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Training of Staff
The Mental Health Section continues to accept students from
neighbouring colleges to work under the supervision of qualified staff
as part of their training for the Certificate in Social Work Training.
The happy arrangement with Bedford College to take a student for the
month of July has been repeated and a further request for a two-month
placement from Bromley College of Technology for 1969 has been
received.
In-Service Training this year was held for eight consecutive
Thursday afternoons on the theme of ' Communication and Support
We were pleased to have eminent speakers and the support of our
neighbouring Boroughs of Sutton, Wandsworth and Lambeth. Hospital
Social Workers from St. Helier Hospital and St. George's Hospital,
and General Practitioners in the Borough also attended. Once
again we are indebted to the London Boroughs' Training Committee
for their support and encouragement and it was with regret that Mrs.
Strauss, the Deputy Director of Training, could not join the Course
because of ill health, but her place was ably taken by Miss Grace
Jackson. Mrs. Sargeant, Assistant Principal Mental Welfare Officer
London Borough of Wandsworth, and Mrs. P. Angel, Senior Mental
Welfare Officer for the London Borough of Lambeth, acted as Group
Leaders.
THE WORK OF THE MENTAL WELFARE OFFICERS
The work of the Mental Health Service has continued to expand
in all aspects. Unfortunately, the staffing of the Section has not expanded
to the level which was envisaged in the Ten-Year Plan for the
Development of the Health Services, and limited staff inevitably limit
expansion of the needed services.
With the steady expansion of the Services it has become apparent
that there is a real need in this Section for a competent and experienced
Administrative Officer to relieve Senior Social Work Staff
of administrative duties to release them for their normal social work
functions.
Co-ordination of the Hospital Services
With the decline of trained social workers in the hospitals the
demands on the Borough to co-ordinate more closely with the catchment
hospitals become more important. At the present time there are
few days in the week when some member of the staff is not, in fact,
at a hospital attending a conference, or at an out-patient clinic
assisting the Consultant from the hospital.
There are regular conferences at Horton Hospital, when one officer
attends two conferences each Monday. There is also a monthly
psycho-geriatric conference at this hospital.
At West Park Hospital there is a weekly conference and at Netherne
Hospital there are conferences once or twice most weeks.
The work with the out-patient clinics continues and a Mental
Welfare Officer from the Borough attends the out-patient clinic at the
Nelson Hospital, which is run by a Consultant from Horton Hospital.
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