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MENTAL HEALTH TEAM
27.6.1 A mental health team requires a structure ensuring backing for field social
workers by more senior colleagues, so that guidance and support may be given at all
times. Social workers' duties are demanding, and may cause them considerable anxiety
in relation to particular clients and problems. Miss Perrott, the Principal Mental Health
Social Worker and her Deputy have in the past found themselves too heavily engaged to
give sufficient support, as they have become increasingly involved with planning future
developments, in reviewing the service, and in maintaining close contact with other
sections of the Health Department, other Departments and outside organizations. The
establishment of the Health Department was therefore increased during 1967 by 2 positions
of Assistant Principal Mental Health Social Worker to undertake supportive work
for the social work team, and also for staff in centres and the hostel due to be opened.
27.6.2 The mental health team at the end of 1968 comprised a group of 17 social
workers, together with 15 staff at centres and hostels. There is constant support and
communication between all staff, and the most senior mental health social workers
provide supervision and additional support when needed. There is a weekly meeting for
all members of tne team, which is attended by the consultant psychiatrist and a member
of the administrative staff.
27.6.3 One mental health social worker assumed special responsibility for the care of
the elderly mentally sick, developing the already strong links with geriatric visitors and
co-operating with them and with general practitioners in the care of the patients. By
this combined effort, and with the good-will and help of the community as a whole, many
people in this group have been enabled to remain in their own homes.
27.6.4 During the Mental Health Weeks held nationally during 1967 and 1968 the mental
health team was active in a variety of ways. Meetings were arranged at maternal and
child welfare centres, when films were followed by general discussion led by a social
worker. The Fitzroy Industrial Centre had an Open Day for relatives and friends and
others interested in the work. Kingsway College for Further Education invited a social
worker to address a different group of day release students on each day of the 1968
Mental Health Week, and the sixth-formers at Haverstock School were also given a talk
by, and had discussion with, a senior mental health social worker.
HOSPITAL SERVICE
27.7.1 Camden has continued to be served by Harperbury Hospital for its mentally
subnormal patients and Horton and Friern Hospitals for the mentally ill. University
College Hospital, North Wing, provides some beds for the psychiatric patients in the
south of the Borough. The Royal Homoeopathic and Whittington Hospitals have again
been particularly helpful in taking our severely handicapped children for periods of
short-term care. At Friern Hospital, the ward system has been revised so that one team
of psychiatrists now deals with all Camden patients who are admitted.
27.7.2 The Consultant Psychiatrist jointly appointed in 1967 between University
College Hospital, the New Southgate Hospital Management Committee and the Borough
helps maintain general liaison among the various mental health agencies and gives
support and advice to the mental health team. He is present in an advisory capacity at
meetings on new projects, and shares responsibility for approval of admissions to mental
health day centres.
27.7.3 In developing closer ties between the Borough and the hospitals, social workers
from the mental health team attend weekly clinics at New End Hospital and Horton
Hospital, and also join a social worker group at Friern Hospital each week. There is
frequent follow-up of patients in hospitals by the Borough's social workers.
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