Inside the Elephant

Abstract

The Department of Health and Social Security at the Elephant and Castle could be called the big Daddy of the local authority social services departments. At grass roots level a good way to let off steam or to raise a quick laugh is to blame all current woes, shortages and foolishness on the bureaucrats in the department who, according to your point of view, control everything or nothing. It follows that the most useful scapegoat of all is DHSS. The responsibility for everything from out-of-date attitudes to organisational confusion is often conveniently pushed back to the faceless administrators there.

The editor of the Journal was glad to have an opportunity to look behind the myths in an interview with Val Southon who is, as she explains, in charge of the adoption section at DHSS.