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The following special clinics are attended by social workers who deal with appointments
and the follow up of cases and some problems arising. They work as members
of a team in co-operation with Medical Officers and Nursing Staff conducting the
clinics.
(1) Special investigation—155 sessions.
(2) Audiology—43 sessions.
(3) Hearing investigation—28 sessions.
(4) Hearing Aid centre, New Cross General Hospital—8 sessions.
Handicapped Children
30 children with significant hearing losses and family problems arising were dealt
with during the year, one social worker is particularly concerned with the children
attending a partially hearing unit attached to a school.
An interesting development in 1965 was the establishment of a special unit at
Hither Green Hospital for children between the ages of two and seven with combined
visual and auditory defects. This is provided by the Inner London Education Authority
and was opened in February. The Assistant Senior Social Worker was attached
to the unit as a member of the team working with the six children involved and to
give case-work help to their families.
In July, following a request from the Medical Adviser to the Greater London
Council the Senior Social Worker attended regular case conferences at an Autistic
unit and provided casework help for the children's parents.
Although small numbers are involved in these very special groups of handicapped
children a very important need is being met by these arrangements.
Educationally sub-normal pupils
Section 57 of the Education Act, 1944 (as amended by the Mental Health Act, 1959)
deals with the examination and reporting to the Education Authority of children
who are considered unsuitable for education at school, the review of cases previously
reported to the Education Authority and the cancellation of the report where the
child on re-examination is found to be suitable for education at school. Seventy-five
examinations were held during the year.
Employment of school-children
Children under the age of 13 years may not be employed. Over this age, employment
is subject to the passing of a medical examination. 501 children were examined
with a view to the issue of employment certificates.
Investigation of Plantar Warts in Schoolchildren
Plantar warts on children's feet usually cause pain and may lead to loss of school
time. The cause is thought to be a virus, but the way in which infection is spread is
unknown; at various times attention has concentrated on the sharing of slippers,
floors at swimming baths and floors where physical education is carried out in barefeet.
The development of a plantar wart is liable to escape notice until it becomes
painful.
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