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a Supervisor and an Assistant Supervisor. An art therapist was engaged for
one session per week and a mental' health social worker attended the Centre
l½ days a week for consultation with patients and staff.
An average day commenced with a discussion group where patients talked
about problems arising from family circumstances and difficulties at home,
their fears and anything that might have contributed to their illness. A
group was again formed at mid-day when the patients lunched as a family.
The afternoons were spent on handicrafts, play reading, painting and games.
During the year contracts were arranged with two local firms, one of
which involved making up folders into book form and the other covering and
sticking labels on books for a book club.
A percentage of patients were rehabilitated sufficiently to return to
their normal employment and this trend is continuing.
Social Clubs
A weekly Social Club was run by the staff for patients attending Emlyn
Gardens Day Centre and was very popular with patients and residents from
the adjacent housing estate, A coach outing was arranged during the Summer
to Southend-on-Sea and was well supported by patients and friends.
A social club for former psychiatric patients was held weekly at
Bishop Creighton House under the supervision of a mental health social worker. A coach outing to Brighton in the Summer was greatly enjoyed by the
patients and their families.
At both clubs set activities were usually arranged each week in addition to the normal pastimes and patients were encouraged to suggest and
arrange their own activities. Visits were exchanged between both clubs and
similar clubs in other London Boroughs.
Expansion of the Mental Health Services
Special Care Unit
Plans are in hand for the opening of a Special Care Unit in a converted
prefabricated single storey building at the Borough's Civil Defence Centre.
The Centre will provide accommodation for up to 15 severely subnormal children with multiple handicaps who are not suitable for a training centre.
Training Centres
The Borough's plans for a mixed adult training centre are still going
ahead but have been delayed pending a decision on the merits of alternative
sites. The Department of Health and Social Security hopes to be able to
recommend loan sanction for this project during the financial year 1969/70.
The centre, which will be purpose built, will provide places for 80
trainees and will replace College Park Training Centre which is inadequate
and also provide accommodation for older boys at present attending a training centre outside the Borough.
Fulham Training Centre for junior boys and girls is housed in a prefabricated building which, it is anticipated, will eventually be replaced
on the present site by a purpose-built centre.
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