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well and will eventually be housed in the Grange Tannery Project. The two junior
training schools: one at the Congregational Church Hall, Studholme Street, S.E.15—
from which several children obtained prizes in the local children's art competition—
and the other at Kingswood House continued as before. The children attending
these schools will eventually be transferred to the new purpose-built Junior Training
School at Harders Road, S.E.15.
The accommodation at Kingswood House did not prove satisfactory as a
junior training school, and when the civil defence premises at Kirkwood Road,
S.E.15, became available they were taken over for health establishment purposes.
Alterations and adaptations to make the accommodation suitable for use temporarily
as a junior training school with a small outside play space, were put in hand. Although
not ideal as a junior training school, one advantage was that the premises, not being
rented nor in dual use, could be used freely and unrestrictedly for its intended purpose.
It was hoped that the premises would be ready for occupation early in 1968.
Speech therapists, by arrangement with the I.L.E.A., continued to attend junior
training schools as part of a fairly regular programme and those subnormal children
suffering from speech defects again benefited. Amongst the many patients, both
mentally ill and subnormal, living in the community, are many who are housebound
for a number of reasons. To enable some of them at least to enjoy some of the facilities
available at training centres and schools, a full-time and a part-time occupational
therapist carried out home visits and instructed in a number of activities. Some of
these patients, able to carry out light industrial work, received limited payments,
similar to trainees attending training centres. When necessary, occupational therapists
visit the Adult Training Centre for subnormal persons, as, by virtue of their training,
they are sometimes able to help certain trainees to deal with problems associated
with an additional (physical) handicap.
Consideration is being given to a scheme whereby the domiciliary occupational
therapists will organise a small group of children, too severely handicapped for
attendance at a junior training school, and give them detailed training, particularly
regarding behaviour, etc., at a convenient health department establishment.
Following a general increase in the rate of payment it was decided to further
improve the rates in order to provide an incentive and encourage trainees to attend
regularly. The new rates consisted of a basic attendance payment plus a merit bonus
payment. An attendance payment was made for the first time to patients attending the
council's day centre for the elderly mentally infirm.
Special Care Units. Because of the present need for the day care of some severely
subnormal children, some of whom have severe physical handicaps also, and the
delay in completion of the purpose-built junior training school with an attached
special care unit, it was decided to try to find, as a temporary measure, some readymade
alternative. A prefabricated bungalow was selected for the purpose and the
Council obtained the approval of the necessary Government Departments for its
adaptation, particularly the bathroom and toilet facilities, as a special care unit, and
it is hoped that the unit will open early next year.
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