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TRAINING
The department is recognised as providing suitable training facilities and has been
visited for this purpose by students from University mental health courses; Northwestern Polytechnic
Younghusband course, National Institute for Social Work, University Social Science Courses, child
care courses, health visitors, training courses as well as D.P.H. courses and medical student
groups. Our mental health social workers have also attended a number of courses and conferences
covering social work in the mental health field while one worker was seconded to take a university
mental health course. Senior Officers have been called upon to lecture to outside groups or represent
the Medical Officer of Health on committees of voluntary agencies.
Included in the Building Programme for the current financial year, as approved in the ten
year plan for health services, is the provision of a hostel for mentally sub-normal adults in Hampstead,
a day rehabilitation centre for the mentally ill in Highgate. It is hoped that both of these projects
will be completed and opened in the next year.
Referrals to family caseworkers increased rapidly during the year, and with no increase in
staff the number of families receiving support at the end of the year had increased from 46 to 96.
Although it is accepted that some families require long-term intensive casework support, our family
caseworkers were encouraged to concentrate on short-term intensive casework aimed at returning
families to the care of regular field workers as quickly as possible. Experience showed that by
building up purposeful relationships early, the need for long-term casework support could be reduced.
During the year vagrant alcoholics created problems within the Borough, and in July we
were able to make a temporary appointment of a male member of a religious order who had very wide
experience in this field. He was encouraged to make regular contact with the vagrant alcoholics
whenever possible and to direct his efforts towards finding them adequate accommodation, treatment
and employment. By the end of the year most of the "regulars" were no longer sleeping rough, and
there was evidence that a permanent appointment of this kind could be helpful.
FUTURE DEVELOPMENTS
FAMILY CASEWORKERS
Analysis of Sources of Referrals to Family Caseworkers 1966
From whom referred Number
Education Services 13
Health visitors 11
Self-referred 11
General practitioners 5
Medical Social Workers in hospitals 10
Co-ordinating Committee 2
Citizen's Advice Bureau 2
Children's Department 3
Home Help Organiser 1
Ministry of Social Security 2
Medical Officers 5
Breakdown of other referrals
Housing Department 7
Welfare Department 4
Employer 1
Other local authorities 2
Play Centres 2
Greater London Council Housing 2
Family Welfare Association 1
Other social workers (Health Services) 12
Total 96
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