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SOCIAL WORK (HEALTH SERVICES)
The Social Work Section (Health Services) is concerned with:-
(a) Social Work arising out of school and hospital clinics and
(b) Intensive casework with families with multiple problems.
The Social workers concerned with the School Health Service are jointly
appointed by the Inner London Education Authority and the London Borough of
Southwark, and have a responsibility for special investigation clinics, audiology
clinics, selected eye clinics and selected clinics at Guy's Hospital.
At special investigation clinics, children are seen who suffer from enuresis,
obesity and minor behaviour problems. The social workers make contact with
the homes and work with the clinic doctor in dealing with the total family where
this is appropriate. The work may be of a short or long term nature depending
upon the problem and the needs of the family.
At audiology clinics, the social worker is one of a team consisting of the
otologist, school nurse and social worker. Close contact is maintained with the
peripatetic teacher of the deaf and the staff of the schools for the deaf and
partially hearing. The social workers have continued to give support to the
families of deaf children including those where the child is at boarding school.
The Social Worker for the Deaf monitored a scheme for deaf and partially
hearing children to attend two of the Inner London Education Authority's play
groups during school holidays. Teachers for the deaf were responsible for the
children who were able to spend most of their time with normal children.
Arrangements were also made for a number of young deaf children under the age
of 7 years to attend a special holiday playgroup.
At Guy's Hospital a full-time senior social worker continued to maintain
close liaison and advised on all local authority services available for the school
child and the handicapped pre-school child.
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