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126
problems and its progressive attitude over the whole field of
community care.
Even so, a note of caution needs to be sounded. It would be
unwise to expect such a relatively revolutionary step to be
immediately successful. Social worker groups have been subjected
to varying periods of training under differing disciplines and, over
the years, this has led to the development of professional barriers
which will not lightly be abandoned. However, the scheme must
be seen as a rational extension of community care and, with
goodwill on all sides, it will evolve into a powerful instrument for
social good.
Since the compilation of this Report and at the time of its going
to press, various official bodies in their reports are reflecting much
of the "thinking" which lay behind this Council's re-organisation
of its community services which was initiated in 1966 and
completed during the current year.
Homes for Old People
During the year, no additions were made to the four modern
purpose-built Old People's Homes already situated in the Borough
and which form part of the Council's Part III accommodation, viz:
Perrygrove, Rectory Field Crescent, S.E.7.
Plumstead Lodge, Plumstead Common Road, S.E.18.
Sunbury Lodge, Sunbury Street, S.E.18.
Weybourne, 1 Finchale Road, S.E.2.
However, beds allocated for the Council's use in Southern Grove
Lodge, Mile End Road, E.I., were, by arrangement with the
Council of the London Borough of Tower Hamlets which manages
the home, progressively reduced from 259 to 199 on 1st April of
the current year and to 179 on 1st January, 1968.
In 1967, pressure on the available accommodation continued
and admissions rose from 409 to 538. During May, a start was
made on the construction of "Tegel" the first of our new homes
for old people but our hopes for its completion in the third
quarter of 1968 will not be fulfilled and its occupation is not now
expected until March, 1969. The planning of "Elmgrove", the
second of our new homes, is well advanced and it will, we hope,
be in use at the latter end of 1969. It is expected that, before the
end of 1969, permission will have been obtained and work will be
almost complete on our third home in the Maryon Park area.
These homes will eventually provide some 180 desperately needed
beds.
Admissions
Full utilisation of our expanding community care services in
order to provide home support for as many old people as possible,