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PERSONAL HEALTH
The Works Safety Committee met on one occasion and considered various
aspects of safety in regard to trainees and staff. The centre is an affiliated
member of the British Safety Council.
The manager and staff continued the club for trainees which is held on the
premises from 3.00 p.m. onwards every Friday. Activities included dancing,
singing, ten pin bowling and other games. This club is affiliated to the
Federation of Gateway Clubs.
Hospital Admissions
Some severely subnormal persons are handicapped to such an extent that
only hospitals can provide the type of care they require. There was an acute
shortage of beds for such patients and South Ockenden Hospital had a long
waiting list. At the end of March 27 persons were on the waiting list,
including four urgent cases. To relieve this unhappy situation, the Council
had undertaken maintenance of six severely subnormal children in residential
homes - some at a considerable distance from Enfield - pending their
eventual transfer to hospital.
In February, the North East Metropolitan Regional Hospital Board intimated
that a 100-bed unit for the mentally handicapped had been opened at Little
High Wood, Brentwood.
Guardianship
At the end of March, five persons were under the formal guardianship of the
Council, suitable accommodation being provided in each case.
Residential
Accommodation and
informal Foster Care
Various voluntary homes and local authority hostels are used for the informal
accommodation of selected cases. The Guardianship Society, Hove, continued
to provide suitable foster homes for nineteen Enfield residents, thirteen of
whom attended training centres in the Brighton area. At the end of March,
the number of mentally subnormal persons maintained in residential homes
and hostels and in informal foster care was 72, including sixteen children.
"Cheviots" Hostel
"Cheviots", the Council's purpose-built twenty-place hostel for subnormal
children in Cheviot Close, Enfield, opened on 1st January, 1971, the
furnishing, equipping and staffing of the hostel having been completed
during the preceding months. At the end of March, four children were in
residence', one of whom had been withdrawn from hospital care.
"Cheviots" provides long-term and short-term care for children aged between
five and sixteen years in circumstances where they cannot be managed
satisfactorily in their own homes, and, in general, every endeavour is made for
the hostel to be run on similar lines to an ordinary children's home.
Admission is on medical recommendation and subject to acceptance by a
panel of officers appointed for this purpose. Children in residence attended
the Enfield Junior Training School to which they were conveyed daily under
arrangements made by the Council
Temporary Care
Short term residential care of subnormal persons is arranged to offer relief
to parents and guardians, usually at holiday times, to allow them to take a
carefree vacation. Two admissions were arranged during the quarter, both of
these being to Winifred House pre-convalescent hospital for children, Barnet
Gate, Arkley, Barnet.
Holiday Camps
Preparations were commenced during the quarter for a two weeks summer
camp for mentally subnormal children to be held at St. Mary's Bay
Holiday Camp, Dymchurch, Romney Marsh, Kent, and bookings were made
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