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THE WORK OF THE MENTAL WELFARE OFFICERS
The statistics on page 54 show a high proportion of informal
admissions arranged by the Mental Welfare Officers although it should
be remembered that some informal admissions are arranged by General
Practitioners or by Psychiatric Out-patient Clinics. This shows
that a larger number of persons referred to the Mental Health Service
have been helped by arrangements being made for their treatment in
hospital.
During the year the Mental Health staff have been encouraged
more and more to be associated closely with clinical work and, at the
present time, staff attend an out-patient clinic at the Wilson Hospital
in conjunction with West Park Hospital, and an out-patient clinic at
Nelson Hospital in conjunction with Horton Hospital. Case conferences
held at West Park and Horton Hospitals are also attended
regularly by Mental Health staff.
There are two hostels in the Borough run by the Cheshire
Foundation which provide after care facilities for persons who have
suffered from mental disorder. A part-time Mental Health Social
Worker maintains a close liaison with these two Hostels and reports
back to the sponsoring Authority on the progress of the patients nominated
by them. This is a very time-consuming task since the residents
at the Hostels normally work during the day and must therefore be
seen in the evenings.
The Developmental Clinic, which was set up early in the year,
is closely linked to the Mental Health Service and the family histories
are compiled by the Mental Health staff. This is a particularly lengthy
and highly skilled appraisal of the social situation of a family with a
child believed to be showing abnormal developmental traits.
An important piece of pioneer work in the Borough was started in
November, 1967, when a Mental Welfare Officer commenced a weekly
session undertaking interviews on the premises of a group practice of
doctors. The cases are selected by the doctors as those likely to need
the help of the Mental Welfare Officer. There is good co-operation
with the doctors. It is hoped that this work will have an important
preventive aspect in that patients with emotional disturbance will be
seen in the early stages.
An In-Service Training Seminar led by Dr. Brooks, Consultant
Psychiatrist of the Cassell Hospital, is attended by the Mental Welfare
Officer, and this is proving to be extremely helpful and informative.
Co-operation with Voluntary Associations
The Mental Health staff are associated with the Rendezvous
Club which is an after care club run by a special Committee of the
Wimbledon Guild of Social Welfare. They also attend a club for
mentally handicapped persons run by the Merton Association for
Mentally Handicapped Children, and it is hoped that in 1968 the
Borough will be able to provide a further club for mentally handicapped
persons.
The Mental Health staff are in close contact with the Merton
Association of Health and Welfare and assist them, so far as they are
able, in planning their Mental Health programmes, particularly those
associated with Mental Health Week
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