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The establishment of field staff in the mental health service at the 31st December,
1970, was as follows : —
1 Principal Social Work Organiser.
1 Senior Mental Welfare Officer.
7 Mental Welfare Officers.
1 Senior Social Worker.
2 Social Workers.
During the year mental welfare officers and social workers made a total of 3525
home visits and approximately 303 office interviews were held during the same period.
The total number of mentally ill persons residing in the community at the 31st
December, 1970 and under care was 490, i.e. 168 males and 322 females.
Residential Accommodation for the Mentally III.
At the end of 1970 there were 23 patients for whom the Borough had accepted
financial responsibility in mental after care homes and hostels run by voluntary societies
and other local authorities.
Day Centre for the Mentally III.
Set out below is a report received from Mrs. E. Cooper, Day Centre Organiser,
who was appointed from 3rd August, 1970 : —
"In August of this year a Day Centre Organiser was appointed, previously
the Day Centre for mentally ill patients as run by Mental Health Social Workers,
and it was with club activities in mind.
The new Centre's aims were the same i.e. giving mentally ill patients a secure
environment in which they could learn to adapt to society with the eventual view
of employment but the form was somewhat different.
A number of creative activities were introduced — Enamelling, Art, Candle
making, Typrinting, Needlecraft, Basket-work, Fibre Glassing and the making of
table lamps. Although the facilities were limited it was felt necessary to adapt
these to a person's needs, particularly for the male patients.
It was inevitable that a large number of patients would be suffering from
schizophrenia, therefore aids in helping them to communicate were developed.
Out of a total of 25 patients, five have started work; two have been maintained
whilst awaiting hospital admission, and one has been maintained until she
went back home to India. One patient showed signs of deterioration, and four
expressed the belief that it would not help them (three were female, one male).
Four patients felt it would be more helpful if the Centre could be open for a full
day.
I feel that some measure of success has been attained in the short time that
the Day Centre has been re-organised."
Day Centre Placements.
Where appropriate, arrangements are also made for patients to attend day centres
run by the London Borough of Hounslow. These patients are mainly referred by the
West Middlesex Hospital Psychiatric Unit which has close links with the day centres.
Community Care of the Subnormal and Severely Subnormal.
The total number of subnormal and severely subnormal persons under community
care at the end of 1970 was 231 compared with 223 in 1969. This does not include
those patients placed in residential accommodation under Guardianship and informal
foster care arrangements.
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