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116
REPORT OF THE CHIEF WELFARE OFFICER
on the Welfare Services covering the period 1.4.66 to 31.3.67.
WELFARE SERVICES STAFF
Chief Welfare Officer: J. Hanson, o.b.e., d.m.a., f.i.s.w.
Deputy Chief Welfare Officer: J. Gill, d.m.a., a.i.S.w.
Casework Supervisor: Mrs. E. K. Lemare-Long, a.i.m.s.w.
Senior Social Welfare Officers: R. H. Rogers, c.s.w., a.i.s.w.
R. P. Messer, C.s.w.
Miss J. Turner, c.s.w.
Senior Social Welfare Officer for the Blind: A. A. R. Clay.
Introduction
1. This is the Second Report upon the Welfare Services since the
formation of the London Borough, and covers the financial year
1966/67. Not all the statistical tables which featured in the first
Report are reproduced but the information is available from the
department for those who desire it. These unpublished tables are
used for comparative purposes in order to highlight interesting
trends.
2. The organisation of the Welfare Services continued to be based
upon three area offices at Bromley, Orpington and Penge respectively.
A senior social worker heads a team consisting of social
welfare officers, an occupations officer and welfare assistants.
They are working alongside colleagues in the mental health services
with shared clerical support at area office level. A professional
consultant service is available from the casework supervisor based
centrally; and administrative support parallels the professional
service under the general direction of the Chief Welfare Officer and
his Deputy.
3. The social work staff have been subjected to considerable
pressure during the year. This has been evidenced, particularly,
by the gradual build-up of demand for residential home places
which were not available in sufficient numbers, and by the extensive
preventive and rehabilitative work carried out with families likely
to become homeless or who were occupying temporary accommodation.
Attempts to recruit experienced staff to deal with the
situation often prove abortive with the result that the social work
services to the physically handicapped suffered considerably. It
was not possible to recruit a specialist welfare officer for the deaf
so that as in the previous year, little help was available for the adult
deaf in the community.
4. Despite acute staffing problems, however, there has been an
expansion in some sectors of the Welfare Services. This is especially
noticeable in the extended provision of day care for the elderly in
the eight residential homes managed by the local authority. Nor