Good afternoon,

I think that we should merge all or most of our social services under one umbrella.  I worked in the Cayman Islands as a social worker for a couple years and while it is a smaller island, I think they have a model can we can adopt in part.

If our social services agencies were merged, it would help eliminate duplication of services.  It would eliminate the need for clients to go so many different places to access services, depending on their needs.  It would also mean less professionals involved with one family especially since communication can be an issue sometimes, often creating delays and frustration for clients.

Merging social service agencies can also break the monotony for social workers as they will then carry a varied caseload and not focus on one particular type of case or client population.  This will help create a more skilled and experienced workforce as well.

Merging agencies can also decrease current caseloads and potentially allow social workers to do more proactive work rather than reactive work as is often the case.

I was also thinking that if social service agencies were merged, social workers could be placed into teams to cover certain catchment areas and be located in the current social service agency buildings.  For example, where the Child Care Board is currently located could house the team that covers the north of the island, the current Welfare office could house the St. Michael team etc.  That way the existing physical infrastructure is used without additional cost to government.

There are some services which I think should remain as is or be separated, in part, from the merger.  For example, the social service department at the QEH, the social workers at the Government Industrial Schools, some aspects of the Probation Department, and some of our financial welfare obligations.

This idea would not displace any social workers (which is what they would be called rather than Probation Officers, Welfare Officers, Child Care Officers etc) but create more well-rounded staff, less duplication of services, easier access to services, and a more efficient social service framework.

Kind regards,

Nisha Husbands MSW