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8. CO-ORDINATION OF SOCIAL SERVICES
In the very early months of the new Borough the need became apparent for the
co-ordination of its social services, and a co-ordinating committee of officers was
formed with myself as Chairman. Members of the committee include the Chief
Education Officer, the Chief Welfare Officer, the Children's Officer, the Borough
Treasurer and the Borough Solicitor.
The initial matter dealt with has been problem families, particularly council
tenants in rent arrears.
The committee is working as follows:—
(1) The co-ordinating committee itself decides what recommendations
regarding policy it will make to the appropriate committee of the Council.
(2) A sub-committee meets weekly for the purpose of holding case
conferences to decide the best way to help individual families. The field workers
concerned in each department attend and normally one particular officer is
assigned to undertake the care. The purpose of this arrangement is the avoidance
of overlap.
I feel that this committee has made an encouraging start. In the first six
months, 75 families have been discussed and plans for rehabilitation formulated.
The work will be facilitated when a Central Register of families with children at risk
has been organized. When it is in operation any department which is aware of such
a family will notify the Central Register and when three such notifications are received
the family will be considered at a case conference.
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