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54
REPORT OF THE CHIEF WELFARE OFFICER UPON THE
WELFARE SERVICES COVERING THE PERIOD 1.4.65 to
31.3.66
J. Hanson, d.m.a., f.i.s.w., Chief Welfare Officer.
1. The duties and powers of the local welfare authority are contained
in the National Assistance Acts, 1948/62. In the discharge
of its responsibilities under these Acts the local authority provides,
inter alia, residential care for people who are elderly or infirm;
temporary accommodation for the homeless; and welfare services
for the deaf, the blind and the physically handicapped.
Residential Care
2. When the London Borough of Bromley came into existence on
1st April, 1965, 6 residential homes were transferred from the Kent
County Council. In addition, a purpose-built home (Isard House,
Hayes) in its final stages of completion, and another new home
(Manor Fields, Orpington) in the early construction stage, were
transferred to the new authority. Residential accommodation for
45 elderly persons at Orpington Hospital was also available under
a joint user agreement with the Regional Hospital Board.
3. On the 1st April. 1965, the number of persons who could be
provided with residential accommodation was:
No. of places
Durham House, Bromley 56
Elmbank, Bromley 34
Kingswood House, Shortlands, Bromley 58
Lubbock House, Orpington 41
Selwood, Chislehurst 36
Willett House, Chislehurst 50
Orpington Hospital 45
Total 320
4. At the end of the first year of the new Borough, the two
purpose-built homes had been completed and it was planned to
transfer the female residents of Orpington Hospital to Manor Fields
in May, 1966. The additional accommodation of 61 places at Isard
House, 60 beds at Manor Fields, less the 22 beds to be relinquished
at Orpington Hospital, enables a total of 419 persons to be provided
with residential care (excluding those accommodated by other local
authorities and voluntary organisations on behalf of this authority).
The standard maintenance charge in the local authority homes was
£9 3s. 2d. and 47 residents were paying this charge.
5. Four of the 8 residential homes are adapted houses, although
two have purpose-built extensions. The other four (Kingswood