It was established from two separate associations of hospital
almoners. 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 with
Marjorie Steel as its General Secretary. The institute changed its name to the Institute of Medical Social Workers in 1964.
Ann Davidson Kelly was the new organisation's first General Secretary. Professor Sir
Alan Moncrieff was the President until he retired in 1968 when
Enid Warren who was a social worker took over as President. 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. Enid Warren was the President of the new organisation. ==References==