Sir,-As an experienced social worker I should like to express my agreement with Dr. Jackson in regard to the impracticable suggestion that social workers should not be accepted for training until they have attained the age of forty sears.
During my years of professional social work 1 have had the opportunity of observing the work of young assistants and of students from the Social Science Departments of three Universities who have undertaken practical work under my supervision as a part of their diploma course. The enthusiasm, sound judgment and capacity for hard work displayed by the majority of these young men and women showed them to be well equipped to do valuable work in the field of social service.
I have noted with interest that it is always the most promising among these young people who arc the most anxious to benefit from the experience of their elders and it is desirable that newly qualified social workers should be employed as junior members of teams working under the direction of experienced men or women with whom responsibility for serious decisions will rest. In such conditions, provided the senior worker can allocate ample time for the discussion of their work with her juniors and can be readily available in the case of emergencies. youth and age will learn from one another and the work of each will be enriched.
The social worker is fortunate in that the disabilities of age are offset by the understanding given by experience. Youth and age alike have their unique contribution to offer to the service of the nation through social work and the one must complement the other.
An important function of the young social worker is that of keeping her seniors in touch with modern thought and modern' patterns of behaviour, of encouraging them by her ardour and often by shaming them with a display of that whole-hearted and selfless identification with Christ, suffering in His unfortunate brethren, by which alone society can be renewed.
(Miss) Frances D. Meredith. Psychiatric Social Worker, Wales.
Our Lady's House, 43 Cathedral Road, Cardiff.