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IV. COMMUNITY CARE SERVICES
MENTAL HEALTH
The Principal Social Worker (Mental Health), Miss A.M. Joseph reports:-
"It is now three years since the borough has been responsible for the Mental Health
Services. Usually it is not good to look back but it is interesting and the only way to
show that progress has been made in the various services.
Pritchard's Road Day Centre for the mentally ill opened in August 1964 with eight
patients. Since then 270 patients have been referred, but not all have agreed or been
found suitable to attend. Patients placed back in employment number 60. The income on
contract work has progressed from £31 in 1964-65 to£630 in 1967-68 and ex gratia payments
and travelling expenses from nil in 1964-65 to £990.
Among the facilities available now are:-
1) Personal interviews at the centre by disablement resettlement officer.
2) Full time services of a social worker at least 2 days a week for consultation,
assessment, employment placement, etc.
3) Two evening social clubs.
4) Laundry facilities.
5) Services of government training centre hairdressers - (male) by kind permission
of the manager, men's hair being cut free of charge once in three weeks.
6)- Emergency clothing replacement.
7) Daily newspapers, small library and "Centre View" - the centre's own magazine.
8) Patient orientated Social Club Committee.
The day centres for the elderly psycho-geriatric patients are happy groups and so
far the two, one at Trinity Congregational Church, Poplar, financially supported by the
Council, and the other at Pritchards Road, have been able to cater for all referred.
The centres for the mentally handicapped have progressed and the premises now being
occupied by the Industrial Centre at 43, Whitehorse Road, are very satisfactory and
already expansion has been possible.
The mixed teenage group at Underwood Road has proved the value of continuing to mix
males and females.
The Junior Training Centre now being run on the new methods of play and development
has stimulated the children. Every effort is being made to help the children to learn to
read, write and have some knowledge of numbers; of course not all will achieve this.
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