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Centre, and additional staff was recruited, including students of Teacher
Training Colleges and mothers of the trainees.
This Centre was attended by 34 trainees - junior and adult.
Holiday Camp Scheme
Holidays for trainees were arranged again this year at St. Mary's Bay
Holiday Centre, St. Mary's Bay, Kent.
A party of 36 trainees and staff from the Dagenham Adult Centre spent a
week at the Camp from the 28th April to the 5th May, and a further party of 22
children from Castle School and 35 senior girls from the Gale Street Centre
spent a week at the Camp from the 8th to 15th September.
Each party was accompanied by members of the staff of the Training Centre
concerned, and despite somewhat mixed weather, visits were made to places of
interest in the locality and the holidays were reported to be a success.
Mental Health Week
During Mental Health Week, the theme of which was "Work to be Done",
several projects were undertaken in conjunction with the local voluntary
associations.
A panel consisting of a mental welfare officer, a psychiatric social
worker, an occupational therapist, a psychiatric nurse, and a teacher of the
mentally handicapped, together with a voluntary worker, visited the two grammar
schools in the area to talk to senior pupils about their individual jobs and to
answer questions.
An exhibition was also mounted at the grammar schools and in the libraries
with appropriate literature for the various professions within the field of
mental health.
A wine and cheese party where Dr. Jones from Warley Hospital spoke about
schizophrenia was arranged at the Day Centre. This was well attended by
councillors, professional workers and members of the public.
Residential Care Difficulties
During the year much difficulty was still being encountered in obtaining
temporary and permanent care for sub-normal patients, especially in cases of
emergency. One young child had to be sent away as far as Derbyshire when his
mother was admitted to hospital. Despite their inability to provide permanent
care, South Ockendon Hospital nevertheless helped by providing out-patient
facilities where difficult cases were seen for consultation, diagnosis and
treatment.
Student Placements
Each month, two medical students from St. Bartholomew's Hospital who were
doing a practical placement at Warley Hospital spent some time in the mental
health section to gain an insight into the problems of community care.
A post-graduate student undertaking a social studies course at Bedford
College spent a month in the mental health section on a practical placement.
A request for similar placement next year has been received and agreed to.
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