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During the year, members of the staff attended various conferences and day courses
and student social workers from the London School of Economics and the School Care
Committee Service, have been received in the Department for training. Arrangements
were made with Chiswick Polytechnic for two students on the Certificate in Social Work
course to undertake a fieldwork placement in the department with two of the family
caseworkers as supervisors. The Chief Social Worker has lectured to Health Visitor
Instructors on courses at Chiswick Polytechnic and to students on courses run by the
London Boroughs Training Committee. Family caseworkers have also given talks to
voluntary workers at settlements and schools.
Two of the social workers attached to the section, work in the Borough Chest
Clinics.
CO-ORDINATION OF SOCIAL SERVICES
The co-ordinating machinery in the Borough operates on two levels; Standing
Committee and Case Conference. Matters requiring detailed examination are referred to
ad hoc groups of nominated officers who report direct to the Standing Committee.
The Standing Committee consists of:—
Medical Officer of Health Chairman
Children's Officer Vice-Chairman
Chief Welfare Officer
Housing Manager
Town Clerk
Divisional Officer (Education)
District Officers, G.L.C. Housing Dept.
Deputy Medical Officer of Health Co-opted Members
Deputy Children's Officer
Chief Social Worker (Health Services) Secretary
This Committee meets on average every six weeks to consider matters which can be
broadly classified as of a general and of a domestic nature, and policy concerning the
social needs and well-being of the inhabitants of the Borough. Periodic reports were
submitted to the Council's Social Services Co-ordinating Committee which consists of the
Chairman of the Children's, Health, Housing and Welfare Committees.
Case conferences were held on individual families at the requests of field-workers,
and although demanding in time, are considered extremely valuable and are a means of:
(a) disseminating information between a number of Social Workers involved with
the same family and if possible avoiding the duplication of visits;
(b) discussing future plans for any one family and to consider the introduction of
an intensive family caseworker; and
(c) bringing to the notice of senior officers of the Council conditions and
situations which cannot be improved without changes in policy.
At the bi-monthly rent arrears sub-committee, the situation of families facing court
action is considered and where possible steps are taken to prevent eviction.
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