Institute of Medical Social Workers
Encyclopedia
The Institute of Medical Social Workers (IMSW) was the main professional body for social workers attached to hospital
s in the United Kingdom
.
It was established from two separate associations of hospital almoner
s. The Almoners' Committee was established in 1903 and successively changed its name to the Hospital Almoners' Committee in 1911, the Association of Hospital Almoners in 1920, and the Hospital Almoners' Association in 1927. The Hospital Almoners' Council was established in 1907 to handle the selection, training and employment of almoners and changed its name to the Institute of Hospital Almoners in 1922. The two amalgamated as the Institute of Almoners in 1945, and this changed its name to the Institute of Medical Social Workers in 1964.
In 1970 the association merged with six other social workers' organisations to form the British Association of Social Workers
, having been a member of the Standing Conference of Organisations of Social Workers since 1962.
Hospital
A hospital is a health care institution providing patient treatment by specialized staff and equipment. Hospitals often, but not always, provide for inpatient care or longer-term patient stays....
s in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
.
It was established from two separate associations of hospital almoner
Almoner
An almoner is a chaplain or church officer who originally was in charge of distributing cash to the deserving poor.Historically, almoners were Christian religious functionaries whose duty was to distribute alms to the poor. Monasteries were required to spend one tenth of their income in charity to...
s. The Almoners' Committee was established in 1903 and successively changed its name to the Hospital Almoners' Committee in 1911, the Association of Hospital Almoners in 1920, and the Hospital Almoners' Association in 1927. The Hospital Almoners' Council was established in 1907 to handle the selection, training and employment of almoners and changed its name to the Institute of Hospital Almoners in 1922. The two amalgamated as the Institute of Almoners in 1945, and this changed its name to the Institute of Medical Social Workers in 1964.
In 1970 the association merged with six other social workers' organisations to form the British Association of Social Workers
British Association of Social Workers
The British Association of Social Workers is the largest professional association of social workers and care managers in the United Kingdom. The association has a members' code of ethics that outlines best social work practice and works to support social workers and care managers through...
, having been a member of the Standing Conference of Organisations of Social Workers since 1962.