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117
Family Caseworkers and Family Aid
During 1967 one of the family caseworkers returned from the
Mental Health Course having qualified as a Psychiatric Social
Worker. Towards the end of the year she made a survey of the
families in the Homeless Family Unit with the result that the
above-mentioned Committee on homeless families was set up and
certain changes in policy effected. These changes led to a decision
to allocate more trained staff to help these families so that more
intensive work could be carried out. This new arrangement was
facilitated by the re-organisation of the whole Department in
September, 1967. What is now apparent is that many of the
homeless are families needing a great deal of social work help for
long periods, even after rehousing. In order to work effectively
the caseworker must restrict her casework and it is, therefore,
essential for staffing needs to be kept under review.
The use of a Family Aid continues to be a worthwhile experiment
and it is hoped that when the economic situation eases, more
Family Aids can be employed.
Welfare Foods
Resulting from the closure in 1954 of the local offices of the
Ministry of Food, distribution of National Welfare Foods was
undertaken by the London County Council. This responsibility has
now passed to the new London Borough of Greenwich and under
the Ministry of Health Scheme the following foods and nutrients
are sold at regulated prices from all the Council's Welfare Centres :
National Dried Milk
Cod Liver Oil
Vitamin "A" and "D" Tablets
Concentrated Orange Juice
In addition to these, a number of proprietary foods are sold at
special prices and manufacturers co-operate in providing "welfare"
packs. This service has continued to expand and, as new products
become available and are felt to be valuable dietary additions for
young children, they have been included for sale. A list of products
at present available is set out hereunder.
Allergilac Cow & Gate—Cereal Food
Baby Rice Decrose
Bemax Farex
Carella Farex Fingers
Carnation Milk Farlene
Cod Liver Oil & Malt Farleys Milk
Complan Farleys Rice
Cow & Gate—Full Cream Farleys Rusks
Cow & Gate—Half Cream Groats (Triple Pack)