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TRAINING
In July 1965, the London Boroughs Training Committee was set up to provide
and co-ordinate facilities for professional training to meet the great need for more
trained staff in London. In December 1965 the London Borough of Enfield became
a member of this Committee.
The London Borough of Enfield, through its Establishment Committee, set
up an Advisory Committee on Education, Training and Qualifications of Local
Government Officers. The committee consists of representatives from each of the
main departments of the Borough Council and is convened by Mr. G. M. Noble,
Deputy Borough Librarian. Dr. J. D. Russell represents the Health Department.
The Advisory Committee meets regularly to consider and make recommendations
concerning applications by officers for approval to attend courses. Consideration
of all matters pertaining to the education, training and qualifications of council
officers is within the ambit of this committee.
In order to keep abreast of modern trends and tendencies it is necessary for
all staff to receive the fullest possible post-entry training that the establishment will
allow taking into account the demands and exigencies of the various services
administered by this department.
In-service training is an important part of the work of each section of the
department and is usually integrated with training provided by outside professional
and technical training establishments.
Courses and conferences arranged generally by the professional associations
may be of short or long duration and either resident or non-resident.
Dr. I. Caddy was seconded to a one-year's whole-time non-residential course
leading to the Diploma in Public Health, which she successfully obtained.
In the case of health visitors, who have to be state registered nurses and hold
at least part one of the Midwifery Certificate, an additional course of one year's
full-time study is required before they qualify. Many women do not feel able, or
are not prepared for domestic and other reasons, to undertake this further wholetime
study. Suitable candidates have little difficulty in obtaining an Authority to
sponsor them at recognised training colleges and Enfield is not lagging behind in
its efforts of recruitment in this respect.
The Council sponsored four nurses for health visitor training this year. These
students, together with the normal recruitment will, it is hoped, compensate for the
natural wastage which occurs through age, marriage and removal from the area.
One student sponsored by the Council qualified as a health visitor on completing
the health visitors’ training course at Chiswick Polytechnic in July and was
duly appointed to the staff. In September the four students, sponsored by the
Council, commenced the health visitors’ training course — three at Chiswick
Polytechnic and one at the Royal College of Nursing.
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