View report page

137
given the opportunity but, unfortunately, as with most people,
aversion to change tends to be directly proportional to maturity.
There has always been a substantial element of social science
in all health and welfare services but, nowadays, as a separate subject
for study and discussion it has become extremely fashionable
and it cannot be denied that its practical application is a most
important factor in modern life. It could, however, be to the
nation's detriment if it were to supplant the active pursuance of
health in its degree of priority especially at a time of financial
stress.
Admirable though an increase in qualified social workers of all
types would be, with the prospect of a growing case-load of elderly
and handicapped persons, the immediate necessity seems to be for
more practical workers to make beds, to clean up homes, to shop,
to drive a car and physically help these groups according to their
needs. While sailing in the Bosporus on the way to serve in the
Crimean War and in reply to a nurse's question "When can we get
to those poor fellows?", Florence Nightingale is reputed to have
replied "The strongest will be needed at the wash-tub". Even in
these highly organised and sophisticated times there must be a
moral here for all of us.
General
Lack of trained personnel in the community care field is universal
and the secondment of existing officers to various courses constitutes
a handicap to which the department must submit if any
advancement in the quality of the staff is to be achieved.
Some 6 social workers attended courses of several months'
duration during the year and, for their practical placement, 12
university and college students were supervised by the department's
professional workers.
Two members of the staff returned from university as qualified
psychiatric social workers.
In co-operation with the Housing Department, the special attention
given during the year by case workers to the homeless in the
Council's Homeless Family Unit resulted in a higher proportion of
these families being rehoused. Where necessary, this assistance
was continued after re-housing had been effected.
Two combined centres became operative during 1968 and they
will make a useful contribution to the services for the mentally
ill, the physically handicapped and the elderly persons of the
Borough.