View report page

79
practices (seven doctors); two home nurses are linked part-time
with one group practice (four doctors) and three mental health
social workers are linked specifically with three practices (six
doctors). Under these arrangements, the worker concerned
attends on particular days at the doctor's surgery, discusses the
cases with him and undertakes duties which he requires.
In addition, two of our mental health social workers now work
half-time at the Tooting Bee Hospital, being involved with rehabilitation
of patients living in the hostel situated in the hospital
grounds. Similarly, a mental health social worker spends half her
time at the I.L.E.A. Wandsworth Town Child Guidance Unit. The
Council receives reimbursement of the social worker's salary by the
appropriate authority and these arrangements have worked well
and are in addition to the existing arrangements by which mental
health social workers and occupational therapists give assistance
at the day hospitals in the Borough.
MEDICAL EXAMINATION OF STAFF
The medical examination of existing and prospective staff is
undertaken in the Health Department on behalf of all departments
of the Council. Before appointment, every prospective new
entrant to the service is requested to complete a medical questionnaire
and a physical examination follows only in those cases where
the information disclosed or the nature of the employment indicate
that it is desirable.
STAFF TRAINING AND STUDENT TRAINING
Staff training and refresher courses
Four midwives, two health visitors and one school nurse attended
refresher courses during the year. A number of staff attended short
courses run by the London Boroughs' Training Committee.
Four home nurses attended the District Nurse Training Course
at Chiswick Polytechnic. The practical part of the training was
carried out in the district in Wandsworth under the supervision of
one of the Assistant Nursing Officers in the Home Nursing Service.
This year, we were able to sponsor ten health visitor students
and they are at present attending courses at the University of
Surrey, Chiswick Polytechnic, Croydon Polytechnic and The Royal
College of Nursing. They should be qualified and ready to join the
health visiting staff in September, 1969.
Seven day nursery students sat for the examination of the National
Nursery Examination Board in July, 1968. Six of them passed
and two of them were appointed to our day nurseries as staff
nursery nurses. The one who failed was appointed as a nursery
assistant in a non-training nursery.