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(iv) A qualified Supervisor, one qualified Assistant Supervisor and an unqualified
Assistant Supervisor of the Occupation Centre.
General clerical assistance for the service is provided as and when required from
the Health Department staff.
Co-ordination and Joint Use of Officers.
There has been the closest co-operation since the appointed day between, on the
one hand the Local Health Authority and their officers and on the other the Regional
Hospital Board and the Hospital Management Committee and their officers. This cooperation
was built on a friendly basis which has been maintained on all sides. The
Physician Superintendent of Goodmayes Hospital and his staff are available for consultation
if required, under the Lunacy and Mental Treatment Acts as also is the Physician
Superintendent of South Ockendon Institution under the Mental Deficiency Acts. Specialist
advice, if needed, is given unstintingly by these officers, and points of view are freely
exchanged when the necessity arises. The close link between the staffs of these two
hospitals and the Health Department is of great value to all concerned.
The Council's Duly Authorised Officers supervise mental defectives in the area
who are on licence from institutions, and also report on the home circumstances of
defectives in institutions, who are due to be seen by Visitors or when the question of
licence, holiday leave, discharge, etc., is under consideration.
The Psychiatric Social Workers employed by the Council and at Goodmayes Hospital
work in the closest co-operation. Case discussion and the attendance of the Council's
Psychiatric Social Worker at the Psychiatric Clinic which is run by the hospital has
proved to be of the greatest value in after-care work.
Voluntary Associations.
No duties are delegated to Voluntary Associations.
Training of Staff.
Arrangements were made, and have been continued, for the Duly Authorised Officers
to attend Goodmayes Mental Hospital and other institutions for talks and discussions on
their work. These visits have proved very helpful and are much appreciated. The officers
also from time to time meet their colleagues in neighbouring areas on matters of interest
in connection with mental health. One officer attended the course for Mental Health
Officers which was organised by the National Association for Mental Health in 1949.
Work undertaken in the Community.
Care and After-Care.
For the first few months after the appointed day the after-care of patients discharged
from Goodmayes Mental Hospital was carried out by the Hospital's Social Worker,
as owing to the great shortage of suitably qualified persons the Council's efforts to
obtain the services of a Psychiatric Social Worker were unsuccessful. In May, 1949,
however, an arrangement was entered into with the National Associatlpn for Mental Health
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