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Training centres—Two new centres for adult subnormal and severely subnormal persons
were opened. Both are housed in new church halls, the design of which took into account
the proposed use of the premises as training centres. One (in Deptford, for men and older
boys) replaced an older centre in unsatisfactory premises whilst the other (in North
Islington, for women and older girls) was an additional centre.
Work continued during the year on the building of a new junior centre in Hackney
and on the adaptation of premises in Clapham and North Hammersmith to provide a
large industrial training centre for men and a more advanced type of centre for women
and girls. All three new centres were expected to be available in the spring of 1961. Sites
were also acquired and preliminary work done on plans for three more purpose-built
junior centres and two centres for adults.
At the end of the year there were nine junior centres with accommodation for 725
children; seven with accommodation for 330 older girls and women; and five with accommodation
for 260 older boys and men for whom there was also an industrial training centre
with 20 places. The total of 1,335 places is an increase of 60 over the previous year. The
industrial training centre again produced goods valued at over £1,000 for use in the Council's
service.
Day centres for the mentally ill—The Council's first day centre for mentally ill persons,
Clifton Lodge, Hackney, was opened in July. This centre provides training and occupation
for up to 40 persons of both sexes, under the supervision of a resident supervisor and deputy
supervisor with training and experience in the provision of occupational therapy for
mentally disordered persons. Activities are varied to suit the needs and interests of those
attending and include carpentry, gardening, cookery, typewriting and lampshade and
basket making. Although the prime purpose of the centre is the rehabilitation of recoverable
patients after discharge from hospital and to give a preventive service for sufferers
from mild mental disturbance, the Council decided that psychiatrically disabled persons
might also be admitted, if suitable, provided they proved to be capable of remunerative
work. Patients attending Clifton Lodge continue under the supervision of the referring
doctor and a psychiatric social worker is also in frequent touch with them. Fourteen
patients were attending this centre at the end of the year.
Earlier in the year the Cane Hill Hospital Management Committee, in association
with the Council, had set up a day hospital in premises at St. Olave's hospital, Bermondsey.
The Council's share in this venture is the provision of occupational therapy and some
social worker services. The day hospital was firmly established and operating very successfully
by the end of the year. Fifty-one London patients commenced attendance at the
rehabilitation centre run by the Institute of Social Psychiatry at Blackfriars during the
year; of these, and 38 already attending at the end of 1959, 14 were discharged to work,
one to further training and 36 were discharged as unsuitable, or because of non-attendance
or admission to a mental hospital. At the end of the year 38 London patients were attending
the centre.
The Council also agreed to bear the capital cost of adaptation and equipping of premises
to provide a second rehabilitation centre for the Institute of Social Psychiatry in Southwark
and, as at the Institute's existing centre at Blackfriars, to contribute 90 per cent. of the
cost of attendance of London patients at the new centre when available. Work on the
building was well in hand at the end of the year.
Residential accommodation—Shortly before the end of the year the Council acquired
a large residential property in Putney, for adaptation as a hostel for about 20 patients
discharged from psychiatric hospitals needing a period of hostel care. In addition the
Council approved of the erection of a larger purpose-built hostel for a similar purpose on
a site in Lewisham which was already in its possession. The latter proposal was to be the
subject of a local enquiry under the Town and Country Planning Acts.
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