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CASES BOARDED OUT
The Authority, at the end of the year, was making financial
provision for the boarding-out of eight patients. A particularly close
liaison is maintained with the two Cheshire Foundation Homes in the
district, and in addition to giving supervision to the Merton cases in
residence there, the Authority has undertaken supervision of patients
from other Authorities accommodated there, when requested to do so.
SHORT-TERM CARE
During the year, the Authority provided periods of short-term
care in 15 cases, compared with eight cases in 1965. This is an illustration
of the increased demand made for facilities when their availability
is known to those families in need.
SOCIAL WORK SECTION
At the end of the year the staff position was:—
1 Senior Social Worker.
1 Whole-time Social Worker.
3 Part-time Social Workers.
1 Part-time Social Worker (joint appointment with St. Helier
Hospital Management Committee).
The Section continued in its role of rendering social work assistance
to the Chest Physicians of the Chest Clinics at Cumberland
Hospital.
During the year, the work connected with prevention of break-up
of family life expanded. In addition to work originating from Health
Visitors and the Co-ordinating Committee for the Prevention of
Break-up of Families, the social casework for families in the Borough's
Homeless Family accommodation was, to an increasing extent, being
carried out by the Section. Notification of people under threat of
eviction is now made to this Section by the Chief Welfare Officer in
order that early casework may begin with the object of preventing
homelessness. This side of the work will be greatly enhanced by the
appointment, in the latter part of the year, of a Senior Social Worker
with considerable experience in this field.
In general, it is found that this Section's caseworkers, by reason
of their not being involved in emergency statutory duties, are particularly
suitable for casework on families with problems. In all aspects
of work, a close liaison is maintained with the Children's, Welfare
Services, and Housing Departments, as well as with other interested
organisations. The Senior Medical Officer acts on behalf of the
Medical Officer of Health as Chairman of the Co-ordinating Committe
for the Prevention of Break-up of Families, on which all appropriate
bodies, statutory and voluntary, are represented.
During the year, the Mental Health and Social Work Section of
the Department moved to new premises in the grounds of Mitcham
Court which has rendered an effective merger of these two social work
sections possible. This has led to a greater degree of co-operation than
had been possible in the past, to the benefit of all concerned.
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