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Services for the Mentally Handicapped
The Special Advisory Clinic
The Special Advisory Clinic for mentally retarded children under the age of five
years continued to be held at the Central Lewisham and Amersham Road Health
Centres. During the year 39 sessions were held and 188 appointments were offered.
The Early Care Unit
The fifteen places at the Early Care Unit at Shaftesbury House Day Nursery were
fully occupied, but there continued to be a waiting list for admission. Priority is given
to children from families with social problems and to those who urgently need the
training and stimulation the unit can provide. The Council agreed to maintain a third
child at the creche run by the Greenwich Society for Mentally Handicapped Children
and this helped to ease the waiting list.
Training Centres
The Lewisham Junior Training Centre has been fully occupied during the year. At
the end of the year there were 109 Lewisham children on the roll and six from other
boroughs. There was no waiting list in December 1968 but the numbers of children
rising five years who will need training centre placement in 1969 and 1970 gave cause
for concern. Although the numbers of children from other boroughs is gradually
reducing and no new admissions are being accepted, it was felt that there would be a
need for a second junior training centre within the next few years. A 60-place junior
centre with a special care unit for 18 children has been written into the Ten Year
Plan.
The twelve-place special care unit for children with multiple handicaps continues
to be under heavy pressure. Plans are in hand to add another six places in 1969. Some
of the children attend part-time to give relief to as many families as possible.
The total number of adults attending the two adult training centres at the end of
the year was 112; 15 of these were from the Borough of Lambeth. Both adult centres
will move to better premises in 1969. This is a temporary measure until the proposed
140-place, purpose built training centre is erected in central Lewisham and is ready
for occupation.
Annual Seaside Holiday
37 trainees from the three training centres, accompanied by members of the staff,
joined the annual seaside holiday organised on behalf of the Inner London Boroughs
by the London Borough of Hammersmith, at St. Mary's Bay, Dymchurch. An innovation
this year was a group holiday for twenty children aged 5-7 years who
were too young to be considered for the first holiday. This was organised by the
supervisor of the junior training centre and the children were accompanied by the
centre staff.
Short Term Care
Short term residential care to give relief to their families was provided for 36 children
and 27 adults. 11 of these were accommodated in hospitals and 52 in approved homes.
Long Term Care
Obtaining places for individuals requiring long-term residential care continued to
be difficult, especially for children. Admissions to hospitals were arranged for 1 adult
and 7 children. Places in approved homes were found for 7 adults and 8 children.
The total number now being maintained at the Council's expense is 43.
Mental Subnormality Advisory Committee
The Committee met twice during the year. Its membership comprises a consultant
psychiatrist from the catchment area hospital, a general practitioner and senior
officers of the Health Department and Medical Adviser's Department, County Hall.
The Committee gave valuable advice on planning the services for the mentally
handicapped.
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