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Holiday Camp for the Mentally Subnormal
The Enfield Health Department undertook the organisation of the Junior Camp and children from
Enfield and Haringey attended this holiday at St. Mary's Bay, Dymchurch. This Authority made the
necessary arrangements for the adult holiday for the two boroughs. The venue chosen was a
private hotel at Walmer in Kent, both of these holidays were most successful.
Residential Long Term Accommodation for Mentally Subnormal Patients
This Authority maintained 38 patients in residential Homes during the year, the majority are placed
in the Brighton and Hove area where the Guardianship Society boards them out in private households.
It was not necessary to make any compulsory guardianship placements during the year.
Social Clubs for the Mentally Handicapped
I regret to say that during the period under review the Golden Gateway Club had through force of
circumstances to close its doors, the leader having left the district and the secretary was unable
to carry on owing to personal ill health,however,the Roundabout Club still meets on Monday evenings
at the Hornsey Centre for Handicapped Children and is supported by the Haringey West Society
for Mentally Handicapped Children. The Doddy Club meets on Tuesday evenings at Earlsmead
School, Broad Lane, and serves the eastern side of the borough and receives the support of the
Haringey East Society. Both of these clubs put on a full social programme for their members,
organising a number of outside visits and interests throughout the year.
Hospital Placements for the Mentally Subnormal
As in previous years the difficulties in placing mentally subnormal persons in permanent care in
catchment hospitals still exists, and this situation has shown no signs whatsoever of improving
during the year.
Conclusion
Work in the mental health field has progressed quite rapidly over the past two or three years, in the
first five years since the borough was formed, community facilities will have been provided for 80
adult subnormals in Training Centres, Junior Training School placements for 108 children, this of
course includes special care and nursery placements; a hostel for 15 adult male subnormals; a
psycho-geriatric Day Centre for 12 elderly mentally ill persons. The establishment in liaison with
theP.R.A. of a Day Centre for the mentally ill and the setting up of the various Clubs for the mentally
ill. At times requests are made for preventive work to be undertaken where the person has not
yet needed hospital treatment but without casework and psychiatric aid may well break down. The
provision of mental health community care for these people, illustrates how positive preventive
work may be done, but to develop this aspect of service more staff are required.