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in homes and 1 extend my thanks to him for his assistance. The
Borough Planning Officer, too, has been most helpful where
problems involving building regulations have arisen.
Social Work in the Community
The three teams under their Senior Social Welfare Officers in
the three areas of the Borough have been working under intense
pressure during the year—the statistics showing the number of
persons placed in residential homes, the number of families
provided with temporary accommodation, and the amount of
assistance provided for handicapped people, do not in themselves
illustrate the demanding nature of the work. Indeed, the successes
of the work of the social workers cannot be measured in statistics—
advice, sympathetic guidance, and help at the right time can prevent
the need for an elderly person to be placed in a home or can prevent
the eviction of a family. Effective social work support depends
upon the co-operation of different agencies. As the department has
become established within the Borough, co-operation with hospitals,
general practitioners, and voluntary agencies, and other departments
of the local authority, has developed. A system of referral from
hospital medical social workers of patients discharged home
after treatment who may need the help of the social welfare
officers was set up during the year—65 such referrals were made
up to 31st March, 1967. Further developments along these lines
will help to avoid emergencies arising through lack of contact
between clients in need of help and the social welfare officers in the
area. The Ministry of Social Security (now the Department of
Health and Social Security) have for some time been enclosing a
prepaid card with award notices sent to newly retired pensioners.
The recipients are encouraged to send these cards to the central
office at Orpington, indicating in what way they would like advice
or assistance. The response to this service has not been as great
as might have been expected but those who have used it during
the year have been provided with help or advice which might
otherwise not have been given.
Meals and Recreation for the Elderly
The close link between the Council and the voluntary agencies
in the field of community care has continued. The number of meals
on wheels provided during the year by the Womens' Royal
Voluntary Service, the British Red Cross Society and the Old
People's Welfare Committee in the Borough has increased from
93,000 to 120,000. During the year the Day Centre at the William
Morris Hall, Bromley was opened and plans were well advanced for
the small Civic Hall, Crofton Pound, Orpington, to be used for a
similar purpose.
Consultations have been held on several occasions during the
year with the Borough Architect on the detailed planning of the