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Junior Training Schools
The two Junior Training Schools have had a successful year; emphasis has been
given in seeking new teaching techniques and encouraging social competence through
outside activities.
An excellent film has been made by the staff of Hendon Junior Training School
showing the whole range of school work and also some of the brilliantly organised
extra mural activities such as a youth hostelling weekend at Windsor.
The Prime Minister announced in the House of Commons in November that the
decision had been taken to transfer the responsibility for the education of severely
subnormal children from Health to the Education Services. This change will
undoubtedly necessitate substantial re-organisation to effect a smooth transfer and
minimise any possible disruption to the children. No decision has yet been made
regarding the future care of those severely handicapped children in the special care
units attached to the Junior Training Schools. Early settlement of the date of
transfer is not only important in the interests of the children but also in future
planning and legislation is anticipated during 1969. An important problem related to
the transfer of responsibility, which has not been clarified, is the question of
residential care of children who need to be away from their homes but do not need
psychiatric hospital placement.
Residential Care
This Council, has continued to maintain patients in a variety of homes. The
number of patients in informal foster care in homes or hostels run by voluntary
organisations was 50 in 1968, an increase of 9 over the previous year. Additionally
43 children and adults received periods of short term care.
A small but important contribution to residential care of child patients was made
by the completion during the year of a 10-place home for mentally disordered
children at "Harwood", 55 Christchurch Avenue, North Finchley, N.12.
Fieldways Adult Training Centre
It has been particularly encouraging to see that some trainees who were very
disturbed in other placements have improved to a considerable extent at this
Centre and also some progress has been made in the placement of trainees in
outside employment.
Hendon Adult Training Centre
This new purpose-built Centre for 40 mentally subnormal adults and young people
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