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MEDICAL AND FAMILY SOCIAL WORK
Miss E. L. Stocker, A.A.P.S.W., Principal Social Worker
Social workers continued to provide a family orientated service in both fields of
work, which involved offering casework help, mobilising inter-disciplinary resources
and liaising with other statutory and voluntary agencies.
School Health Social Work Service
There are 98 children in the Borough, attending special schools or special units,
who suffer from deafness or partial hearing. Of this number 57 were provided with
social work help.
During the summer holiday period an additional service was undertaken for these
children, which was also of benefit to their families. On two evenings each week a
playgroup was held at Downham Health Centre, which has the advantage of a
recreation ground at the rear. The prime aim was to enable the children to extend
their relationships in an environment other than home or school and to meet their
individual needs through play. In order that the children should gain from the
experience and training of a wide range of techniques, those who were recruited to
assist the social workers were a nurse, student teacher, speech therapist, student
speech therapist and two schoolgirls. Parents, in expressing their gratitude, stated
that the playgroup met a real need.
In the Special Investigation Clinic, group work was also extended for, in addition
to the discussion group for mothers and children attending the Amersham Road
Special Investigation Clinic, a second group was set up at the Lewisham clinic for
overweight adolescent girls. In both cases the clinic doctors and social workers were
jointly involved.
School Health Social Worker attachment was as follows:—
(a) Local Authority Clinics
Amersham Road Special Investigation Clinic Health Centre,
Amersham Road, S.E.14.
Speedwell Special Investigation Clinic Speedwell Centre,
Speedwell Street, S.E.8.
Downham Special Investigation Clinic Downham Health Centre,
Churchdown, Downham.
Lewisham Special Investigation Clinic School Treatment Centre,
78 Lewisham Park, S.E.I3.
Sydenham Special Investigation Clinic Children's Hospital,
Sydenham, S.E.26.
(b) Hospitals
Lewisham Hospital Hearing Investigation Clinic.
New Cross Hospital liaison with the Hearing Aid Centre.
(c) Special Education Units
Sedgehill Partially Hearing Unit.
Brent Knoll Autistic Unit.
(d) Special Schools
Brent Knoll School for the Delicate.
Chest Clinic Welfare Service
The Care Committees of Deptford and Lewisham chest clinics continued to be
concerned with fund raising, grants, holidays and outings to supplement statutory
help and the two Care Committee Organisers were available to provide social care
for patients, particularly the elderly and those suffering from chronic illness.
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