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CO-ORDINATION OF EDUCATION, HEALTH AND WELFARE
SERVICES FOR HANDICAPPED CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE
Circular 9/66, Department of Education and Science
Circular 7/66, Ministry of Health
As Director of Community Services I am, of course, the Chief Officer
responsible for the co-ordination of the Health, Welfare and Children's
Services in the Borough. The joint circular was considered by all the
Principal and Senior Social Workers of these services who are in close
touch with other statutory and voluntary organisations providing services
in the area, the liaison with which was strengthened by the establishment
in the Borough of a Guild for Community Care.
In 1967 there were consultations with the local General Practitioners'
Liaison Committee, the Paediatricians in the local teaching hospitals,
Hospital Medical Social Workers and local voluntary bodies, the Divisional
Education Officer and School Care Organiser.
Also as the Inner London Education Authority's Principal School Medical
Officer for the Borough, I was a member of a working party of officers
set up by that authority to consider the co-ordination of the Inner London
Boroughs' Health and Welfare Services and the Inner London Education
Authority's Education Services including the School Health Services for
handicapped children and young persons.
As a result of all these consultations the Hammersmith Council adopted
the following recommendations which have now been almost fully implemented:-
(i) The Ministry of Health to be recommended to introduce a
standard form of "At risk" notification for use by Hospitals,
Midwives and General Practitioners.
(ii) Closer liaison between the Borough medical and social services
staff and hospitals.
(iii) Closer co-operation between General Practitioners and Borough
Health Visitors and Social Workers.
(iv) Publication of a pamphlet publicising services available for
handicapped children.
(v) Increased publicity of services in the "Design for Living"
exhibition and the Welfare Services Gadget Shop
(vi) Constant review of arrangements for special education of
handicapped children.
(vii) Attachment of a Social Worker to each of the 8 special day
schools in Hammersmith.
(viii) Regular reports from the I.L.E.A. to the P.S.M.O. Hammersmith
on the progress of handicapped children at Boarding Special
Schools.
(ix) Earlier notification to the Welfare Officer regarding handicapped
children and young persons.
(x) Closer contact between Welfare Service Social Workers and
Head Teachers and Teacher-Parent Associations.
F.l