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1ll
siderable co-operation between social workers of the Housing
Welfare department, the Directorate of Social Services and the
Educational Services in caring for these families and working
towards their eventual rehabilitation.
However, problem families form only a small proportion of
any health visitor's case load. New babies are visited regularly
and their mothers given help and advice. The problems of
toddlers, school children and teenagers all come under discussion
and a great deal of help and encouragement is given to parents.
The mother whose family is growing up and who wants more
"outside life", those middle-aged whose families have left home and
who perhaps are worried and uncertain and the elderly who are
approaching retirement, all are given helpful advice and much
encouragement and know that, at any time, they can call for
sympathetic and practical support. There has been growth and
expansion in the service along with modernisation and it is hoped
that this will be continued into the 1970s.
Health Visitor Training
Health Visitor training continues under the agreed revised rules
submitted by the Council for the training of Health Visitors to the
Minister in 1965 in accordance with Section 2 of the Health
Visiting and Social Work (Training) Act, 1962.
During the year, 31 health visitor students were receiving field
work training in the Borough. During July, August and September,
9 health visitor students who had been sponsored by the London
Borough of Greenwich were doing their full-time supervised
practical work in Greenwich and this entailed a great deal of
preparation and supervision on the part of the centres staff.
Field Work Instructor Courses
Three health visitors received training as Field Work Instructors,
replacing three who had left, and three Field Work Instructors
went on follow-up courses.
"In Service" Training
Two study days were held for clinic nurses and four School
nursing sisters were able to attend "in-service" training courses
arranged by the London Boroughs Training Committee.
Refresher Courses
Four health visitors and 10 district nurses went on Refresher
courses lasting one week or thirteen days and a number of
1-3 day courses were also attended by the staff. These help
considerably in keeping health visitors and nurses up to date and
in maintaining their interest.