily acceded to. The scheme is working to everybody's
satisfaction.
These attachments put further strain on our limited manpower
resources but a more careful deployment of staff, together
with enhanced experience of the workers have greatly facilitated
the smooth working of every attachment.
ORPINGTON TRAINING CENTRE
143 Chislehurst Road, Orpington
Supervisor: Mrs. D. W. Hodgman until August, 1968
Mrs. S. I. Walton from August, 1968
This was the last year of Orpington Centre as a combined
Junior/Adult Training Centre.
As before, but even more so, the Centre ran to full capacity
with 100 trainees attending. Because of continuing pressure on
places, new admissions were taking place until late 1968.
Whilst the children's section continued with the training/
educational programme, the seniors carried out various contract
activities, the work being in plentiful supply. The outside activities
on the social side followed the traditional pattern of visits to the
zoo and pantomime. A Christmas Concert produced good quality
singing and recitations.
The Head Teacher, Mrs. Hodgman, retired in the summer
and some measure of her popularity and recognition of her excellent
work was shown at the presentation party attended not only
by many from the Borough, but also by her former colleagues