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During 1955, 31 patients were placed under guardianship of whom 20 were school
leavers with no satisfactory homes of their own who were considered suitable for life
in the community.
Guardianship
At 31st December, 1955, there were 226 patients under guardianship as follows :
48 under the personal guardianship of the Council's inspectors.
65 under the guardianship of nominees of The Guardianship Society, Brighton.
72 under the guardianship of relatives and friends.
30 under the guardianship of superintendents of voluntary homes.
Of the remainder, eight were temporarily in institutions awaiting decisions as to
future care, two were receiving mental treatment in hospitals under the Lunacy and
Mental Treatment Acts and one had absconded from his guardian and was untraced.
The work of adaptation and redecoration of Dover Lodge, Camberwell, S.E.23,
the premises acquired by the Council in 1954 for use as a hostel for twelve mentally
deficient girls, was completed in July, 1955, and the warden and assistant warden were
appointed and took up residence in August. The hostel is primarily for girls leaving
special schools for the educationally sub-normal who have no suitable homes, the
intention being to fit them for independent life in the community within a reasonable
time Six girls had been admitted by 31st December 1955.
Hostel for
girls under
guardianship
The girls, who are under the guardianship under the Mental Deficiency Acts of
women inspectors in the Public Health Department, were provided with initial outfits
of clothing, and employment was secured for them in the locality of the hostel. They
assist in some of the domestic duties in the hostel, and various amusements, including
indoor games and television, are provided for them.
In the short time since the hostel was opened, all the girls have progressed satisfactorily
and retained the employment found for them.
Pocket money of 10s. a week at age 16 and 12s. a week at age 17 or over and allowances
for clothing at the same rates were authorised for the girls at Dover Lodge, and it was
decided to apply the same allowances to other boys and girls who are accommodated
in lodgings under the guardianship of the Council's inspectors. Both the girls in Dover
Lodge and boys and girls in lodgings are required to contribute out of their earnings
towards the cost of their maintenance to such extent as is possible up to a maximum of
42s. a week after the deduction of the allowances for pocket money and clothing and
other necessary expenses. The position of boys and girls in lodgings will be reviewed
individually when they reach the age of 18, and of girls in Dover Lodge, two years
after admission.
Following increases in National Assistance allowances, an increase from 35s. to
37s. 6d. a week was authorised in the maximum allowance payable for the maintenance
of mentally deficient persons under the guardianship of relatives and friends.
The Council authorised the Medical Officer to approve expenditure not exceeding
10s. a head, when this is considered desirable, for the provision of extra fare, etc., at
Christmas for patients under guardianship.
Christinas
extras
A scheme whereby a maximum number of 10 boys will be placed under the
guardianship of the Warden of Wallingford Farm training school was approved and at
31st December, 1955, five boys had been so placed. The boys, on leaving special schools
for the educationally sub-normal, had no homes, or unsuitable homes and wished to
undertake training in farm work, market gardening, boot repairing, bricklaying,
carpentry or painting. The period of training is usually about 18 months and at the
end of this period it is hoped that the boys will be placed by the school in employment
at normal rates of pay. The cost of maintaining each boy is 19s. Od. a week, plus
the cost of clothing.
Wallingford
Farm
training
school
Temporary care in accordance with the provisions of Ministry of Health Circular 5/52
has been provided in an increasing number of cases. The Council arranged such care
for 41 patients (7 adults and 34 children) during the year at various approved and private
homes, because of family difficulties and emergencies. The cost of providing this care,
which was borne by the Council, varied from approximately £3 to £6 16s. 6d. a head
Short-term
care
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