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tinued. The first trainee seconded for the two year training leading
to the Certificate in Social Work returned to the department in
June, 1968. Four others were entering their second year and a
further two members of staff had been accepted to commence training
in September, 1968.
The appointment of a Field work Teacher in September, 1968,
enabled the department to set up a student training unit which acts
as a placement agency for students including those undergoing the
new pattern of training for social work with the deaf. Several
Colleges involved in the training of social workers utilise the placement
facilities provided by the unit.
Residential Care
A start was made on the construction of the ninth home for
the elderly at Belle Grove, St. Paul's Cray in the Summer of 1968.
The concept is different from other homes in the Borough in that
special provision has been made for day care.
Accommodation available for permanent residents in the eight
Homes remained at 394. In December, 1968, the waiting list was
124, of whom 44 were awaiting admission from hospital. This
represented a slight increase over the year, and the number of
admissions was also slightly higher. The need for more residential
home places for the elderly remains. One cannot expect any great
improvement even when the new home at St. Paul's Cray is available
for this will give only an additional 46 beds—an increase of
11.7% in the total accommodation available. In 1968 the national
average of residential accommodation per 1,000 of the elderly
population was 17.8 compared with 15.6 in the Borough.
An analysis of the 118 admissions to Homes during the year
indicates that the majority were from hospital (42 admissions) or
from those living alone (38 admissions). More support from the
community services such as Home Helps, Meals on Wheels, Day
Centres, etc., is required for those who live alone.
Short Term Care
114 people were provided with short term care in the Homes
during the year and of this number 22 were people who lived alone.
Day Care
Extensive use has been made of the facilities at the residential
homes for receiving day care visitors. The number of individuals
attending during the year was 40. This number could have been
exceeded had more transport facilities been available to bring the
elderly to the Homes. The value of this service lies in its long term
preventive aspect, as well as in the positive help given at a particular
time. Those who come to the Homes, as well as relatives
who care for them, are given encouragement and support to remain
in their own homes and the pressure on permanent accommodation