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have its greatest success when habits have not already been
established.
Grateful acknowledgment is made to the Education and
Hospital Authorities and organisations mentioned in this report
for their valuable assistance.
Mental Health Act, 1959
Every opportunity has been taken to develop a comprehensive
Mental Health Service and to establish the precise extent of community
care needed. Details are shown in the report and include
an account of the valuable work carried out at the present combined
Training Centre at Scads Hill, Orpington.
National Assistance Acts, 1948/62
The report of the Chief Welfare Officer on the development
of Welfare Services in the new Borough contains not only a factual
account of the work of the social workers and occupation officers
based at the three area offices but also in numerous places, a
valuable evaluation of old and new services.
Special attention is drawn to the research in the reports on age
in relation to admission or discharge in residential homes, to the
value of day care in residential homes, to the development of
Family Units for those needing temporary accommodation, and to
the work of the social worker in relation to the elderly.
Public Health Services
The Chief Public Health Inspector reports in detail the setting
up of three divisions, the welding together of the services formerly
provided by five authorities, and the establishment of a 10 year
plan for the development of smoke control areas throughout the
Borough.
Work on the Offices, Shops and Railway Premises Act, 1963,
commenced by the former authorities was continued but hampered
by the work of re-organisation and staff shortage. Arrangements
for implementing the Riding Establishments Act, 1964, which came
into force on the 1st April, 1965, are described.
Other new work in the Borough included inspections, licences
and issue of movement control orders under the Diseases of
Animals Act, 1951.
A most valuable part of this report is the support it gives to
the investigation of food complaints.
Infectious and Other Diseases
Apart from a high incidence of measles, there was no unusual
incidence of infectious diseases. It is satisfactory to note that the
number of cases of tuberculosis on the register declined substantially
during the year.