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135
THE WELFARE SERVICES
(by R. W. Hall, A.I.S.W.,
Chief Welfare Officer)
Following upon last year's report which served as something of an introduction
to the new Borough Welfare Service and a description of the services
available, this Report for the year ending 31st December, 1966 will be an
attempt to describe the developments during the year together with a look at the
main problems encountered and possibly to look at future activities.
The year under review was one in which the economic situation of the
country was headlined almost every day and the National economic difficulties
were reflected in the need to restrain local expenditure. At the same time the
welfare service became better known locally and the demands upon the service
were accordingly heavier. This is evident by the increase in the number of
registered physically handicapped persons, the increase in the number of
elderly persons on the waiting list for accommodation in the homes and the
number of enquiries received daily. To meet this demand with very limited
increases in Staff meant there must be improvement in the productivity of each
member of staff and this was achieved due to considerable effort by the Staff
concerned. Very little improvement in this direction can be anticipated in the
future and further increases in productivity will mainly have to come from
increased staff.
Social Case Work
The social case work team comprises, one senior social welfare officer,
twelve social welfare officers and one trainee social worker. These staff
operate in districts and have mixed case loads with each case load biased in
content to allow for the individual social welfare officers special skill,
experience and preference. On this basis, there are two Officers mainly engaged
on work with the elderly, two involved in family case work, four social welfare
officers for the blind, and four officers working with the physically handicapped.
Two officers are involved in the welfare of deaf persons in addition to their
other work.
During the year we reviewed the areas worked by the social welfare officers
in order to introduce mixed case loads and to adjust case loads to achieve so
'ar as possible, a reasonable balance of work between officers. A further
review of districts and case loads will have to be undertaken but this will not
obviate the present situation in which social welfare officers' case loads are
much too high for them to carry out their work effectively.
Services for the Elderly
A number of schemes came to fruition during 1966 providing additional
facilities for l.he elderly. The major additions are those set out below:—