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The centre will not be run as an industrial unit and therefore as the
need arises, patients will be seen by a social worker and the disablement
re-settlement officer and a decision reached regarding future placement
in one of the following:—
(i) Industrial Resettlement Unit.
(ii) Adult Training Centre.
(iii) Industry or Commerce.
The staff at the centre will consist of a supervisor, two assistant
supervisors and cleaning assistance.
The total cost of this centre, together with the building alterations
which were necessary to the Day Centre for the Elderly Mentally 111 was
approximately £28,700. The Council's Department of Architecture and
Planning designed the building.
Boarding Out Scheme—Under this scheme suitable lodgings are found
in the community for those persons who it is felt are capable of fending
for themselves provided adequate social work support is given. Rents up
to £6 6s. Od. per week (even more in exceptional cases) are guaranteed
and should a patient have to return to hospital for a period of treatment,
provided the landlady concerned is prepared to re-accommodate the
patient on discharge from hospital, and also provided the patient concerned
wishes to return to the same accommodation, the Authority pays
a retaining fee of up to 50% of the rent for the period involved.
Although there was one patient so placed at the beginning of the year,
there were no cases placed in such accommodation at the end of 1969.
Mental Nursing Homes—There is only one registered mental nursing
home within the Borough which accommodates 56 patients. This was
visited at periodic intervals during the year and found to be satisfactory.
Community Care—Mentally Subnormal
The total number of subnormal and severely subnormal patients
under care in the community at the end of 1969 was 439 (231 males and
208 females) (see table II). The number of cases referred for care during
the year was 64 (36 males and 28 females) (see table IV).
Table III gives details of the number of cases dealt with by the social
workers during the year.
Close liaison is maintained with the maternity and child welfare
services and all cases referred to the department under 5 years of age
continue to be visited by the health visitors after initial visits by the
Principal Medical Officer and social worker.
Every assistance is given to patients and to relatives with any problems
they may have and with such support many subnormal and severely
subnormal patients of all ages are able to live in the community.