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Counselling Clinics.
In April, 1967 Counselling Clinics were inaugurated for parents of children with
impaired mental development. Their purpose is to ensure that each slow developing
child does have the advantage of physical examinations in the same way as the child
attending a child welfare centre and to provide counselling facilities for all parents of
mentally handicapped children including discussion of day to day problems.
The clinics at present held at Kings Road, Richmond, Hospital Bridge Road,
Whitton, and Windham Road, Richmond, are staffed by a senior medical officer, health
visitors, mental welfare officers and social workers, and are confined to the attendance
of children from birth to 15 years. These clinics have proved to be most successful and
parents are appreciative of the help given and the opportunity of meeting parents with
similar problems.
Number of attendances 144 (of which 22 were first attendances).
Harle House Junior Training Centre.
This 40 place temporary junior training centre at Cardinal Road, Feltham, was
opened on the 9th January, 1968. Harle House is the property of the Hounslow,
Twickenham and District Society for Mentally Handicapped Children and is leased to
the Council. The building is particularly well suited for training centre purposes and
has a large hall, nursery and other classrooms, offices, toilets and adequate storage.
There is sufficient out'door play space. School meals are provided by the London
Borough of Hounslow School Meals Service and my thanks are due to Mrs. K.
Robinson the School Meals Organiser for the area, who has been most helpful throughout
the year. The children are transported to and from the Centre from various parts
of the Borough by private hire coach.
The Centre is staffed with a Supervisor, three Assistant Supervisors and one
domestic assistant.
When the Centre opened, trainees were transferred from the Kingston Training
Centre and the Hanworth Junior Training School and 30 places were allocated at the
end of 1968.
Despite staffing problems caused by absence of staff due to training and sickness
and difficulties of recruitment, many interesting projects were undertaken in which the
trainees themselves participated. Reading sessions, woodwork, cooking, gardening,
handcraft, and religious knowledge were some of the school activities undertaken, also
music and movement lessons, free expression dancing to records, percussion, singing and
knowledge of sounds and instruments. Outdoor activities included shopping expeditions,
visits to local places of interest and to the local children's library.
Other events throughout the year included an 'Open Day' held during Mental
Health Week, a Christmas party with fancy dress competition, and on one occasion
colour slides were taken of the children to encourage group co-operation and self
confidence.
There was one evening meeting with parents in September, 1968. Trainees were
invited to a Christmas party held at the Richmond County School for Girls, as the
result of which the lower sixth form at the school are anxious to maintain this connection
by continuing to give their time to helping at the Centre.
Plans are being made for an extension of outside activities in the future by visits
to the Zoo, to a large demonstration farm, a model village, London Airport and for an
educational river trip. It is also proposed that the trainees participate in a "team day"
to be held at the Richmond County School and to which parents will be invited.
Mrs. A. Dolan, N.A.M.H. Dip., who was appointed Supervisor at the opening
of the Centre, resigned on 15 th September, 1968 to undertake further education pursuits,
and Miss B. Bunce, Assistant Supervisor, was appointed in her place. Miss Bunce,
N.A.M.H. Dip., was however, seconded in September, 1968, to a nine month's course
for the purpose of obtaining the certificate in special education awarded by the Oxford
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