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19
RECUPERATIVE HOLIDAYS
The arrangements for placement of all adults and children under five years of age in
private homes, together with the associated financial arrangements were transferred on 1st
July, 1971. Holidays for school children, the responsibility of the Inner London Education
Authority, were unaffected and remained a school health function for which the Health
Department continues to be responsible.
CHEST CLINIC SERVICES
The Welfare Officer (Chest Clinic) was also transferred on 1st July, 1971, and, with
her, her duties which included the Secretaryship of the Care Committee, the provision of
extra nourishment, bedding and clothing to needy tuberculous patients, and the associated
financial procedures. Other services transferred at the same time were the care of patients in
residential hostels for the tuberculous, rehabilitation of ex-tuberculous patients, and the
boarding-out of child contacts. At the time of transfer there was only one active case, a
resident in Hurlingham Lodge Hostel for Tuberculous Men.
DAY NURSERY SERVICE
The Day Nurseries were transferred to the Social Services Department on 1st
September, 1971. The need for this service arises from a very varied and sometimes complex
number of circumstances. The day to day administration consequently involved many lay
and professional staff. Arrangements were made for continued co-ordination between health
visiting staff and the Social Services Department for the referral of children for attendance,
and as a result health visitors in fact still take initial steps in a large number of cases and
continue to be responsible for reviewing the need for further attendance. The five Council
day nurseries transferred had a total of 312 places at which were employed 58 nursing staff
(in the main nursery nurses) 20 student nursery nurses and 34 other grades such as kitchen
staff and domestics.
Progress was made during the year in the building of an additional 50-place day
nursery in North Kensington and financial provision was made for a special unit (6 places)
to be added to the Violet Melchett Day Nursery in Chelsea.
FAMILY CASEWORK
The staff engaged on intensive casework including the Principal Social Worker
(Health Services) and the Assistant Principal Social Worker (Health Services) were
transferred to the Social Services Department on 1st April, 1971. Their case load became
the responsibility of social workers in the Social Services Department, who also undertook
the liaison arrangements with the West London Family Service Unit and the Family Welfare
Association.
THE BOROUGH CO-ORDINATING COMMITTEE
The Borough Co-ordinating Committee of which the meetings were intermitted
during the setting up of the Health and Social Services Department resumed during the year
and met on two occasions. It was decided that the Committee had a valuable place in
continuing liaison arrangements between authorities and Departments of the Council and
provided a forum for the discussion of Health and Social Service matters of general concern.
It was agreed that the Chair should be taken in turn for six month periods by the Director
of Health and Director of Social Services respectively and arrangements for the holding of
intermediate case conferences were approved.