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subnormal at its Moorcroft Boarding Unit; children so placed attend the Junior Training School of
that Borough.
Holiday Camps
Junior holiday camps were arranged by the London Boroughs of Enfield and Harrow and places
were made available by those Boroughs for children to attend from the London Borough of Barnet.
The adult camp was again arranged by the London Borough of Enfield, and this Borough was allocated
twelve places. The holiday camps provide an invaluable service not only in giving relief to the
parents during the summer holiday period, but also in achieving independence for the boys and girls
attending, away from the normal home environment.
Community Care for the Subnormal and Severely Subnormal
Supervision in the Home
The home visiting of children under the age of 16 and their families is undertaken by Health
Visitors and a close co-operation is maintained with the Social Workers; the Mental Welfare Officer
continues to be responsible for the care of those over the age of 16. Medical consultation
with the Principal Medical Officer is available in either case. At the end of 1967 the number of
subnormal and severely subnormal children and adults in Community Care was 447.
Guardianship & Informal Foster Care
At the end of 1967 the Council had only one patient for whom it was responsible under guardianship
powers. Informal placements are made wherever practicable in order to avoid formal guardianship
procedures, but there is still a need for the provision of private foster homes particularly for
young mentally handicapped children. The number of patients in informal foster care or in homes or
hostels run by voluntary organisations and private foster homes increased slightly in 1967 to 41.
It is becoming increasingly difficult to obtain permanent placements where the home situation is
such that it is either unsuitable or unable to contain a subnormal member of the family. Apart from
the Guardianship Society there are a number of small private homes up and down the country that
are used and annual visits are arranged to these patients. Personal knowledge of the homes used
and a contact with patients out of the Borough is considered to be most necessary.
Hostels for the Subnormal
Work commenced in August, 1967 on the building of the short-term care hostel for 10 mentally
subnormal children which should be ready for occupation by mid-1968. This will fulfil an urgent
need and it is hoped to include a 24-place hostel for mentally subnormal adults in the plans for
Mental Health projects during the next three years. In the meantime two places are available for
adults at the London Borough of Brent Hostel at 191 Willesden Lane and one patient is resident in
the Hertfordshire County Council Hostel at St. Albans.
Junior Training Schools
The two Junior Training Schools continue to play an important part in the Borough's Mental
Health Service. New activities are being undertaken all the time and one that has been particularly
enjoyed by the children is the introduction of swimming lessons. Various visits and outings have
been arranged for the children to stimulate interest, and youth hostelling and camping are amongst
the new ventures.
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