ABSTRACT
Social workers were in close liaison with psychiatrists, but seldom became engaged in work to develop neighbourhood support-services for their clients. The consultant psychiatrists also oversaw four psychogeriatric wards located in a neighbouring hospital adjacent to one of the social services’ area offices. Social workers made similar negative comments in respect of their contacts with general medical practitioners in 12 cases. General practitioners (GPs) were sometimes thought to be looking not for co-operation with the social services but for an opportunity of transferring responsibilities. Several studies have suggested that mental health problems are significant in a high proportion of patients consulting their GPs. The emphasis on the social aspects of mental health problems, shared by GPs and psychiatrists, was seen as providing a rationale for joint work with social services departments. The policy for authorisation of hospital social workers under the Mental Health Act was as follows: Hospital social workers will be authorised to do admissions.
