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44
DISTRICT NURSES
Qualified nurses are accepted for training as district nurses and receive
theoretical and practical instructions based on the syllabus of Queen's Institute
of District Nursing for a period of three or four months, depending on the
individual's professional nursing qualifications and experience.
During the three courses of training held in 1966, two sponsored students
and three independent students were accepted for training; four were successful
at the examinations, and one resigned before completing the course.
HEALTH VISITORS
Up to seven qualified nurses with midwifery or obstetric training who are
accepted by Colleges of Further Education to undertake a course in health visitor
training can be sponsored by the council for the duration of such a course.
The Course leading to the Health Visitors Certificate involves one year's
full-time study, including both theoretical and practical work and is based on
the syllabus of the Council for the Training of Health Visitors.
During the academic year 1965/1966, four students were sponsored, of whom
three were successful at their final examination, one having resigned meanwhile.
MENTAL HEALTH STAFF
As with nursing staff there is a regular interchange of students taking
courses of mental health training. Staff from this department have taken the
one year course for Teachers of Mentally Handicapped Children arranged
by the National Association of Mental Health and they have also attended numerous
seminars and courses organised by the London Boroughs Training Committee and other
organisations.
PUBLIC HEALTH INSPECTIONS
Training in the Public Health Inspectorate is equally important and 8 students
attended Tottenham Technical College.
RECIPROCAL ARRANGEMENTS
In addition to sending our staff on courses of training, requests are
received from many organisations, as part of their courses of training, for
students to visit our maternity and child welfare centres, day nurseries
and mental health establishments to learn something of the work of the
Department. Among the organisations concerned were students from Friern,
Goodmayes, Bearsted, East End Maternity, St. Matthew's, St. Bartholomew's
and Mildmay Hospitals; students taking the Sister Tutor's course at the
Royal College of Nursing, the Social Work and Health Visitors courses at the
North-Western Polytechnic, and students taking the Diploma in Child Health
and Diploma in Public Health.
The mental health staff have given lectures at courses arranged by the
London Boroughs Training Committee and the North Western Polytechnic. The
Principal Mental Health Social Worker has also advised on the content of
courses. Practical experience in the field is arranged for other organisations;
for instance each month two medical students from University College Hospital
attend the mental health section and are attached to a mental health social
worker for the day.
Facilities are also provided at Hackney Training Centre for students
taking Teaching Courses in order that they may gain practical experience.