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Evening institute classes—The Council pays the fees for attendance of officers at evening
classes when it appears in its interest to do so. During the year 42 health visitors attended
courses providing instruction in the care and use of slide, film-strip and cinematograph
projectors (which apparatus is in use for health education purposes in child welfare centres)
at Goldsmiths' College and Wandsworth Technical College and 99 health visitors attended
courses in teaching techniques at Garnett College. An evening institute course of one year's
duration leading to the examination for the Certificate of the Examining Board for Dental
Nurses and Assistants was completed by 12 dental surgery assistants and a further ten
assistants commenced a similar course in September.
In-service training—For large numbers of professional officers, training needs can sometimes
be met more precisely and at less cost to the Council by courses arranged within the
department. During the year this policy has been followed extensively as the following
summary shows:
A course on recent developments in mental health, consisting of ten evening lectures
supplemented by visits to hospitals for the mentally disordered was provided. The course
was repeated twice to permit the attendance of most health visitors, social and family case
workers and junior mental welfare officers in the department. Altogether, approximately
600 officers (including some social workers from the Education and Children's Officers'
departments) attended one of these courses.
An advanced course of ten weekly sessions in 'discussion methods' was arranged for
18 selected health visitors.
A three-day residential refresher course for 51 day nursery matrons was held in country
surroundings outside the county.
A course for medical officers in current techniques for the early detection of deafness in
young children was provided at the Province of Natal centre on two consecutive Saturday
mornings.
A four-day course for assistant home help organisers was arranged, talks followed by
discussion being given by nine of the department's professional and administrative officers,
with a further general session devoted to summing up the course.
Short courses for 27 day nursery cooks were arranged at the North Western Polytechnic.
'Post-entry' training for members of the administrative and clerical staff, pursuant
to the Council's policy in this respect for all departments, has continued during the year.
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