Honest Broker?
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/13619322199600012 |
| Published date | 01 June 1996 |
| Date | 01 June 1996 |
| Pages | 5-7 |
| Author | Mike Lindsay |
| Subject Matter | Health & social care |
The Mental Health Review 1:2 ©Pavilion Publishing (Brighton) 1996 5
Mike Lindsay,
Deputy Director of Social Services,
SHROPSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL
‘Our function is best described as honest
broker. Some say “none more honest”,
some say “none broker!”’
(Peter Cook as Harold Macmillan on Britain’s role, 1963).
When I joined local government in 1963, it
was a simpler and smaller world. Its Poor
Law origins were still very apparent with
many of my colleagues, ex-relieving officers. Some
facilities appeared quite unaffected by the post-war
legislative reforms that created the modern Welfare
State. One of my early responsibilities was the casual
wardof the old Poor Law institution — popularly
known as the ‘Spike’. Although by then it was
‘Temporary Accommodation provided under
for Homeless Single Persons’, the underlying ethos
was to discourage access.
In addition to the obvious stigma and unimproved
facilities, therewas a requirement to do some work
before being sent away at 8am. One such task was
the shovelling of the coke pile from one side of the
yard to the other. Pursuing an expression of concern
about one older man resulted in an early morning
Mental Health Act assessment, a joint visit with the
medical officer for health, being conducted under a
sustained barrage of coke. The simpler structures of
those days meant that alongside my statutoryduties,
Iwas also responsible for the running of the accom-
modation — including ordering the coke! As the
boiler had long been converted to gas, the coke
served only as a primitive form of ‘workfare’. All
the shovelling and wheel-barrowing gradually turned
it to dust, necessitating a replacement supply. By can-
celling the order,Iseemed to establish a reputation
not only for liberal attitudes but also for a keen line
in cost-cutting.
Many of the men in that setting would now
attract the label of ‘mentally-disordered offender’.
Asmall piece of research I undertook in the late
sixties found that one-third had been in a psychiatric
hospital, one-third in prison and one-third had alcohol
related problems — a significant minority scored on
all three. Our local response was an early example of
multi-agency planning and action. A senior probation
officer and a GP joined with me to develop a more
creative response to the complex needs of these
men. Commissioned by Wolverhampton Borough
Council, a new youth organisation, ‘The Young
Volunteers’, undertook a further survey of the
men’s needs — particular attention was paid to
what facilities they wanted and, most importantly,
what they would use. The outcome was an over-
night shelter based in a disused cinema. It was
equipped with beds, furniture and fittings recycled
from the town’s Poor Law institution which, by now,
we had finally managed to close.
The services were heavily used and overwhelmed
during harsh weather, so we were able to demonstrate
‘proven need’ to the newly-created social services
committee. The medical officer of health sought to
improve health and hygiene whilst actively providing
medical supportalong with the original GP
.The
experienced staff recruited to run the centre were a
religious order (the Brothers of the Good Shepherd);
this helped produce regular support by local churches.
‘Inner city’ money and additional national funds
enabled the construction of a new-build facility
with single rooms, day centre and dining facilities.
Medical and interviewing rooms wereprovided to
enable CPNs, social workers, social security staff
and probation officers to engage with the men and
encourage them to a moresettled way of life.
Illnesses, including mental illness, were diagnosed
Honest Broker?
PERSONAL PERSPECTIVE
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