View report page

84
large new Day Centre at Masons Hill, Bromley, and close liaison
was maintained with the Bromley Old People's Welfare Committee.
This project is planned to proceed along with the adjoining building
of a block of flats for the elderly by the Housing Committee and
the necessary loan sanction has been approved by the Department
of Health and Social Security.
The improvements and extensions to the Beckenham Day
Centre have also been agreed in principle, but it may not be
possible to carry out this work in 1968/69 in view of the economic
situation.
A booklet was produced during the year in conjunction with
the Bromley Old People's Joint Committee entitled "Services for
the Elderly". This booklet contains information of all services
available in the Borough provided by the statutory and voluntary
organisations and 25,000 copies were distributed.
Temporary Accommodation
A further four properties were acquired during the year in
pursuance of the Council's policy to provide separate family units
for the temporary accommodation of homeless families, and there
were 15 units available at 31st March, 1968. It was necessary to
provide accommodation for 16 families during the year (this was
the same number as in the previous year). The Housing Committee
accepted 12 families as permanent Council tenants from among
families in temporary accommodation during the year. At 31st
March, 1968, 14 families were still accommodated.
Prevention
The skills of social workers are most used in working together
with other agencies to prevent families becoming homeless and
thus requiring temporary accommodation. Case conferences are
arranged from time to time by the co-ordinating secretary on the
staff of the Medical Officer of Health. Social workers discuss with
representatives of other agencies the problems of families at risk
of becoming homeless. Solutions are very often found which
prevent the need for eviction. Support on a long term basis is
arranged in certain cases, with one officer acting on behalf of the
various agencies concerned. During 1967/68 the social welfare
officers dealt with 63 families but, as indicated above, only 16
families needed to be admitted. These figures reflect some success
in the measure taken locally to prevent homelessness.
WELFARE SERVICES FOR THE PHYSICALLY
HANDICAPPED (GENERAL CLASSES)
The Register
The Ministry of Health requires local welfare authorities to
maintain a register of persons assisted under their scheme for the