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Students
During the year facilities were given for 10 students taking courses of training
in social science to spend periods up to four weeks in the district offices of the supervision
section to enable them to gain practical experience in social work.
Supervision
The work of supervising mentally defective persons in their own homes has continued
to be carried out from four district offices. On 31st December, 1951, there
were 4,221 persons under statutory supervision and 352 patients on licence from
institutions whom it had been arranged for the Council's officers to visit on behalf of
the hospitals. A total of 18,941 visits were paid in these cases.
The success of supervision depends to a great extent on the atmosphere in a
patient's home and the attitude of the parents and other members of the family.
It is necessary to gain the confidence of the family and the patient if supervision is to
be. effective. The Mental Deficiency Acts, whilst imposing the duty of providing
supervision upon the local health authority, do not provide any specific means for
enforcing it against parental wishes, perhaps because in any case where this becomes
necessary supervision may be considered to have already failed in its purpose. In
addition to seeing that the patient is well cared for and under suitable control,
help and advice are given when necessary on medical treatment, employment and
occupation, insurance and pension problems, enrolment on the Register of Disabled
Persons and other matters.
Mentally defective persons under statutory supervision are debarred from
holding motor driving licences. During the year a number of cases have been brought
to notice where defectives have obtained provisional or permanent driving licences.
Several of these have surrendered their licences when the position has been explained
to them or their parents. Others have been specially re-examined with a view to
ascertaining their present mental condition and, where the circumstances have justified
it, the licensing department has been advised to take steps to withdraw the
licence. Mental defectives under supervision are exempt from compulsory National
Service and action is taken to prevent their call up.
During the year the father of a severely mentally defective child under statutory
supervision received a calling up notice as a "Z" reservist. Considerable hardship
would have been caused by the father's absence from home and he was given documentary
evidence that he was providing an essential part of the care necessary for
his child. The calling up notice was cancelled. In other similar cases it was found
possible to arrange for the child to be temporarily accommodated in an institution
during the period of the father's military service.
In addition to the cases under statutory supervision 1,020 cases were visited
on a voluntary basis normally about once a year, but more often if necessary, and
given any necessary help and advice. 1,959 visits were paid on behalf of hospital
management committees and other local health authorities to ascertain the home
circumstances of patients in connection with the statutory re-consideration of orders
and the consideration of applications for leave of absence or discharge from orders
under the Mental Deficiency Acts.