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SECTION III
SOCIAL SERVICES
The Principal Welfare Officer Miss K. Wells, has supplied
the following report on the social welfare services.
Staff
By the end of the year all vacancies but one in this section
had been filled (this final vacancy for a P.S.W., was filled early
in 1968). The establishment had been agreed in April, 1965 and
was related to the amount of work existing at that time. Since
then, the current caseload had greatly increased (the physically
handicapped register alone has gone up from 621 at the end of
1965 to 1058 at the end of 1967) and a continuing stream of new
work has had to be dealt with. So, though several new social
workers joined the department during 1967, there were limitations
on the new work which could be taken on as these new
officers were badly needed to help reduce the huge caseloads
their colleagues has been carrying for so long.
During the year a senior medical social worker was appointed
to supervise the section's social work for the deaf and also to
carry a varied caseload. Two social workers newly qualifying
from Certificate in Social Work courses were also appointed, and
a trainee returned to the department having successfully completed
the same two-year course. The Deputy Principal Welfare Officer
Mr. A.K. Huddlestone, was seconded for a special one-year course
which led to the qualification of Certificate in Social Work. A
family caseworker continued his two-year secondment on another
Certificate in Social Work course.
The recruitment of welfare trainees, which had been suspended
during 1966 due to the difficult financial position, was resumed
towards the end of 1967 and three candidates were appointed.
By 31st December 1967 the position was a follows:
No. in
Position Post Qualifications held
Principal Welfare Officer 1 Applied Social Studies
Certificate
Deputy Principal Welfare 1 Certificate in Social Work
Officer
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