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effected between these three departments to offer social work
help to families in bad rent arrears, and to try and avert evictions
for serious non-payment of rent.
New Cases
During 1968, 1467 new cases came to the attention of the
social work section (the 1967 figure was 1498). The individuals,
or families, concerned were said to need, primarily, the following
services when first coming to the notice of the Department: (1967
figures in brackets)
Services for the physically handicapped — 274 (354)
A place in one of the Department's old peoples homes — 253
(240)
Families with problems connected with housing, including
some who were homeless — 231 (176)
After-care for mental health problems — 133 (147)
Services for the blind or partially sighted — 82 (91)
Requiring admission to psychiatric hospital — 76 (85)
Services for the mentally subnormal— 44 (32)
A place in one of the Department's mental health hostels
- 21 (26)
Services for the deaf or hard of hearing — 20 (16)
Families and individuals needing help for a variety of
reasons other than those mentioned above — 273, 142
being elderly people (179, of whom 87 were elderly)
In addition, 57 (197) new cases were referred to the social
workers for investigation or reports; 45 (147) of these
concerned situations involving mental health problems.
It will be seen that though the total number of new cases
remained much the same, there were many family problems and
elderly people in need of help. Many problems concerned accommodation.
Fewer straight investigations were carried out, and
there was a drop in numbers of people coming to our notice
because of physical handicap, which possibly indicates that the
section is now achieving a true measure of need.
The number of new cases opened each month consistently
exceeded the number closed, giving a steady increase in the
number of families and individuals being helped.
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