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In those special fields where efficiency of organisation is essential or a high degree of
specialist knowledge is possible a few may be ripe for take-over, and it is wise to face this fact
when it occurs. But facing facts also makes clear that a very large number of activities, whose
mainsprings come from sources independent cf the local authority, are going on, are providing
meaning to the lives of those involved, and are as fundamental an expression of the life of the
community as is the Council itself. That the Council is sincere in its wish to foster all this
activity was understandably doubted in the insecure vacuum before these matters had been
considered, but this was proved during the year, leading to a rapid growth of good relationships.
The list on page 28 illustrates one aspect of this though the truth is much more fundamental
than mere financial aid. It is not only that there is a role for both statutory and voluntary effort
in the social field. There is far too much work even for both put together.
In recent years there has been a marked increase in the number of social workers, yet
whereas they used to feel they could cope, now they all feel overwhelmed with work which they
cannot touch for shortage of staff. It is all very harassing but it is a symptom of a gratifying
fact: standards have risen and are rising fast. The trouble is that they rise so much faster than
resources.
There are now ways of dealing with all manner of needs, ways that formerly did not
exist. If there is no way of meeting a need it makes no demand on staff time. One example of
this is the fact that no-one feels particularly harassed that the totally deaf are getting almost no
help though their disability is indeed dreadful. And why? Because there has been no-one with
theskill to provide the necessary specialist service. This used toapply to many problems that cannow
be met and which therefore now press upon us.
Secondly, social work is now expected, rightly, to be directed to improving human
relationships and not only to meeting material needs. A lonely person alone is not a problem,
only a fact. Try and help him and he becomes a problem.
And thirdly, modern opinion is that the underprivileged have a right to attention - by no
means accepted philosophy in the past - and mentally and physically restricted people are plainly
underprivileged.
The fact that officers in the social services plead constantly for more staff gives rise
to suggestions that voluntary effort should be further tapped. Yet a problem every bit as acute as
the shortage of specialist trained officers is the shortage of voluntary helpers in almost every
field. In some parts of the Borough a venture requiring a number of voluntary workers over a
period has no chance of success because all those in our modern social ecology who can do
voluntary work are already over-extended. It is not declining standards, it is not that people are
not what they used to be, it is just another aspect of general shortage of manpower, and it is real.
The rising of standards puts a premium on training and the appointment during the year
of a Social Work Adviser to promote and supervise training of social workers, both within the
department and coming from the colleges, was a most progressive step. The two new posts of
Field Work Instructor have filled a similar function for the Health Visitors. Though intangible,
the benefits have been marked, particularly considering how many untrained staff we started with
on the Social Welfare side. The effects should be cumulative as the newly trained social workers
begin to come back from the colleges in the next two or three years.
Apart from the Home Teachers of the Blind, where a series of coincidences resulted in
the loss of all four, the shortages of staff referred to in my last report gradually eased, but very
hard work by all was the pattern of the year.
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