© British Association of Social Workers
The Treatment of Enuresis amongst Child Clients of a Social Services Department
Roger Morgan obtained a doctorate in social work from the School of Social Work, Leicester University, in 1973 and worked subsequently as a Research Fellow of the School at the Child Treatment Research Unit, Birmingham, on the development and evaluation of behavioural treatments for psychological problems amongst children in care. He initiated and managed a series of experimental research projects in social work as head of research for Kent Social Services Department before taking up his present post as Assistant Director of Social Services (Planning and Research) for Cambridgeshire. Dr. Morgan is an honorary Research Fellow of the Personal Social Services Research Unit of the University of Kent, Canterbury.
Summary
The adoption of an ‘outpatient’ model of supervising the treatment of bedwetting amongst child clients of a social services department is described. The treatment technique used was the generally effective ‘enuresis alarm’, or ‘bell-and-pad’. Fifteen out of a total of 25 concluded courses of treatment were successful, with an average treatment duration of 14.9 weeks. Both this outcome, and the rate of drop-out before completion of treatment (ten cases) are comparable with those obtained with non social services clients, and the use of the enuresis alarm with children in care (including those in residential establishments) was found to be quite practicable. A high relapse rate (43%) was, however, found for social services clients, relapse usually following a placement change or other major stress.