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6o
It is intended that staff will be adequately qualified and
experienced. The principal mental welfare officer is recognised as a
supervisor of student training, and all staff will receive adequate
in-service training.
Mental Illness
The mental health social workers under the principal mental
welfare officer undertake psychiatric social work in the community with
the mentally ill and their families including, where necessary,
admission to hospital under the Mental Health Act, 1959.
In the first part of the year primary consideration was given
to cases necessitating hospital admission, because of shortage of staff.
During the year considerable progress was made in the development of a
comprehensive service. Particular effort was directed to establishing
liaison with the hospitals serving the area, and mental health social
workers from this authority now attend regular conferences at Long Grove
and Brookwood Hospitals, and are responsible for the psychiatric social
work at six out-patient clinics at Kingston Hospital. This close
co-operation with the hospital service has led to increased contact with
general practitioners, who may also request mental health social workers
to carry out the functions of a mental welfare officer when compulsory
admissions are contemplated. The social workers are authorised by the
Mental Health Act, 1959 to request a domiciliary visit by a psychiatrist
when acting as mental welfare officers. The dual role of mental health
social workers has resulted in a welcome co-operation between the
hospital, local authority and general practitioner services.
The mental health social workers dealt with 367 patients
discharged from hospital, attending out-patient clinics, or referred by
doctors or other social work agencies. 2,208 domiciliary visits were
made in addition to interviews at hospital out-patient clinics.
Patients and their families may themselves seek help directly from the
social workers.
Admissions to Hospital
On 1st April 1965 the whole borough was in the catchment area
of Brookwood Hospital, Knaphill, Woking. On 1st October, Long Grove
Hospital, Epsom, became the catchment hospital for the areas of the
former boroughs of Kingston and Maiden, and will at a future date become
responsible for admitting from the whole of the new borough. This has
the advantage that it is about four miles distant from Tolworth, whereas
Brookwood is twenty miles away. Between 1st January and 31st December,
mental health social workers were asked to assist in the admission of
116 patients.