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14
MENTAL HEALTH
The Mental Health Community Services, which cover the needs of the mentally disordered, i.e.
severely subnormal, subnormal, psychopathic and mentally ill patients, continued to run smoothly on transferral
from the former Middlesex County Council to the London Borough of Brent. This borough was
fortunate to have been allocated the following Centres and Hostels:—
1. Neasden Junior Training School.
2. The Day Centre for the Mentally 111, Belton Hall, Bertie Road, N.W.10.
3. The Hostel for Mentally Subnormal Working Boys, 191, Willesden Lane, N.W.10.
4. The Post-Hospital Hostel for Women, 73 Wembley Park Drive.
In addition, certain uncompleted schemes were taken over, such as the proposed Hostel for 27
mentally ill men and women at 9, Willesden Lane, which is a conversion of the old Kilburn Clinic and scheduled
to open in 1966. It is envisaged that patients will be referred mainly from psychiatric hospitals, but placement
directly from the community will also be considered.
Another incompleted scheme allocated to this borough was the adaptation of the Abadjian factory
in Chapter Road, N.W.10, as an industrial rehabilitation unit. It would appear at this stage that such a
scheme is going to be undesirable for a borough of this size and that it will have to be abandoned. Provision
for patients could then be made with the Industrial Therapy Organisation (Thames) Ltd., at Hanwell.
In July 1965, the Mental Health Social Workers moved from their separate premises in Balnacraig
Avenue, Neasden, to Brent House. This made for much closer liaison with other Departments and, indeed,
with the medical and administrative staff of the Health and Welfare Department.
COMMUNITY CARE —MENTAL ILLNESS
The care of mentally ill patients centres on the field work of social workers for which the following
establishments exist: —
Chief Mental Welfare Officer 1
Senior Mental Welfare Officer 1
Mental Welfare Officers 5
Mental Health Social Worker 1
In order to cover the present need it has been proposed to enlarge the establishment by 3 mental
welfare officers and 2 psychiatric social workers.
The activities of the mental welfare officers continued on the by now well established pattern, fulfilling
the dual role of statutory officer and as a social and case worker dealing with the preventive and after-care
problems, as laid down by the Mental Health Act, 1959. As their services extend to 24 hours daily the year
round, they are in the unique position to respond immediately to crisis situations, where they can assist the
patient, the family, and the general practitioner. After the discharge from hospital, they again pick up contact
with the patient (which in many cases has indeed continued throughout the stay there), and assist in the
rehabilitation period. This involves application of detailed knowledge of social work factors and the closest
liaison with many social agencies.
A very close link with both medical and social workers in the psychiatric units and hospitals has
been forged throughout this year. Mental welfare officers regularly attend meetings and discussions at Shenley
Hospital and the psychiatric units of Wembley and Central Middlesex Hospitals, as well as the Child Guidance
Clinics within the area. London Borough of Brent patients can only be accepted at these hospitals, as catchment
area delineations have become very rigid. It was not easy for mental welfare officers who came to this
borough from other areas and who were used to dealing with the staff of various other psychiatric hospitals,
to adjust speedily to new customs and methods and, indeed, criteria for admission. However, the challenge
was met very well and after the initial settling-in period, new contacts had been made and the work proceeded
smoothly. The Senior Medical Officer (Mental Health) holds staff meetings, where the various day-to-day
problems are discussed and plans for future services are made. These meetings have become an established
feature. To begin with they were structured very formally, but gradually have become quite informal, so
that often they tend to take the shape of case conferences. Staff of other Departments have been invited to
attend on occasion. This included child care officers whose cases not infrequently concern both Departments.
Statistics relating to cases dealt with during the year under the Mental Health Act, 1959 will be
found in Tables 19, 20 and 21.
The Therapeutic Social Club (Gateway Club) continued with increased membership in spite of the
change of the Chief Mental Welfare Officer, who is in charge of this.
This Club serves a social therapeutic purpose. Its function is to provide stimuli and encouragement
to those who feel isolated, apprehensive and lonely by reason of their mental illness. The Club strives to
provide an atmosphere free from restraint and direction; members please themselves and choose whatever
kind of recreative facility they want to, and everyone tries to encourage the other to mix, talk and play, anything
in fact to lessen the inhibition that so often cripples the normal incentive and invalids the mentally ill.
Encouragement is given to relatives and friends to attend. Without doubt, the Club provides a very
necessary and useful purpose.
Patients were placed at various local authority and mental after-care hostels, financial responsibility
being borne by this London borough. Continued use was made of private accommodation by the BoardingOut
Officer, whose services were shared with the London Borough of Harrow. Unfortunately, this officer
resigned on 31st December 1965, and a further appointment has not been envisaged. It is proposed to continue
to render this service as part of the duties of mental welfare officers.