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118
sion were approved but their realisation will be more dependent
upon the ability to recruit experienced personnel than upon the
provision of expenditure for material help. Ascertainment of need
is a prerequisite to the use of whatever financial resources are
available.
9. The range of welfare services is generally interpreted as
embracing residential care for the elderly, temporary accommodation
for the homeless, and services for the deaf, the blind, and the
physically handicapped. But these groups are not contained in
watertight compartments and the emphasis throughout this second
year of operation has been upon the provision of social work
support irrespective of the legalistic boundaries which are often
created by too narrow an interpretation of the relevant legislation.
The succeeding sections of this Report attempt to chart the main
lines of development.
RESIDENTIAL CARE
A ccommodation
10. On the 1st April, 1966, 381 places in residential accommodation
were available in 7 homes managed by the local authority and
in 2 wards at Orpington Hospital under a joint user agreement
with the South East Metropolitan Regional Hospital Board. An
additional 60 places were provided with the opening of Manor
Fields, Orpington, in May, 1966, but it was decided to vacate the
female ward (22 places) at Orpington Hospital. Thus, at the 31st
March, 1967, the local authority provided 419 places although steps
were being taken to "run down" the remaining 23 places in the
male ward at the Hospital. Until the new home at Mickleham
Road, St. Paul's Cray, is built, therefore, the local authority will
have accommodation for a total of 394 places. The discrepancy
of 2 beds is accounted for by a reduction at Elmbank following a
revision of space standards.
11. The decisions to close down the two remaining wards at
Orpington Hospital were taken in accordance with the national
policy to vacate all joint-user accommodation in former institutions
as soon as possible. The transfer of residents to modern residential
homes was effected smoothly and was assisted by the excellent cooperation
of the staff at Orpington Hospital. In the light of increasing
demands for residential accommodation, the decision to vacate
these two wards may be regarded as premature. But the time is
rarely opportune to embark upon policies of this nature and the
Welfare Services Sub-Committee now has the satisfaction of
knowing that the residential accommodation provided is in modern
homes, 4 of them purpose-built.
12. The severe restrictions imposed on capital expenditure by the
Central Government have affected the building programme for