London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Lambeth 1966
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Lambeth Borough]
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43
One Hundred and fifteen families were involved receiving intensive casework
service, from the following workers-
Family service unit 39;
Health service 35;
N.S.P.C.C. 22;
Children's Department 19.
A meeting was held at Lambeth Town Hall in October 1966 to which the
principals of all the main local voluntary agencies were invited and agreements
were reached which linked their work still more closely with the statutory
authorities.
Seventy four case conferences were held to discuss the problems of individual families at the request of the following
| Children's department | 18 |
| Health Department | 18 |
| Lambeth Housing Department | 9 |
| G.L.C. Housing Department | 8 |
| I.L.E.A. | 6 |
| Welfare Department | 5 |
| Probation Service | 3 |
| Family Service Unit | 2 |
| N.S.P.C.C. | 2 |
| Maudsley Hospital | 2 |
| Brixton Child Guidance | 1 |
| 74 |
HEALTH SERVICES FAMILY CASEWORKERS
Families are referred to these workers from the co-ordinating Committee case
conferences, when they present multiple problems which demand more time and
care than can be given by normal services. The work is both intensive and
prolonged and caseloads must of necessity be kept small, or the aim of providing
the service would be defeated. Progress is always slow, with many backsliders;
some families indeed may need years of supervision while the children are growing
up.
The two full time caseworkers employed by the department were concerned
during the year with a total of 38 families involving 161 children.