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Rehabilitation, training and occupation of mentally ill persons
Day centres for the mentally ill—A second day centre, in Shoreditch, was opened by the
Council in December for chronic mentally ill persons. Its purpose is to prevent further
deterioration by providing a meeting place and some occupational and educational interests,
to relieve relatives from the care of patients for a few hours daily and to provide the
opportunity for patients to discuss and receive advice on personal problems and difficulties
from the Council's social workers who are based in the same building. The centre accommodates
up to 20 persons and was being fully used at the end of the year.
The number on the register of the Council's day rehabilitation centre at Clifton Lodge,
Hackney, which provides accommodation for up to 40 persons, had risen from 26 at the
end of 1961 to 37 by December 1962.
The day rehabilitation centres of the Institute of Social Psychiatry at Blackfriars and
Southwark, towards the running costs of which the Council makes a 90 per cent. grant,
were well used and 36 and 40 patients, respectively, were attending the centres at the end
of the year. Financial assistance was also given to the Psychiatric Rehabilitation Association,
towards the maintenance costs of a day centre for chronic mentally ill persons in
Hackney and to the authorities of Trinity Church, Poplar, in connection with a day centre
in East India Dock Road for older patients discharged from the day hospital at St. Clement's
hospital.
Day hospitals—Co-operation with hospital authorities in the provision of occupational
therapy and social worker services at psychiatric day hospitals continued. During the
year the Council was associated in this respect with day hospitals set up by Bexley hospital
management committee at Castlewood hospital, Woolwich; by the Paddington Group
hospital management committee in Torquay House, Harrow Road, W.9; and by Westminster
hospital at Vincent Square, S.W.1. The day hospital at St. Olave's hospital, also
assisted in a similar way by the Council, continued to function during the year.
Psychiatric social clubs—In addition to the five psychiatric social clubs organised directly
by the Council and the eight run by the Institute of Social Psychiatry, the Council gives
financial assistance to clubs run by hospitals and other voluntary organisations. A new
development during the year was the payment of grants to the Hampstead Council of
Social Service, in respect of a club for mentally disordered persons and to the Royal Free
hospital, towards the running expenses of a social therapeutic club for psychiatric patients
which functions as a link between hospital treatment and complete independence from
medical care. This is a field in which considerable expansion can be expected in future
years.
Occupation and instruction in the home—The experiment of using in two divisions the
part-time services of an occupational therapist, previously employed solely on work with
tuberculosis persons, in the home teaching and occupation of mentally ill patients was
considered to have been successful. Arrangements were made for the experiment to be
continued for a further year and to be extended to other divisions wishing to partake in it.
The scheme provides positive activity for home-bound patients, which acts as an incentive
towards rehabilitation and is aimed at preventing further deterioration. Furthermore,
it provides a link through the visiting therapist with the outside world and support for the
relatives.
Residential accommodation
Council hostels—The Council's first hostel for mentally ill persons, which opened in
Putney for the reception of residents on 30 July 1962, provides accommodation in a
converted residence for 23 men and women between approximately 18 and 60 years. The
hostel is to cater for those persons who require a period of sheltered accommodation to
help establish themselves in employment and in the community while recovering from
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