Association of Health and Residential Care Officers National Association of Workhouse Masters and Matrons National Association of Masters and Matrons of Poor Law Institutions National Association of Administrators of Local Government Institutions/Establishments Association of Health and Welfare Administrators Association of Hospital and Residential Care Officers

Originally set up to consider the duties, responsibilities and interests of Masters and Matrons of Poor Law Institutions (at the time a joint post held by a married couple resident on the premises), the Association underwent various alterations in structure, organisation and title as a result of changing attitudes and legislation. The names held by the organisation were as follows: National Association of Workhouse Masters and Matrons (to c 1915) National Association of Masters and Matrons of Poor Law Institutions (c 1915-1932) National Association of Administrators of Local Government Institutions/Establishments (1932-1948) Association of Health and Welfare Administrators (1948-1970) Association of Hospital and Residential Care Officers (1970-1982) Association of Health and Residential Care Officers (1982-1984). Its members were involved in residential care (mostly of children and the aged), and in hospital administration, throughout its existence. In 1944 the Association established a closer relationship with National Association of Local Government Officers (NALGO), the trade union representing local government officers, in order to have the resources of this larger body at their disposal. The differences in approach, and the fact that AHRCO was a small interest group within this much larger organisation, led to inevitable tensions, in particular over the question of industrial action. Membership, once over 2000, declined to 400 by 1979, as a result of structural changes within the health and caring professions and changes in attitudes generally. It was thus decided to dissolve the Association as a formally constituted body in 1984. Further details of the history of this Association can be found in Lionel Lewis, Association of Health and Residential Care Officers: A Short History (1898-1984) (L. Lewis, Faversham, [n.d.]), a copy of which may be found at SA/AHR/C.55.