Volume 1

Report of the Committee of Enquiry into Mental Handicap Nursing and Care.

  • Great Britain. Committee of Enquiry into Mental Handicap Nursing and Care
Date:
1979
Catalogue details

Licence: Open Government Licence

Credit: Report of the Committee of Enquiry into Mental Handicap Nursing and Care. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    3. To resolve our difficulties we formulated a number of ground rules. We agreed that the ‘developing policies” referred to were those outlined in the White Paper ‘‘Better Services for the Mentally Handicapped”’”. We accepted that for the foreseeable future the majority of residential services for mentally handicapped people would continue to develop bilaterally under the manage- ment of health and social services authorities. We considered that it was not within our remit to examine whether either health authorities or social services authorities should assume responsibility for all mental handicap residential services, or whether a separate new agency should be established. We did, however, feel strongly that it was a central part of our remit to look at the essential nature of the task of caring for mentally handicapped people, without being constrained by how that task is currently allocated between particular professions or agencies. We also accepted that this ‘model building” approach might well challenge basic assumptions in or behind current policy and might, if accepted, require subsequent revision of these policies. We also considered that whilst our main focus would be residental care this could not be under- stood, particularly in relation to children, except in relationship to care within the family. Finally, we think it will be clear from our report that we were convinced that organisational and manpower issues had to be tackled alongside training if our recommendations were to have any validity, credibility and, ultimately significant impact on the quality of care of mentally handicapped people. Meetings 4. We met in full session on 31 occasions, including 3 weekend residential meetings, but excluding a number of days devoted to oral evidence. Much of our detailed work was undertaken in Sub Committees, twelve of which were appointed during the life of our Committee. Visits 5. We felt that we could not carry out our work effectively in isolation, without seeing for ourselves some of the situations in which care is given. Representative groups of members therefore made numerous visits to hospi- tals, homes and day centres throughout England, Scotland and Wales. Al- though our membership contained a fair range of expertise in most of the areas of interest to us these visits provided an opportunity for members to take a closer look at both new and familiar situations. But most important of all they gave staff the opportunity of talking to us and putting to us their ideas for the future organisation and training of their professions. They took full ad- vantage of this opportunity and we are grateful for the trouble and time they took to present their views. A list of the places we visited is at Appendix C. Evidence 6.. A vital part of any Committee’s information-gathering process is the taking of evidence, both written and oral. Towards the end of 1975 we an- nounced that we were ready to receive written evidence, and several thousand copies of a questionnaire were distributed. A copy of this questionnaire is at Appendix A. The questionnaire sought views on the tasks and roles of nurses and local authority residential care staff, and on manpower development. We were particularly anxious that every member of staff concerned with the care of mentally handicapped people should be aware of our existence and purpose
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