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undertaken with students, and on two occasions girls from the local
Grammar School attended the department for information and help
on projects.
During the past year some aspects of the work changed, and in
addition to the work referred, the section is now responsible for initial
enquiries and assessments to find out the need or problem within the
family group, and either to continue to work with the family, or, if it
is more beneficial to the family, to transfer the case to the appropriate
department or agency. All cases referred are investigated and if no
other department or agency is working with them, this Department
then takes on the social work. In all aspects there is close liaison with
the Children's, Welfare and Housing Departments, as well as with
the voluntary organisations within the area.
The Senior Medical Officer acted on behalf of the Medical Officer
of Health as Chairman of the Co-ordinating Conference for the Prevention
of the Break-up of Families, and the Social Workers attended
the Conferences, submitting reports on the families under their
supervision.
Towards the end of the year it was agreed by the heads of other
departments that this section should deal initially with the problems
of rent arrears arising in Council tenancies, especially with regard to
tenants who were under Notice to Quit. After the assessment has been
made, memoranda are sent to the other departments concerned and a
report is submitted to the Co-ordinating Conference.
Since October, 1967, the Greater London Council has notified
the Medical Officer of Health of anyfamilies in danger of being evicted
because of mortgage payment arrears. These cases are followed up by
the Social Workers and close liaison is maintained with the Greater
London Council to prevent eviction. Ten families were referred during
October and December and, as a result of action by Social
Workers, no evictions took place. There were also two referrals for
mortgage arrears from the Town Clerk's Department, which were
also followed up and liaison was maintained with the Town Clerk's
Department by the Medical Officer of Health.
The number of cases dealt with has increased and there were
118 referrals from the Chest Physicians, Health Visitors and Medical
Social Workers of other Boroughs. These cases were supervised by
the Social Workers and financial assistance, if necessary, was obtained
from voluntary organisations. Through the medium of the Care
Committee these families also received grants for extra fuel, nourishment
and holidays. In many cases, outstanding bills for the essential
services were paid to help the family through financial difficulties.
The Section works very closely with the Children's Department
and throughout the year a substantial number of families have been
given help under Section 1 of the Children and Young Persons Act,
1963. This assistance is very valuable to the Social Worker as, in many
urgent cases, help is needed to overcome hardship to the children.
Many of these families could be considered 'Families at Risk for
Social Reasons' and it is recognised by each Social Worker that no
matter what type of problem occurs it must be overcome if the family
is to be given effective help.
Liaison has been maintained with voluntary housing organisations
and some families have been helped to find their own accommodation,
thus alleviating the need for application for temporary
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