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DAY CENTRES AND TRAINING CENTRES
The Borough has been able to develop and expand the plans of the former London County
Council for the day care of mentally ill and mentally subnormal persons. This has meant
planning and organising new centres, and introducing teaching methods for children, and
suitable work and recreation for adults. Mental health social workers have co-operated
closely with the centre staff. At the end of 1968, there were 274 places in six centres, and
the Council also grant-aided a 24-place day nursery for mentally handicapped children.
The reports which follow have been contributed by the Centre Supervisors:-
ROSEMARY JUNIOR TRAINING SCHOOL
Rosemary School has attracted its usual stream of visitors, but staff and pupils have
long since come to regard this as a normal part of the day, and the work of the school has
gone steadily on.
The five classrooms now accommodate a total of ninety children in addition to twelve
(with a waiting list) in the Special Care Unit.
Seven boys and girls and one member of staff joined the Inner London Boroughs' holiday
camp at St. Mary's Bay, Kent. Weekly swimming sessions have continued at the local baths
throughout this year, and a certificate has been obtained by one of our senior boys, making
a total of four certificates for the school to date.
Parties of children have been taken out from time to time to assist in their social
training, and an excellent puppet show was given to the school in connection with road safety.
Our deputy principal left us at Easter to take charge of a new junior training centre in
another London borough. One member of staff returned to us, having obtained his diploma as
teacher pf the mentally handicapped, and another left the centre temporarily in the autumn
for secondment to the two-year course for this diploma.
We enjoy having students from the diploma course at Chiswick Polytechnic and the National
Association of Mental Health Diploma course, who were placed with us for their teaching
practice.
Regular visits of observation were paid to the school by medical students from three of
the London teaching hospitals, and by many doctors and nurses, and a variety of social work
students and others. Two senior girls from a local secondary school came once a week to help
with the children.
Two successful open days were held,one in June to coincide with Mental Health Week, and
one at Christmas time when a variety of activities were presented, every child in the school
taking some part. These open days were well supported by parents, friends and officials and
were much enjoyed by the children themselves.
The usual Christmas party took place at the school, and the staff and senior girls from
a local senior school very kindly invited our two top classes to a party at their own school.
They provided transport to and fro and gave our boys and girls a very happy time, which was
very much appreciated by everyone.
We cannot finish our account of the year's activities without a "Thank you" to our
many friends and specially to Mr. & Mrs. Lawrence and customers from the "George IV",
Goswell Road, for the really delightful Wendy House which they had specially made as a gift
to Rosemary School.
CAMDEN ROAD TRAINING CENTRE
This has been a year which viewed from outside could be regarded as uneventful as much
of our work is unspectacular and consists of establishing personal relationships with
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