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69
WELFARE SERVICES
Since my last report progression and expansion has been maintained
in the field of welfare, and demands for the services have generally
increased. The trend of expansion has been most evident in the care of the
elderly, and provision for the blind and physically handicapped.
During the year a booklet entitled "Services for the Elderly of
Harrow" was produced and distributed as widely as possible throughout
the Borough. The main theme was to provide a guide to the various
facilities and services available to preserve the health and promote the
welfare of elderly residents. Another project investigated was the provision
of welfare foods for the elderly. It was considered that distribution could
best be carried out through the medium of the various voluntary clubs
held for the elderly in the Borough and it is hoped to start this scheme
early in 1968.
Knowledge of where actual and potential problems lie is fundamental
in welfare work with the elderly. Acquiring this knowledge is
difficult and as mentioned in the report for 1966 compilation of an
elderly persons' register seems one method of tackling the problem. All
possible sources of information were used during the year to help build up
as comprehensive a register as possible.
All social welfare officers were fully committed during the year. The
advice and help given has often resulted in persons being able to solve
their own problems without recourse to welfare amenities, thereby,
relieving distress and enabling them to function independently in the
community.
Provision of Temporary Accommodation for Families rendered homeless
There has been no increase in the number of application for temporary
accommodation as compared with 1966 and domestic dissension remains
the main cause of families breaking up. Professional advice and assistance
in many ways results in relatively few families reaching the stage where
accommodation is essential.
The services have been further extended and where possible the need
for assistance is made known to the Department before eviction become
imminent. Domestic dissension and financial mismanagement remain
the main causative factors and the timely intervention of the social worker
giving advice, and appealing to landlords and relatives has in many
instances resulted in some measure of agreement and eviction being
prevented. Other preventative measures are indicated when a family is
falling in arrears with their rent. In these instances the social worker
works closely with the family in order to obtain a more realistic use of the
money available and ensure that the payment of rent is regarded as a
priority.