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ADMISSIONS TO HOSPITAL.
Of the 1,268 persons referred during the year, 425 were admitted to
hospital by mental welfare officers under the statutory provisions of the
Mental Health Act, 1959. Of this number, 140 (or 8%) of the total were
admitted informally. Many informal admissions are effected by arrangement
between the hospital concerned and the general practitioner and are not
recorded in the department.
COMMUNITY CARE.
During the year, the mental welfare officers visited 622 persons.
The frequency of visits made varies, of necessity, between patients
according to their needs from time to time.
The average case load per officer at the close of the year was 52.2,
in addition to their statutory duties, and includes both the mentally ill
and the mentally sub-normal.
The case loads of the two trainees in the department are included in
this figure. The senior of the two is now carrying out a limited amount
of statutory emergency work.
SOCIAL CLUB.
The Psychiatric Social Club, which is run by the Notting Hill Social
Council and towards which this Council make an annual grant of £60,
continues to function.
MENTALLY SUB-NORMAL.
During the year, 105 new cases were referred for appropriate action,
e.g., community care, residential care or admission to training centre.
The Special Clinic for children under five years has been held
alternately at the Caropden Hill and the St. Quintin welfare centres, and
eight children have been examined during the year.
RESIDENTIAL CARE.
Long-term residential care has been provided for thirty-five persons,
mentally ill and/or sub-normal, and in a further twenty-one cases shortterm
care was provided either because of crises in the home or to give
temporary relief to parents and relatives from the strain and responsibility
of caring for a mentally ill or sub-normal child or person.
TRAINING CENTRES.
At the Junior Training Centre, the use of formal educational methods
has been continued and, indeed, extended throughout the centre. At each
level suitable children are being taught to read, write and count. This
has been made possible by the use of the modified Montessori method of
education in which several of the staff have qualified.
At the Senior Boys' Training Centre, progress has also been made in
the teaching of reading and number with a view to providing the trainees
with a social training that will enable them to move independently in the
community and to take a more active part in their own family life.
The annual organised holiday at Dymchurch, New Romney, was held in
May, 1967, and supported by most of the Inner London Boroughs.
Mr. R.F. Potter, of the North Kensington Centre, was again in charge of
the camp. In order to release training centre staff for duties at