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is undemonstrable - finding other answers for those who present as homeless, but for whom
the hostel is the wrong answer. These are the great majority.
Handcraft Classes for the Blind - Classes are run by the social workers for the blind
who teach various crafts by means of touch. The finished articles are of high standard and
great credit is due to the teachers and to the blind workers for their patience and diligence.
Craft Teaching at Home - Those who wish to do handcrafts but cannot attend classes
or the Centre through lack of transport or physical disability, receive tuition at home from
craft instructors. Several sighted handicapped have been taught dressmaking and they are
actively engaged in making dresses for incontinent elderly ladies living in the Council's
Homes and for those living at home. They receive payment for their labours. Everyone
producing saleable craft work receives some remuneration.
Aids and Adaptations - The provision of aids has covered very nearly the entire range,
from walking aids to dressing, feeding and recreational aids. Lifting hoists issued aid the
family in caring for their handicapped member and stair lifts installed allow the disabled
person to take himself upstairs. Provision of downstairs toilets and bathrooms, ramps, rails
on walls and wider doorways are some of the adaptations carried out.
Holidays - Approximately 342 holiday places for the blind and physically handicapped
and their helpers at holiday camps and guest houses were arranged during the year. Because
of the demand upon this service holidays may be provided two years running but not the third
year unless there are special circumstances necessitating its provision each year. Every
case is considered on its merits.
Health Visitors
Health Visitors themselves base their involvement with any form of family service on
the impossibility of divorcing personal health and personal welfare. Their conception of health
as physical, mental and social well-being inevitably necessitates their constant involvement
in and co-operation with all forms of social service to the family.
During the year their wide involvement continued, though as always heavily weighted
on the side of mothers and children. The demands that are made on them to deal with old
people are great and they do their best particularly in crisis situations to be of service. The
number of visits to old people achieved in these circumstances is much to their credit.
There has been a large increase in the Health Visitors' work towards the prevention
of a possible break-up of many families within the borough. Close liaison with the Housing
Department by early notification of rent arrears of all families with children up to school
leaving age, each year necessitates an increasing number of special follow-up visits.
Frequent supervision and supportive action is essential, often necessitating much evening
work to encompass the whole family.
A large number of families respond to this extra surveillance. Where several social
agencies are involved, cases are referred to the Co-ordinating Committee. Under the chairmanship
of the Medical Officer of Health representatives of both statutory and voluntary departments
meet monthly to decide (a) who is to be the keyworker, to avoid overlapping of duties,
(b) the most efficacious approach - to benefit both client and Council. It is of interest to
note that from hundreds of cases investigated only a few families had finally to be evicted.
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