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and it is important that the social workers provide all relevant information concerning the home to
the medical officer at the clinic. In many cases, it is found that the child's condition is directly
related to social problems in the home or to emotional problems of the child or the parents. The
social workers co-operate with the clinic doctor in the treatment of the child's condition by working
with the whole family towards the solution of the practical and emotional problems. This may
necessitate visiting the family at home and providing help and support over a long period of time.
One of the staff is responsible for the social work connected with children who are deaf or
partially hearing. She attends the local audiology clinic, visits the child's home and acts as the
liaison between the home and school. During the last year she attended 504 interviews at the
audiology clinic and made 60 visits to homes and schools. She visits during the school holidays all
children who are at boarding schools, either because they are physically handicapped, delicate or
deaf. It has been found that parents much appreciate the fact that this interest is shown to their
children who return to London only for holidays.
Social work in connection with Old People
The importance of services for old people grows with the increasing proportion of old people in
the population. It is desirable that whenever possible old people should remain in the community
rather than go into residential care and if they are to do so a wide range of help from public and
voluntary services is needed. Three social workers are employed full-time in the Health Department
in connection with the care of old people and they work in close co-operation with hospital staff,
with the City of Westminster Old People's Welfare Association and other voluntary organisations.
A very comprehensive range of services is available and every encouragement is given to the old
people to make full use of these.
Many old people are very independent however and the social worker sometimes has to persevere
for a long time before the old person realises that he or she is entitled to various forms of help and is
willing to apply for such help.
The number of visits made to old people during the year by the Health Department social workers
was 5,459.
Social work in connection with Immigrants (See separate report. Page 53).
Early last year it was found necessary to increase the establishment by another full-time member
of staff to work wholly with immigrants. A wide variety of problems are dealt with by the two social
workers including housing, matrimonial difficulties, employment, education, health and hygiene.
In the Paddington area, where there is the greatest concentration of immigrants in the City,
special arrangements have been made with the local Citizens Advice Bureau for enquiries concerning
immigrants to be referred direct to one of the social workers who visits the Harrow Road sub-office
regularly for this purpose.
Social work with families
One of the social workers is employed full-time as a family caseworker and the following is a brief
description of this work given by the social worker concerned:—
"My duties are concerned with specific families, which are referred to me (through the Coordinating
Committee) by other social workers. The reason for referral is usually that the social
worker has been concerned at the degree to which problems within the family are interfering with
the adequate social functions of the particular member to whom their work relates.
Referrals come from School Care Organisers, Health Visitors, Probation Officers, Head Teachers,
Ministry of Social Security officials. Housing Departments and from Medical Social Workers.
Some referrals resulted from people coming to the office of their own accord to seek help.
The work has the following aims:—
(1) To give help and advice with immediate, day-to-day problems, including the referral
problems.
(2) To give support in time of crisis.
(3) To explore, with the family and/or the individual concerned, the origins of the problems.
Through this process it may be possible for the persons in difficulty to arrive at a more
objective and positive view of their situation, and to make efforts to solve their own problems,
or to make the best adjustment they can to them.
(4) To assist the family to make the best use of the existing Social Services.
The work is usually long-term and it involves frequent home visits and liaison with other social
workers. As well as those mentioned above, there is liaison with Children's Departments, Mental
Health Departments, Welfare Departments, Special Schools, Police, National Society for the Prevention
of Cruelty to Children, the Courts and Voluntary Agencies. The services of voluntary workers
are used mainly in work with children, and for special projects.