| AdminHistory | With the passing of the National Assistance Act, 1948, the Public Assistance Committee (see BCC/1/CD) disestablished, and the old Poor Law was abolished along with most of the legislation under which the Assistance Board had acted. The committee's functions passed to the Welfare Committee, the Children’s Committee (see BCC/1/CT), the new National Health Service and the National Assistance Board.
The functions of the new Welfare Committee were to manage, administer and provide regular inspection of homes for old people and those with health issues. The committee took over from its predecessor the homes Quinton, Highbury, Summer Hill, Witton and Little Aston, as well as the annexes. In addition, the Council was also required to take into care those who were physically incapacitated or living in unsanitary conditions.
The committee also took on the responsibility for the emergency and night hostels; these were the non-sick wards and their occupants at the Birmingham Infirmary. Along with this came the requirement for the Council to provide temporary accommodation for men or women, with or without children, who required assistance.
The committee was required to provide and control the welfare arrangements for blind people, and those with other sensory impairments, but not requiring hospital treatment. Arrangements included a home meals service, and occupational and recreational facilities. It was also required to investigate the capacity for individuals to pay for the costs of residency in a home and further, to inspect and register any old people's home and prosecute any that fail to meet standards. The committee was also expected to liaise with local voluntary organisations to achieve the best standards of care and welfare.
The committee was supported by the Welfare Department, under an appointed Chief Welfare Officer. As a result of the Local Authority Social Services Act, 1970, the Children’s Committee and the Welfare Committee were merged into the new Social Services Committee (see BCC/1/DJ). |