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34
(one to be attached to the Whitechapel occupation centre, and one to the Battersea
centre); and (v) to establish two Craft centres (one in the north and one in the
south of London) for boys between the ages of 16 and 18 years. In November,
1928, the Council adopted the Association's proposals, except that in respect of
a home instructor, for transmission to the Board of Control, who have since approved
them. The extension of the arrangements will operate as from 1st April, 1929.
The additional cost to the Council will be £1,676 a year.
Possibility
of further
developments.
37. It is realised that the scheme which the Council has adopted, in fulfilment
of its duty under section 7(2) (i) of the Mental Deficiency Act, 1927, will provide
training or occupation only for a small proportion of the 901 cases who the London
Association consider should be provided with training or occupation and are receiving
none at present. It is thought, however, that gradual extension of existing arrangements
would be preferable to an attempt to deal exhaustively with the question at
once, especially in relation to the industrial training of defectives over 16 years of
age. Should the results obtained justify the experiment, consideration will be
given to the possibility of extending the scheme further. The matter will be one
for discussion in a subsequent report.
Use of
guardianship.
Guardianship.
38. During 1928 the use of guardianship as a means of providing suitable
care and control for certain selected cases was continued.
Possibility of
making more.
use of
guardianship,
39. Consideration was given to the possibility of the Council making more use
of guardianship as a means of protection, in order to relieve, in some measure, the
pressure for institutional accommodation for defectives, and particularly as a means
of keeping within the provisions of the Mental Deficiency Acts defectives for whom
institutional care might no longer be imperatively necessary. Apart from the
opportunities which exist (and then only to limited extent) of finding suitable guardians
through the agencies of the Brighton Guardianship Society and the Central
Association for Mental Welfare, it has been difficult to find private individuals, such
as parents, relations or friends, who are willing to become guardians. It is thought
that a reason for this may be found in the stringency of the regulations made by the
Secretary of State which prescribe the conditions for guardianship, which may
prevent some persons, otherwise suitable, from accepting the responsibilities involved.
After careful consideration the conclusion was reached that it would be unwise to
suggest modification of such of the Provisional Regulations, 1914, as relate to
guardianship, seeing that there is probably greater need for strictness in respect of
guardianship provided by relatives or friends than in respect of guardianship provided
by a stranger, because, in the latter case there is less likelihood of the guardian
resenting outside control and supervision, on the ground that .natural relationship
necessarily sanctions all that he may do. In the circumstances the matter has not
been pressed further.
Number of
cases under
guardianship.
40. During the year 25 additional cases were placed under guardianship or
were granted leave of absence from certified institutions with a view to guardianship.
On 31st December, 1928, 46 males and 27 females were being maintained under
guardianship or were on leave of absence from institutions with a view to guardianship.
Of these, 31 males and 2 females were in village homes in Sussex, placed
through the agency of The Guardianship Society, Brighton, 1 male in Essex and
5 females in Hertfordshire had been placed through the agency of the Central Association
for Mental Welfare, 12 males and 11 females were under the guardianship of
parents, near relatives or friends, and 2 males and 9 females were in institutional
homes in or near London, under the personal guardianship of officers of the homes.