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Kitchen - The original kitchen was enlarged so that it can be used for training
and demonstration purposes. e.g. for a housewives group, as well as being able to
provide light refreshments for large social gatherings, to dish up the mid-day
meals provided through the school meals service, etc.
Quiet Room - This has been furnished as a lounge and is available for use
throughout the day for any individual wishing to get away from the main stress
of the centre. Apart from the lunch break this room is not sought after and
plans are in hand to use it for group therapy sessions.
Medical Room and Sick Bay - This is used by the consultant psychiatrist once
a week for his conference with centre staff and mental welfare officers and
for anyone who feels "seedy" but for much of the time this room provides a
retreat for staff wishing to catch up with "paper work".
Store Room - In the original lay-out of the building it was proposed that a
créche should be included so as to make it easier for the married woman with
a young child to accept a centre placement. This facility is still something
for the future because from the moment the centre was opened storage space
became a major problem and so temporarily the créhe has become a storeroom.
However, within the next two years the Centre is due to inherit a large
transportable pre-cast concrete annexe which at present is part of the junior
training centre for the mentally sub-normal soon due for replacement.
General - It was agreed that apart from initial colour washes the decor of the
building should be left so that the talents of the centre-goers could be
exploited. Lampshades, pictures and a large mural have already been added to
give the premises 'character'.
Aims and functions of the Day Centre
These were defined briefly as follows:-
1. To enable in-patients at Warley Hospital, etc., to be
discharged earlier than they would otherwise.
2. To prevent the mentally ill from becoming mental hospital
in-patients.
Admissions to the Day Centre
It was decided that all requests for admission whether from a family
doctor or hospital should be made in writing so that all admissions could be
agreed upon by the Centre staff, the Principal Mental Welfare Officer and
the Senior Medical Officer in charge of the Mental Health Service, who would
also have access to the Borough's Consultant Psychiatrist, if need be.
It was further decided that initially all centre-goers would be expected
to make their own way to and from the centre but that bus and train fares would
be paid in needy cases.
In practice it has been found that in special cases such as patients
suffering from agoraphobia (fear of open spaces) it would be a distinct
advantage to give door to door transport but this facility can only be arranged
when more transport is available to the Department because existing minibuses
are already fully committed.
The Centre is at present open for full-time attendance by all cases from
Monday to Friday from 9.30 a.m. to 4.30 p.m. throughout the year.
Staff
In view of the need to build up the Centre gradually it was decided that
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