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Hospital Management Committee for the services of a social worker to be allocated to
Springfield Hospital for three sessions per week subject to the Council being re-imbursed
the cost involved. This social worker has been appointed and commences duties in
January, 1968. The joint use of social workers in hospitals and the community is
another important factor in this co-operation.
The fieldwork for the after-care of the mentally ill is carried out by the following
officers who were on the staff of the department at the end of the year:-
1 Chief Mental Welfare Officer.
1 Senior Mental Welfare Officer.
4 Mental Welfare Officers.
1 Mental Health Social Worker.
One mental welfare officer continues to attend a full time two year course of study
for the Certificate in Social Work.
Dr. Alfred Torrie continued to hold his valuable "in-service training" sessions
for mental welfare officers. Towards the end of the year, however, Dr. Torrie joined
the professional team at the Geriatric Clinic held weekly at Kings Road, Richmond.
From the 1st January, 1967 until 31st December, 1967, mental welfare officers and
social workers made a total of 1930 (2679) home visits and approximately 274 (72)
office interviews were held during the same period.
The total number of mentally ill persons residing in the community and under care
at the 31st December, 1967, was 315 (294) i.e., 148 (138) males, 167 (156) females.
The figures in brackets show comparable figures for 1966.
Residential Accommodation for the Mentally 111.
At the end of 1967, there were 22 patients for whom the Borough had accepted
financial responsibility in mental after-care homes and hostels run by voluntary societies
and other local authorities. The Mental After-Care Association is particularly helpful
in this respect.