View report page

approved and other private homes. In addition, 128 persons (91 children and 37 adults
were admitted to mental deficiency hospitals for temporary care. The total number o
defectives provided with short-term care during the year was thus 165, compared with
141 in 1955.
The seven special welfare clinics for mentally retarded children under 5 years of age
continued to function throughout the year. Parents in the London area may bring their
children to these clinics to receive specialist advice on the special needs of retarded
children as well as the problems of maternity and child welfare. There is evidence that
the clinics are much appreciated.
Welfare
clinics for
backward
children
under five
Students
Facilities were again given for students taking university courses of training in social
science and similar studies to spend short periods in the local offices of the mental
deficiency service. Students also witnessed the presentation of petitions to judicial
authorities for orders under the Mental Deficiency Acts.
Visitors
Visitors trom other parts of the country and abroad were given information on the
Council's work under the Mental Deficiency Acts.
Accommodation

In April a new occupation centre for elder girls was opened at Rothbury Hall, Azof
Street, S.E.10, and named the Greenwich (Elder Girls) Occupation Centre. The new
centre, which has accommodation for about 35 girls, by providing additional places for
elder girls previously attending the Greenwich and Brockley junior centres, released
places in those centres for children in south east London. At the same time the Brixton
junior occupation centre (for 40 children) was transferred from premises at Christ
Church Hall, Mowll Street, S.W.9, to new, larger and improved accommodation (for
60 children) at the Methodist Church Hall, Half Moon Lane, S.E.24, and renamed the
Heme Hill centre. Additional accommodation was also taken in April at the Finsbury
junior centre and in September at the Earlsfield elder girls' centre to provide extra
places and reduce overcrowding.
In December, arrangements were completed for the closure of the Bethnal Green
junior centre at Oxford House, Mape Street, E.2, and the transfer of the children from
this centre and the Clapton junior centre at St. Michael's Hall, Northwold Road, E.5,
to adapted premises at Cornwall House, Cornwall Avenue, E.2, which had been
previously used as a maternity and child welfare centre. At the same time the Hackney
elder girls' centre at Old Gravel Pit Hall, Valette Street, E.9 was closed and the centre
transferred to the premises formerly occupied by the Clapton junior centre.
96