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58
are 15 full time equivalent mental welfare officers in addition to
one shared with Child Guidance Service. There are three officers
at present working with the hospital serving this area and this
ensures a continuity of social work when a patient passes from
community to hospital or vice versa. Furthermore such secondments
facilitate an easy flow of information between the hospital
and local authority staff.
A pilot scheme of attachment of a mental welfare officer to
certain group general practices was initiated in 1967. This proved
very successful in that not only is there a close consultation on the
social needs of the patient but also the doctor, through the social
worker, is kept in constant touch with the progress of the patient so
that in many cases a crisis situation can be avoided. There are now
four such attachments.
As the service has developed the more intensive case work has
shown the necessity for selectivity in matching the available
resources to the need and within the last year two additional posts
of senior mental welfare officers have been established, one to deal
with residential care and the social work flowing from it and the
second will have special responsibility for the co-ordination of work
carried out outside the area offices, particular attention being paid
to vulnerable and "at risk" groups.
Residential Accommodation
From the earliest days it was quite apparent that there would
be an increasing need for the Council to provide residential accommodation
for those who while not requiring hospital care would,
for a longer or shorter period, need a degree of supervision and care
not available to them in their own homes or private accommodation.
Several people had already been placed by the previous
Authority in residential establishments provided by outside agencies
such as the Mental after Care Association and the Guardianship
Society and the Council still makes considerable use of such facilities.
However, there are obvious advantages in having such establishments
within the borough and under the direct control and
management of the council.
In July, 1965, the attention of the department was drawn to
Rydal Mount, a large house in Beckenham in the ownership of the
Council, which it was expected would be vacated in the near future.
On inspection, it was found that the property would be very suitable
with some adaptations for use as a small hostel for short stay
ex-mentally ill patients. The proposal was accepted by the Council
and the hostel opened in March, 1968. It provides accommodation
for 15 men and women who are either in full-time employment
or capable of such employment, but who need a "Bridging period"