View report page

116
Several cases were visited during the year but it was only necessary
to take action in four (3) cases,, Two women suffering from a grave
chronic disease and aged 81 and 88 years respectively, were removed to
hospital. One woman aged 91 years and a man aged 97 years being in
need of care and attention were removed to King's Mead„ All four
persons eventually died.
Training of Social Work Staff
The trainee social welfare officers who commenced training in
the Autumn of 1966, continued with their programme of visits of
observation to other departments and agencies, and during the year
were given selected caseloads of their own under close supervision.
In September two social welfare officers were seconded to full-time
two-year courses, which lead to the nationally recognised Certificate
in Social Work.
Many of the social welfare officers attended courses and seminars
arranged by the London Boroughs' Training Committee and other bodies.
Monthly discussion groups were held within the department on different
aspects of social work. Arrangements were made for a team of workers
from a Geriatric Unit of a London hospital to visit the department
and discuss their work with an audience which included members of
other sections of the department in addition to the Welfare Section.
Participation in Social Surveys
The social welfare officers took part in surveys arranged within
the department to establish whether there was an unmet need both for
accommodation specially, adapted for disabled-persons, and for warden
supervised accommodation for elderly persons in which independent
living could be maintained. The conclusions drawn from the results
will be very valuable in forward planning.
The staff also co-operated with the Department of Nutrition of
the Queen Elizabeth College of the University of London in a survey
of the milk consumption of elderly people in the borough. The results
of this survey will be available to the Ministry of Health's panel on
Nutrition of the Elderly.
Students from other Organisations
Six social work students from universities were received into
the department for periods of time varying from six days to two
months. Visits of observation to homes for the elderly and day
centres were arranged, and advanced students were given experience
of practical work closely supervised by senior social welfare officers.
It is now customary to include in syllabus of training of related
professions, aspects of the social services. The department has
co-operated in giving trainee nurses and students from other disciplines
some insight into the Council's welfare services.