BRIEF HISTORY
Psychiatry has always been a team effort and the Social Worker is an integral member of the multi-disciplinary team. The Department of Social Work provides services that cater for the psychosocial needs of patients, families and other caregivers in order to enhance their quality of life and help in relieving some of the associated burden in relation to their disease conditions.
Social work services commence in full-fledge in 1979. Prior to this time, skeletal social welfare services were carried out as part of nursing care in the hospital.
Realising the importance of social work in the management of psychiatric illness, the management of the hospital sent late Mrs Yemisi Agunbiade Sanusi, a Registered Psychiatric Nurse to the University of Lagos for a two year diploma course . On completion of the programme, she started social work practice in the hospital and was the pioneer Head of the Department. She left the institution in 1996 to seek for greener pasture abroad.
However, in 1996, Mrs. Elizabeth Mojisola Adenuga who was also a Registered Psychiatric nurse but with social work training at the University of Lagos and the famous University of Ibadan took over the headship of the department and rose to the position of a Director of Social Works until her retirement in the year 2012. Mrs. Olukosi, M.O is the incumbent Head of the Department.
At present, the department is staffed with twenty one Social Workers, a Confidential Secretary and a Catering Assistant who is performing the duties of a Clerical Assistant.
PHILOSOPHY AND OBJECTIVES
The departmental philosophy and objectives are enshrined in the global best standard practice as provided by the International Federation of Social Workers (IFSW).
PHILOSOPHY
The philosophy and objectives are outlined below:
To respect the dignity and worth clients.
To be timely in providing quality services of clients.
To exhibit high level of professionalism in the discharge of services to clients.
To treat our clients with equity irrespective of gender, religion or ethnic affiliations.
To cooperate with other Health Care Personnel in providing qualitative mental health care services.
To provide services guided by ethics and principles of the profession.
To be a reference point nationally in the field of Social Work Practice.
FUNCTIONS
Some of the major functions of the department are highlighted below:
Socio-economic assessment
Contact tracing
Insight oriented counselling
Rehabilitation
Family/marital therapy
Environmental/home assessment
Psychosocial interventions
Psychoeducation
Home visit
Advocacy
Social support network
Repatriation
After care services
Drug counselling
Management of referrals
Brokering services
Liaison services
Money management/financial administrators