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36
Prior to September 1967 the social welfare officers involved in
family oasework had a general case load including physically handicapped and
elderly people. Since that time however, a family casework team has been
formed to deal specifically with the prevention of family break-up. The
team consists of a senior social welfare officer, an assisting social welfare
officer and a welfare assistant. It is anticipated that in concentrating on
helping "problem" families and families with problems the team will be able to
give a wider and more intensive casework service.
As in previous years a considerable amount of help and co-operation
has been received from both statutory and voluntary organisations. The casework
team are most grateful for the help and encouragement they have been given.
MIDWIFERY SERVICE
Mothers confined at home were cared for by 9 full time midwives,
3 other full time staff who devoted part of their time to home nursing, and
4 part time maternity nurses. These staff were supervised by a non-medical
supervisor and deputy, both of whom combined their posts with supervisory posts
in the home nursing service.
These domiciliary midwives attended the births of 462 babies born to
Kingston residents, and cared for a further 359 mothers who were discharged from
hospitals within ten days after confinement. They summoned medical aid in 103
cases.
During the year 167 births to Kingston residents took place in
institutions, so that the domiciliary midwives dealt with 21.7 per cent of all
births occurring.
Training
The training of midwives includes a period of three months with local
authority midwives who have been approved as teachers. There were 8 midwives
who had been so approved in the borough's service and during the year 22 pupil
midwives reoeived their three months training.
The obstetric student nurses from Kingston Hospital each spend a
morning with one of the approved midwife teachers as part of their obstetric
course.
Negotiations continued with the Central Midwives Board with a view to
commencing Part II midwifery training in Kingston Hospital. The pupils would then