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that although an order was placed in April 1965
delivery could not be expected until early 1966.
Co-operation with neighbouring boroughs and the
purchase of a Mini-bus partially met the needs but
resort was made to hired transport for many of the
activities.
Meals on Wheels
This aspect of the Welfare Service was running in
three parts in April 1965 and early opportunity was
taken to bring about integration. Gradual expansion
took place, as evidenced by the fact that in December
1965 8,700 meals were supplied. It was thus possible
to reduce the waiting list to manageable proportions.
Voluntary Effort
No report on the Welfare Services, however brief,
would be complete without some reference to the
notable part played by the very many voluntary
organisations in providing services of all kinds
complementary to the statutory services.
The need for close co-operation and co-ordination
was accepted by the Welfare Committee and after
two meetings with representatives of the voluntary
bodies, the Welfare Consultative Committee was
formed. This met at regular intervals and formed the
main link between the local authority and the
voluntary organisations and churches.
Future Plans
The provision of additional residential accommodation,
a Welfare Services Centre, Day Centres for
the elderly, improved transport facilities, luncheon
clubs and expansion of the Meals on Wheels service all
feature in the ten-year development programme.
How soon the plans can be implemented will depend
upon the rate at which loan sanctions are authorised
by the Government.
To end this survey on a personal note, development
of the Welfare Services runs closely in parallel with
the development of the personal Health Services. It
is very gratifying to record the wholehearted sense
of working together which exists between the staffs of
the two departments to the mutual advantage of all
those in need of either service in the London Borough
of Hounslow.
Liaison with the Children's Department
There are good relationships with the Children's
Department. The Children's Officer maintains a
problem families' register in her capacity as
co-ordinating officer for work with families at risk
because of neglect, anti-social behaviour, personality
problems, rent arrears, arrears of mortgage repayments,
poverty, marital disharmony, and severe
ill-health of a parent, etc. Such families are included
on the register irrespective of which department is
dealing with them.
Medical officers, health visitors and mental welfare
officers, when involved with a family, attend case
conferences organised by the Children's Officer to
decide how best to deal with the situation and to help
the families with their problems.
Medical officers also attend meetings arranged by
the Children's Officer to review children who are
placed in residential homes.
Senior medical officers visit all the residential
homes at three monthly intervals, they examine the
children and make recommendations where necessary.
Reports are sent to the Children's Officer on the
general conditions within the homes, on the physical
health of the children and also on any matters that
might be of significance in relation to the behaviour,
development and educational progress of each child.
The medical officers encourage house parents to
contact them promptly should they require any advice
about a child in their care. All these children are on
the National Health Service list of a General Medical
Practitioner.
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