View report page

83
Self-contained flatlets at Putney
These flatlets are an extension of the service offered at Chellow
Dene, our psychiatric rehabilitation hostel. It has been found that
some patients are in need of longer-term environmental support
to consolidate the progress they have already made in their
rehabilitation into the community.
There are no resident staff on the premises, but there is very
close contact between Chellow Dene and the flatlets. The residents
cater and care for themselves as a preparation to leading a fully
independent life in the community. They are welcome to spend
their evenings and weekends at the hostel, and some of the residents
make good use of this service, keeping in touch with the
staff and their friends at the hostel. In this way none of the residents
need feel isolated in their flatlets.
The first residents moved in during November, 1966. The
majority were transferred from Chellow Dene but some have been
admitted to the flatlets direct from the community and from other
residences. It is hoped that after a period of 12 to 18 months
patients will be able to take the final step into the community.
This is a pioneer project and Wandsworth is leading the way
in implementing the recommendation made by the Ministry of
Health that alternative forms of residential accommodation should
be considered in addition to hostels.
Social Clubs
The work of the clubs continued to expand during the year.
A discussion group was formed at the Tooting Club and club
members are making very good use of the group to discuss the
mutual problems that they share owing to their mental illness.
At the Putney Club dancing lessons were started. Both clubs had
very successful parties during the year and an outing to Southend
was enjoyed by the many members who attended.
A mental health social worker attends the Brierley Hall Club
for subnormal teenagers run by the Wandsworth Society for
Mentally Handicapped Children and the Baird Hall Club for
educationally subnormal boys, and acts as the liaison worker
between our Department and these clubs.
Group for Depressed Mothers
At the invitation of the Rev. Peter Bide of St. Luke's Church,
Balham, a group was started in May for depressed mothers and
their husbands. This meets fortnightly under a psychiatric social
worker to discuss problems occasioned by depressive illness following
childbirth and has been attended regularly by a small group of
families