View report page

sessions dealing with specific aspects of child¬care work, i.e,
fostering, residential care, and adoption procedures, Newlyappointed
staff have also had the opportunity of attending weekly
small group discussions dealing with the casework aspect of
child¬care practice.
7. Newly appointed welfare social workers attended talks and discussions
on welfare practice conducted by one of the Area Team
Leaders. It is planned to re¬convene these, as additional legislation
will require procedures and techniques to be under constant
review.* The Training Officer is exploring the possibility of
developing a new project in co¬operation with the Medical¬Social
Work Department of a local hospital responsible for work with many
handicapped persons.
* Groups were also held for newly¬appointed mental welfare officers.
8. Two study mornings were held when newly¬appointed staff from all
disciplines met to discuss their work with Headquarter's staff
holding positions with special responsibilities, i.e, the Senior
Social Worker from the Homeless Families Section; the Social
Worker Adviser for the Blind and Disabled; and the Manager of the
Local Office of the Department of Health and Social Security.
9. The trainee welfare officers continued their training by attending
talks on "Human Growth and Development", and attended other
seminars on casework concepts, and paid visits of observation
to welfare and other establishments directly concerned with the
Team's work. As a result of this, the trainees have now moved into
groups composed of more experienced social workers.
10. In residential child care work a series of films on various aspects
of deprivation are being shown to the Langley Housemothers. These
films are followed by discussions, led by Miss Leared of the
Tavistock Institute. These monthly sessions have aroused considerable
interest.
11. The Training Officer is joining in special training sessions for
our nursery nurses on the Nursery Nurses Examination Board Course
at Annesley HouseThese sessions take the form of a film
followed by discussions, and this project is to be repeated.
12. Stamford House has organised a training programme including visits
of observation to other establishments associated with their work,
e.g, Ashford Remand Centre. Many of the newly¬appointed Child
Care Officers have benefited from these sessions and visits. This
programme is to be extended during the year with a view to
ing formal Home Office recognition.
13. The Acting Children's Officer has convened regular meetings of
staff representatives from all residential establishments to
discuss a Home Office Survey of residential care development and
practice. After each session the representatives discuss the
topic at their own staff meetings, and feed back observations
at the next joint meeting. This is not exactly training but is
extremely useful from the training point of view as we identify
gaps in knowledge or special training needs.
14. The Training Officer is grateful for the help of the Nursing
Service in arranging a training course for Attendants in homes
for the elderly. In order to cover all staff, these sessions have
to be repeated four times, but it is considered to be time well
D.24