The mental health rehabilitation worker: A new member of the psychiatric team.

Changing treatment patterns have brought everincreasing numbers of the chronically mentally ill to a large municipal psychiatric department lacking personnel to meet their needs adequately. A new "inbetween" specialist in mental health rehabilitation has been created to provide certain useful services. Eight trainees are selected annually from among mature mothers seeking meaningful occupations after their children have become independent. Intensive theoretical and clinical training for one year leads to a certificate as a mental health rehabilitation worker. As a team member under professional supervision, this "in-between" specialist works with socially disabled patients individually, in families, and in groups, in order to improve their functioning in daily living, social relationships, and work.