View report page

WELFARE SERVICES
From time to time I have included in the Annual Report information
on the welfare services for old people provided by voluntary
organisations in the Borough. A brief review of these services,
together with those provided by the County Welfare Department, may
be of value again. Co-operation between voluntary and statutory
authorities has traditionally been the means of providing welfare services
of all kinds in this country, and, indeed, much of the pioneering work
in social welfare has resulted from voluntary effort.
The local authority charged with the duty of providing welfare
services must make provision for residential accommodation for the
aged who cannot otherwise obtain it, and in some circumstances
temporary accommodation for persons in urgent need. Homes provided
by voluntary means for old people and the disabled must be registered,
visited and inspected.
The following information on County Welfare functions has been
provided by Mr. A. E. Mansell, the Area Welfare Officer for Tottenham
and Hornsey.
Blind Welfare
The welfare services for the blind and partially sighted are the
responsibility of the Middlesex County Council. In 1962 there were
239 blind and 85 partially sighted persons living in Hornsey. The
County Council's Welfare Department provides a home teaching service
which aims to enable the blind to lead as full and active lives as
their handicap allows. The majority of blind persons are not capable
of employment owing to age or infirmity, or may be not available for
employment because they are housewives, in which case they may
receive instruction in carrying out their household duties. The home
teachers visit all blind and partially sighted in their own homes,
hospitals and in residential homes, to advise on their welfare and to
keep them in touch with the available social services. They give
instruction in Braille and Moon Systems of embossed type and in
handcrafts. Blind persons are eligible for the loan of wireless
receivers through the British Wireless for the Blind Fund, and the
County Council have a scheme for assisting blind and partially sighted
persons with the maintenance of blind persons in employment, residential
rehabilitation, training courses for mothers and blind babies
supply of embossed literature, special equipment and handcraft materials,
assistance in the disposal of handcrafts and assisted holidays for those
in need.
46