View report page

48
Centres of this kind at present usually concentrate on equipping trainees for work in industry.
The present changes in industrial techniques arising largely from automation will continue and
accelerate and result in the elimination of many of those tasks which could be undertaken by
subnormal persons. It is, therefore, felt that the employment training centre should be planned to
offer opportunities of training in such jobs as hospital portering, work in catering establishments
and other personal services where it can be anticipated work will still be available. It is thought
that it might be possible to involve prospective employers in this venture. It may well be that close
co-operation with manufacturers might enable the centre to give an initial training in specific
processes much more prolonged than can be undertaken on the factory floor, and the trainee can
then be absorbed into the industry when he is able to work at a pace compatible with the requirements
of a commercial undertaking.
An important feature of such a centre should be a domestic unit resembling a small home. This
could be used not only for the regular trainees but could provide a setting where training can be
given to married women who, through subnormality, are poor managers. This training, given by
persons thoroughly informed in the problems of the subnormal woman, should include the actual
care and management of their children and could make a contribution to preventive work through
the stimulus that the children of these mothers would receive in such a centre and which would
enable them to make more satisfactory progress.
It is most desirable that this employment centre should be sited independently as the high grade
trainees, and often their relatives, refuse a training which is given in association with low grade
severely subnormal patients.
The City will need to provide more residential accommodation. St. Jude's Hostel is now being
used for men and boys, but if experience shows that it is not sufficiently used by Westminster
residents, it should be adapted to become a mixed hostel where Westminster subnormal men and
women who have lost their natural protectors can find a home. Some patients will have lived their
life in a family home and only require accommodation when their parents die. For this the large
hostel would be inappropriate and boarding out facilities could be provided through the establishment
of simple "long stay households" catering for four to six such patients, the "family" to be
managed by a married couple, the man following his own employment and the wife undertaking
the usual household duties. The conditions should resemble, as far as possible, those of any
comfortable if simple happy private home.
Although the City has been prevented by the present national difficulties from taking any positive
steps to implement these proposals, it is not thought that this situation should cause apathy and
discouragement. If plans are made and whenever possible preliminary work has been undertaken
to implement them, it will ensure that the expansion of the Mental Health Services can begin
again as soon as the present restrictions on development are lifted.
Mentally Disordered Patients
The number of patients referred in 1967 totalled 1,328 (1966=1,212 and 1965=821); 485
patients were admitted to psychiatric hospitals—informally or compulsorily (1966=504 and
1965=440); 499 patients were received into community care (1966=441 and 1965=344). All
other cases were investigated and appropriate advice or assistance given.

In addition, there are 16 subnormal and severely subnormal children in care of the Children's
Department in residential homes (1966=17 and 1965=14). Close co-operation between that
Department and the Mental Health Section continues.