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This report, covering the period 1st January, 1970 to 26th May, 1971 is
the second and final report of the work of the Administration Division of the Health and
Family Services Department which, with the implementation of the Local Authority
Social Services Act, 1970, ceases to exist on 26th May, 1971. It was an uninspiring period
during which the enthusiasms of 1968/60 were dissipated by the threat of further change.
Four studies were carried out during the period under review with the assistance
of the O & M Officer, on administrative and clerical procedures in the school health service;
on secretarial and typing services; on clerical procedures associated with clinics and the
work of health visitors and school nurses; and on administrative and clerical organisation
and methods in the Social Services Division. At the request of the Director the five senior
administrators undertook a study of administration within the context of changes arising
from the Local Authority Social Services Act 1970: their unanimous report and recommendatior
dated 21st October, 1970 evoked no response.
A new post was created to deal with miscellaneous licensing functions, providing
some relief to the hard-pressed section working at The Lodge in support of the Chief Public
Health Inspector and his staff.
The Council also approved the appointment of a third Senior Public Health
Inspector as it became clear that some reorganisation of environmental health is needed to
meet the increased work load effectively. Some additional administrative and clerical support
would appear to be necessary and an O & M study of the admin/clerical needs of the Environmental
Health Division will be undertaken in July 1971.
The Government has stated that re-organisation of the National Health Service
will become effective on 1 st April, 1974; it is to be hoped that this further dramatic upheaval
of local authority health services together with the emphasis now given to social services will
not result in the development of environmental health, which is expected to remain with
local authorities, being over-looked during the period when so much time and effort will need
to be devoted to the re-organisation of the National Health Service.
Two one-day seminars were held during the early summer of 1970 at which
clerical staff were introduced to the techniques of organisation and methods, administrative
structures and communications; a potted version of this successful form of in-service
training was presented to field workers in March 1971.
Training for decimalisation started in the autumn of 1970 and the staff faced
D Day with a reasonable degree of equaminity. In the event the form of training in which
staff participated turned out to be rather too academic as well as lengthy and detailed. Such
difficulties as occurred were trivial and irritating and arose during a short period immediately
after 15th February, 1971, largely from the balancing of accounts where conversions gave
rise to 'gains and losses'.
Preparations for the transfer of weekly time sheets to computer application
got under way early in 1971; the critical factor was the speed of turnover between the
employee, the certifying department and the Borough Treasurer. The new time table was
operated in the department for some weeks before the computer application started as a
means of facilitating the transfer. The change-over produced few problems.
Preliminary consultations on Job Evaluation started towards the end of the
period under review.
It is sad to record the break-up of the Health and Family Services Department
after so short a life. The principles on which it was founded are sound and its unrealised
potential in a forward looking Local Authority was great. To those members of my Division
who have loyally supported the Council, the Director and myself in the execution of these
principles during a period when it became clear that the potential would probably never be
realised, I convey my sincere thanks. Loyalty, like Art, must on occasion be its own reward.
Once again, the co-operation of our colleagues in other departments must be acknowledged.
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