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patients) on 3 days weekly. An Occupational Therapist continues to pay domiciliary visits
to some who are unable to attend a Day Centre. The Borough continues to support the Day
Centre at Trinity Congregational Church At Pritchards Road, the Disablement Resettlement
Officer has continued to be helpful in finding work for those ready to resume work. It is
also worth noting that 2 boys left a Training Centre at 16 years and went to work. They
had been excluded from school at about 8 years of age
The Special Care Units, Training Centres and Diagnostic Clinic have continued to do
good work and the Borough is fortunate in having such enthusiastic staff to run them The
new premises at Whitehorse Road for the Industrial Centre have made possible expansion in
work and insocial activities Recently a Club has been opened at the Centre which welcomes
both sexes and it is gratifying to note how many fathers come along as well as the ever
supporting mothers Everyone is looking forward to the opening of the new Junior Training
School and naturally hope that a new adult Centre will be provided for both sexes in the
near future The Borough adopted the modern methods in their Centres as soon as all came
under their wing, and there is no doubt that those attending have benefitted All Centres
had happy parties, open days and outings during the year- Temporary care and recuperative
holidays have been provided whenever necessary, the Centres sharing in the Dymchurch
holiday with other London Boroughs
I would like to pay tribute to Dr Jessie Edwards who opened the first Diagnostic
clinic for subnormal children in East London as an experiment. She retired at Christmas
this year. Hundreds of children have come to the Clinic in the past 11 years and many
parents have been helped by her. I think the Clinic was able to help so many because Dr.
Edwards and Miss E James, the Health Visitor were with me from the beginning. Although
continuity is now not thought to be necessary, I think it will be a sad day when it goes
as people with such stress in their families need continuity This does not mean emotional
involvement.
Changes are upon us once again and it must be hoped that in whatever way social
workers are affected, the people, children and adults, mentally ill, maladjusted and
mentally handicapped will in no way suffer. I also wish to thank the Parents Association
for their help and finally my staff who work so hard to provide a service.''
Referrals
Persons referred to the department showed a decrease of 50 per cent from last year, and
the number under community care decreased by 14 per cent.
Admissions to Hospital
In addition to community care for patients and their families the mental health social
workers are responsible for the statutory admission where necessary of patients to hospital.
Informal and compulsory admissions for the year numbered 197 a decrease of 20 per cent from
last year.
Emergency Night and Weekend Service
A designated mental health officer must, statutorily, be available at all times to deal
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