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The local authority should therefore aim not only at providing
training and occupation for the higher grade cases to develop their
potential, but should also give support in those homes where the
more severe cases reside and provide a day care service and shortterm
care to allow parents some respite from the continued strain
for periods during the day and for holidays.
It will be seen from Table 16 that the number of mentally
subnormal children and adults being cared for within the community
totalled 450.
Training Centres
The Borough has a comprehensive Training Centre providing
day care which includes social training, education and
occupation for 72 junior and 50 adults. It became obvious
from early on in the life of the new Health and Welfare Department
that this provision was inadequate and, as mentioned
in my introductory letter, this problem has been recognised
by the Council and the Ministry of Health and plans are going
forward for a purpose-built Adult Training Centre providing
200 places.
The Junior Training Wing has continued to provide social
training and basic education and it is pleasing that there was
little difficulty in filling the staff vacancies that occurred. A
very close working relationship was built up between the staff
at the Centre and the parents.
Included in the Junior Centre are ten Special Care cases.
It is hoped that the Special Care Unit will be provided during
1966.
Adult Training Wing
Overcrowding presented a problem at this Centre, but in
spite of this great strides were made in increasing industrialisation
during the year. Through the efforts of the Supervisor
contracts were obtained from various firms in the locality of
the Centre and other departments within the Authority have
begun to realise the potential of this Centre and have promised
to place contracts with the Centre in the future.
Parent/Teachers' Association
An exciting venture was the formation of a Parent/
Teachers' Association. On my initiative parents of children
and adults attending the Centre were invited to an exploratory
meeting on 28th July at which it was decided to set up a Parent/
Teachers' Association with Officers of the Health and Welfare
Department accepting vital roles for the initial twelve months,
with the intention of the parents themselves assuming responsibility
after this. Much good will no doubt accrue from this
association, and the help of the parents in this direction is
greatly appreciated.
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