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Residential Services
(1) Homes for the Aged (Local Authority)
The eight homes accommodate approximately 400 residents with an additional
75 beds available at 'Kings Mead' and 'Brockle Bank' run by the
adjoining boroughs of Kensington & Chelsea and Wandsworth respectively.
During 1970, residents in both Homes were increasingly transferred to
alternative accommodation, and it is hoped to close both these Homes in
the near future.
The demand for vacancies has continued to be heavy and, therefore,
selection has been made on priority grounds. Although one hopes that
applicants will in the future be admitted soon after applying it is still
the case that often this is delayed until crises arise.
The limitation of admission to very frail and infirm people either
living alone or with hard-pressed relatives has meant a heavy burden for
the staffs of the Homes, particularly at the four purpose-built establishments
(Westway Park, Southway Close,Stewarts Lodge and Oak Tree House)
which are all, in effect, ground floor accommodation.
The four short-stay beds available at Oak Tree House accommodated
65 people during 1970, and were of great value in allowing many, who
normally care for their relatives in their own homes, to take a holiday.
Doubtless these periods of relaxation for such relations helped to prevent
serious family breakdown.
A tribute must be paid to the Matrons, their Assistants and all the
staffs in the Homes for the way in which they have carried out their work,
often under trying and difficult circumstances; but always endeavouring to
remember that their first duty is to the residents and ensure they have
adequate care.
(2) Homes for the Aged & Disabled (Voluntary Associations)
The Council continues to maintain approximately 190 people in Homes
run by voluntary associations with religious, professional or special
disability backgrounds, e.g. Methodist Homes, Homes for Aged Jews, Homes
for Aged Seamen, Homes for Spastics, Arthritics, for the Deaf & Dumb, or
the Blind. Distinct from those in the Local Authority Homes who are almost
all in the over 75 age group, those in voluntary homes include a number
of young disabled aged 16 years plus.
Discussions are still in progress with neighbouring Boroughs with
regard to the provision of a Home for the young disabled, who, although
are few in number often go to Homes run by voluntary bodies sometimes far
away from family and friends.
Temporary Accommodation (Homeless Families)
The Welfare Department opened a modern Reception Centre at 280
Goldhawk Road, W.12., in January, 1970. It has 8 units, (one of which is
for emergencies such as fire), as compared with 4 units in the previous
Reception Centre at 141 Uxbridge Road, W.12.
Apart from pre-eviction work and intensive case-work with families
in temporary accommodation, the social work team continued their close
liaison with various Voluntary and Statutory Agencies. The social workers
also undertook after-care work with families rehoused by the Borough and
those families rehoused outside the Borough were referred to the appropriate
Local Authorities.
D.10