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emphasis placed on craft work and the production of useful articles. Carpentry and other
crafts are taught to the boys and the older girls receive instruction in domestic crafts,
such as cookery, laundry work and needlework. Industrial outwork has been introduced
at most of the adult centres ; to stimulate this form of activity, an industrial manager
was appointed in 1961 to negotiate orders for and generally supervise the work. There is
no doubt that this new activity has been welcomed by the trainees, who have shown
keenness capable of quite a wide range of work. Income received by the Council for the
work done is shared between the trainees who take part in it.
At the three industrial training centres, to which the most promising boys are transferred
on the recommendation of the industrial manager, the trainees concentrate on
industrial work. Two of the centres carry out work for the Council's Supplies department,
orders to the value of about £4,000 having been completed in 1964 and the third undertakes
work for outside firms. Each trainee at an industrial centre receives a daily payment
of 3s., a figure calculated on the annual profits of the three centres. Some trainees from
industrial centres have been able to secure and keep outside employment, but for the
majority the centres must serve as a form of sheltered workshop.
Part-time centres for older mentally subnormal persons—The need for centres of this
kind was not regarded as a first priority when the Council's development plans were
formulated, but it is now evident. A plan for an experimental centre in Camberwell in
1964 unfortunately had to be abandoned, as the premises it was hoped to use were no longer
available.
Training and occupation at home—When the Council made proposals under the Mental
Health Act two 'home teachers' were employed to give instruction and occupation to
mentally handicapped persons who were prevented by an additional handicap from
attending training centres; about 40 persons were visited in 1959. A third home teacher
was appointed in 1960 and since the number of persons receiving teaching remains roughly
the same, it has been possible to increase the amount of attention devoted to each one.
The opening of the special care unit at the Bethnal Green training centre resulted in
less demand for 'home teachers' for children living in north east London and the opening
of further special care units should have a similar effect.
Rehabilitation, training and occupation of mentally ill persons
In its proposals for the development of day centres for mentally ill persons the Council
placed emphasis on rehabilitation rather than occupation and proposed to provide such
centres as necessary and practicable, both directly and through voluntary bodies on a
grant-aided basis. Similarly, it proposed to give support to the running of social clubs
by voluntary bodies and to make such direct provision as may be necessary. It also intended
to participate in the provision of such psychiatric day hospitals as were considered appropriate
within the limits of its statutory functions, generally by making available the services
of occupational therapists and social workers.
Day rehabilitation centres—The Council's first day rehabilitation centre, Clifton
Lodge, Hackney, opened in 1960 to provide for the rehabilitation of 40 persons who had
been suffering from some form of mental illness with a view to their ultimate return to
full community life. At first only traditional occupational therapy was available, but
in 1961 a start was made on industrial work obtained through local firms and this work
now forms a major part of the activity of the centre. Originally, all the persons attending
were referred from the main psychiatric hospital serving the area but increasing numbers
of referrals are now received from other sources. During 1964 there were 26 persons
admitted to the centre and at the end of the year 34 persons were on the register.
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