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Society for Mentally Handicapped Children, who showed the work being undertaken by their
organisation.
The exhibition was visited by about 1,000 people drawn from all sections of the community,
and the B.B.C. used it as a background for one of its features on Mental Health during the Week.
It is particularly pleasing to feel that the City has helped to demonstrate through this Exhibition
that local authorities, hospitals services and voluntary bodies can work in such close and
harmonious co-operation and warmest thanks are extended to all organisations providing the very
striking exhibits for their generous help.
An outstanding event in the year was the opening of St. Judes Hostel, Lancefield Street, W.10.
This purpose-built hostel for 30 subnormal boys and men was planned by the London County
Council and the responsibility for its implementation was willingly undertaken by the City. The
hostel was formally opened on 7th June, 1967 by the Lord Mayor of Westminster, Alderman A. C.
Barrett, in the presence of a large number of distinguished visitors. The premises are beautifully
designed and our thanks are due to the architects, Messrs. Michael Greenwood and Abercrombie,
the City Architect, the builders and all those who worked extremely hard to complete and equip
the building.
The formal opening of this residential hostel is a landmark in the progress of the City's mental
health services, being as it is the first purpose-built establishment provided by the City of
Westminster for the Health Department, but the real work began with the admission on 13th July
of the first resident.
In order that the warden, Mr. Bailey, and his staff should get to know their residents and to
create in the hostel a happy atmosphere and establish standards and tradition that would endure,
admission was deliberately phased. As the hostel was planned by the London County Council to
provide for its whole area, opportunities have been given to other Authorities to apply for vacancies
and advantage has been taken of this. It is gratifying to the City to be able for the first time to make
a contribution to the general services for subnormal persons, particularly in respect of those
Authorities who continue to provide training centre facilities for the City's residents.
The Terrace Day Centre for the Mentally III, opened in November, 1966, has established itself
and has become an integral part of the City's service. Very close co-operation has developed
between the Centre staff and the mental health social workers and the truly friendly welcome to
all who enter the Centre is helping patients to regain hope and to take advantage of the opportunity
for rehabilitation which is there offered to them. (See separate report, page 51.)
As had been previously reported, the City has been particularly concerned with the problem
of the mentally handicapped child and his family. A family carrying this grievous burden can be
not only overwhelmed by the day to day care of such children but can become seriously disturbed;
the mental health of the parents and brothers and sisters can be endangered.
It is in this sphere that the counselling clinics and social work support are seen to be most
valuable and a third clinic at Queen's Park Maternal and Child Welfare Centre was opened in
December to relieve the demands made in the Harrow Road clinics and to further the City's policy
of making all family services available near to the family's home.
The City of Westminster Society for Mentally Handicapped Children with its customary drive
and energy established another day nursery in Edgson House, Pimlico, and the City has worked
closely with the Society, not only by giving financial support, but in equipping the nursery and
assisting in the provision of necessary services. This nursery was formerly opened on 15th
November by Lord Grenfell in the presence of the Lord Mayor. It was a touching occasion as
the children for whom this nursery was intended were playing, oblivious of the ceremony, in
the background and there is no doubt that all present, whether parent, voluntary worker or
professional staff, were united in their desire to help.
Further nursery places are provided by the City Council both in special units in day nurseries
and in ordinary day nurseries. The work is directed by the Principal Medical Officer, responsible
for the mental health services, Dr. M. Alexander. The scheme is flexible and provides for the
movement of individual children between nurseries in accordance with the child's specific needs.
The City's older severely subnormal children have continued to attend centres outside the
boundaries. The City has, however, taken over the responsibility of arranging most of its own
transport, thus relieving those Authorities to whom the Council is deeply indebted of considerable
work in connection with Westminster children.
The case work with mentally ill people living at home has been expanded but this has been
restricted through staff shortage. The need for far more intensive case work is only too apparent
and the knowledge that there is a community care service is resulting in more people being very