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boarded out. In certain circumstances the authority may assume parental
rights of a child. It may also act as a fit person under the Children and
Young Person Act, 1953, when the Court commits a child to their care.
It has a further responsibility for the supervision of children who are
maintained apart from their parents for reward.
The Children's Officer of the Middlesex County Council is Miss J.
Rowell of 10 Great George Street, S.W.I. (Tel. No. Trafalgar 7799). In
this area the work is carried out by the Area Children's Officer, Miss
Susan Boag, at Kynaston Court.
The Mentally III and the Mentally Defective
The mental health services are integrated with the other health
services established under the National Health Service Act. The duties of
the local health authority include responsibility for the initial care and
conveyance to hospital of patients who need to be dealt with under the
Mental Health Act, and for the ascertainment and community care of
mental defectives. The Health Committee of the County Council is
responsible for the mental health functions of the Authority.
Harrow is part of the central division of the County which is served
byShenley Hospital. The Mental Welfare Officer, Mr. W. J. Pedel, and other
officers, work at Balnacraig Avenue, Neasden, N.W.10 (Gladstone 8624).
Attached to this office are two psychiatric social workers who advise and
help people suffering from mental illness aggravated by social conditions.
The services of a Mental Welfare Officer needed out of office hours can be
obtained by telephoning County Fire Control (Wembley 1121) asking for
County Control who will arrange for the message to be passed on to the
Mental Welfare Officer who is on call.
A consulting clinic is attended on the mornings of the fourth Wednesday
in each month at the clinic, Elmwood Avenue, Kenton, by Dr.
Bennett or by Dr. Fidler of the Mental Health Section of the Health
Service of the County Council. This is particularly useful for helping
parents who have only just learnt that their baby is mentally abnormal
in some way.
Children who are mentally retarded but are nevertheless educable
are admitted to the Shaftesbury School for the educationally subnormal,
those more retarded and who are considered ineducable might be helped
by attending the Special Training School at Rayners Lane, at which in the
earlier stages emphasis is placed on habit training in order to teach the
children to become socially adapted.
The Harrow Society for Mentally Handicapped Children which is
affiliated to the National Society, works to promote the better appreciation
and the welfare of all mentally handicaped children in the district.
The year saw the introduction of the provisions of the Mental Health
Act, 1959 which will start the development of services in the home
Provided by the Mental Welfare authorities with less emphasis on the
removal and retention at institutions of those suffering from mental
disorders.