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80
MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES
1. Social Work Services
There was a further expansion of the mental health social work services
during the year following the setting up of the pilot area social services office at
Clapham. A senior mental health social worker together with two team members
moved to the area office to operate on an inter-disciplinary basis with social
workers from the Children's and Welfare Departments. The remainder of the
Borough continued to be covered by three area teams based in Blue Star House.
2. Day Care Services
(a) Junior Training Schools. The new Windmill School, Mandrell Road, S.W.2.,
was officially opened by the Mayor in July. The building is of advanced design
and provides excellent facilities, including a therapeutic pool, for 114 children.
As a result, it has been possible to close the Streatham Junior Training School
and to withdraw the children who were attending the Manor Hospital School,
Epsom. The Clapham Junior Training School, which will eventually be replaced
by a new building in Monkton Street, S.E.11, continues its valuable work in the
meantime. Under the Education (Handicapped Children) Act 1970, all Junior
Training Schools will be taken over by the local education authorities.
(b) Adult Training Centres. The Council's first purpose built Adult Training
Centre is due to open in Somerleyton Road, S.W.9. in 1971. In the meantime,
mentally handicapped adults continue to attend the Clapham Adult Training
Centre and also the Training Centre at the Manor Hospital, Epsom.
(c) Day Centres for the Mentally 111. The Council's first day centres are due to
open in 1971, at the South Western Hospital, Landor Road, S.W.9., and Riggindale
Road, S.W.16. Lambeth residents, in the meantime, attend day centres situated in
other London Boroughs and also the Crossways Rehabilitation Centre.
3. Residential Care Services
At the end of the year a total of 78 persons (22 mentally ill and 56 mentally
handicapped) were in residential care at the Council's expense. Extensive use was
made of accommodation provided by other local authorities and voluntary agencies
as plans for Lambeth premises are still in the future. These include plans for
accommodation for both mentally handicapped children and adults.
4. Mentally Handicapped Children and Adults
With effect from January 1971, under the Local Authority Social Services
Act, these services will be transferred from the Directorate of Health to the
Directorate of Social Services with the exception of Junior Training Schools
which will be taken over by the Inner London Education Authority on
1st April 1971.
A. J. Shriever