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33
FAMILY CASE WORK
The family caseworkers employed in the Department provide a casework
service to a variety of clients but their basic responsibility is to the
inadequate and under-functioning family having multiple problems. The two
social workers at the chest clinics and the worker engaged on venereal disease
contact tracing are becoming increasingly involved in the social work section
and have proved anxious to share the opportunities for case discussion and
regular consultation in order to extend their skills.
The social workers have regular case discussion groups and staff meetings
which are aimed at improving efficiency and encouraging and enabling field
staff to accept that they have an important and positive part to play in the
efficient functioning of the group. An important result of these meetings is
the creation of a new casework record and of monthly statistical return sheets
which enable work loads to be equated on a time criteria basis. Cases are
graded according to the amount of time spent with them and this facilitates an
equitable work load distribution.
During the year students have been accepted from several university and
professional social work courses. A very close liaison is being maintained
with the North Western Polytechnic Certificate in Social Work Course and four
students spent three days a week in the office during five months practical
work periods. Staff have been encouraged to attend courses and one of the
family caseworkers has been seconded to the applied social studies course at
Southampton University.
Co-ordination of Social Services
The Social Services Co-ordinating Committee met regularly during 1968.
The membership consists of the Chief Officers of Health, Children's, Welfare
and Housing Departments, the Deputy Town Clerk and representatives of the
Education Authority, the Housing Department of the Greater London Council,
the Department of Health and Social Security, the Probation Service and
certain voluntary organisations.
The Fieldworkers' Conference, which is a sub-committee, meets fortnightly
and at this Conference cases are discussed which have been referred by any
social work department or agency within the Borough. At this field level the
object is to pool information regarding the family under discussion and arrive
at an agreed decision on the rational use of the available social work resources.
Occasionally the Conference is unable to arrive at a satisfactory conclusion
and then refers the case to the full Co-ordinating Committee for action. The
agreed policy is that no one living in Hackney Borough accommodation may be
evicted unless the family circumstances have been discussed at the Fieldwork
conference and full Co-ordinating Committee levels, and a recommendation is
made by the Committee to the Housing Manager. This system clearly indicates
the care and thoroughness taken by the Council and its officers in examining
the circumstances of all families where there is a likelihood of eviction.
During 1968 the Co-ordinating Committee arranged meetings for social
workers with the aim of explaining the policy and practice of different
Departments and thereby improving the understanding and relationships between
the social work services. Three meetings were held with speakers from the
Welfare Department, Children's Department and the former Ministry of Social
Security. These meetings have been very successful and will continue during
1969 when other Departments will have the opportunity of explaining their work.
The working party which investigated the problems of the Kingsmead Estate
made a final report to the Co-ordinating Committee during 1968 and subsequently
the Committee reported to the Council. The report was received with general
satisfaction and it is anticipated that the Committee's recommendation to
improve services to the Kingsmead tenants will come to fruition during 1969.