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Already the advantages have been noted of the amalgamation into one department of social
workers specializing in such diverse aspects of the work as the problems of the elderly, venereal
diseases, the needs of schoolchildren and their families, immigrants, and problem families.
It is now possible for the social workers to see, and often to help or advise, any member of the
public requiring social work help in the spheres enumerated above. Increasingly, the public is taking
advantage of this consultative help and is using the department as an agency for general social work.
It is considered essential that not only should the staff be suitably trained but also that they should
be encouraged to undertake additional training when necessary. In-service training is arranged with
other Departments and staff meetings are regularly held.
It is considered that research should be undertaken into social needs and social policy, and this
possibility is being studied very closely.
An important part of the work is concerned with teaching. Many social science students from
Universities and Colleges of Further Education come to the Westminster Health Department for
their practical training for periods varying from two to eight weeks. The social workers are also often
asked to give talks about their own work to staff within the City Council and also to staff in statutory
and voluntary organizations in Westminster.
CO-ORDINATION
The Co-ordinating Committee consists of representatives from the City Council's Health, Children's,
Welfare and Housing Departments; the Inner London Education Authority and the Greater London
Council Housing Department. The Chairman is the Medical Officer of Health, the Vice-Chairman
is the Children's Officer and the Secretary is the Principal Social Worker (Health Services).
The Committee meets at regular intervals to consider matters of policy and principle, and to review
arrangements for ensuring co-operation and co-ordination between the City Council's departments
and statutory and voluntary agencies.
At present the activities of the Co-ordinating Committee are confined to families with children,
but it is proposed to extend the co-ordinating machinery to deal with all social problems where a number
of different agencies are involved or where different forms of help may be required. Intermediate
Case Conferences are held regularly, attended by field workers. Close co-operation is maintained
with Probation Officers, general practitioners, hospital staff, National Assistance Board officers,
N.S.P.C.C., and police, as well as with all voluntary organizations concerned with children.
It cannot be stressed too strongly that the Co-ordinating Committee is an inter-departmental
committee and its function is to maintain the vitally important co-operation within the City's services
and with other statutory and voluntary bodies. Most of the cases are first brought to the notice of the
Committee by the health visitors, but the Housing, Children's and Welfare Departments, and the
I.L.E.A. frequently refer families at risk. Field workers in all departments keep each other informed
of developments, as they know only too well that unilateral action by someone not in possession of all
relevant information may undo much useful work. Everyday co-operation is the essential basis on
which successful co-ordination is built.
The Co-ordinating Committee has recently appointed a Working Party to consider the following:—
(1) Methods of securing the maximum co-operation between departments in providing services
for the public;
(2) The relationship with voluntary organizations; methods of communication with, and
utilization of, their services;
(3) Inter-departmental in-service training;
(4) The provision of an information service for the public concerning social work within Council
Departments and also that provided by voluntary organizations;
(5) Co-operation with hospitals, especially social work in connection with out-patients and
hospital discharges;
(6) Co-ordination of applications for grants from voluntary funds in order to avoid overlapping.
REPORT OF THE ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL SOCIAL WORKER (IMMIGRANTS)
(Miss I. O. D. Harrison, S.S.D.)
The amalgamation of the Boroughs meant that the area in which I would be operating was very
considerably increased. The "new" City, with the exception of the Paddington area, does not have
heavy concentrations of working class immigrants but, on the other hand, there are isolated pockets
of non-English people, including those of dark colour, scattered throughout. These pockets include