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37
The Elderly
All the Old People's Homes have been visited at least once during the
year and the staff advised on the best way of ensuring co-operation with
staff of the Health Department. Problems relating to 24 elderly people in
the community where the Social Services Department wanted assistance and
advice were dealt with, and of these, 22 were visited.
MEDICAL AND NURSING COUNSELLING TO THE
SOCIAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT
The guide lines for the participation of Health Department staff in the
development of the local health and social work services were put forward in
a letter from the Secretary of State dated 3rd August, 1971. The letter
recommended inter alia the setting and maintenance of standards for the safe
guarding and promotion of health of social work clients and of staff, and
stated that the essential basis for effective conserted action was the fullest
exchange of information.
The main areas of dual Involvement of both the Departments' responsibilities
cover,
a) Mothers and young children at risk
b) Child health notably battered children, children in residential care,
children with handicapping conditions, children in day care and
children placed with child minders or private playgroups.
c) School aged children with a handicapping condition or physical,
mental and emotional problems.
d) Mentally handicapped children especially those suffering from a disability
of such a nature or extent as to make them unsuitable for
education.
e) Children approaching school leaving age being severely physically
disabled, deaf or blind.
f) Assessment of children in need and delinquent children-
g) Field of mental health.
h) Care of the elderly.
Meetings of health care teams involving Senior Medical and Nursing staff
and Senior Social Workers have developed from the co-ordinating machinery
first set up by the Ministry of Health and Education and the former London
County Council. During 1972 regular meetings of a Working Party on Day
Nurseries took place, and in addition, small field level conferences on
specific cases.
To facilitate day to day inter-professional consultations between field
staff of Health and Social Services Departments, Health Centre catchment
areas were adjusted to become co-terminous with those of the Social Services
Department Area Offices. This arrangement enabled staff of residential
establishments to have access to a local health centre for advice on health
matters.