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The success of Community Care for the subnormal depends to a great extent on
team effort and a satisfactory relationship between the families concerned and all other
bodies, statutory and voluntary, who are active on their behalf. I am glad to report
excellent liaison between all interested persons which has resulted in a sharing of
experience and in the improvement of facilities.
This has been an eventful year for the families of the handicapped, although some
may think, regretfully, that the benefits have come a little too late to ease their parti'
cular problem. Since we now have a junior training school, adult training centre and
a hostel within the Borough, communications have become easier and the links between
the patients, their relatives and professional staff have been strengthened. With the
starting of a pre-nursery class at Strathmore Road School very much younger children
have been able to benefit from skilled teaching, involving only a short coach journey,
and soon it is hoped that other very young people with special problems will be admitted
to the special care unit in 1971.
Each new referral occasions a home visit by a senior medical officer to see the child
and to determine how best to help him and his family. In addition to further supportive
visits by health visitors or social workers, parents may be invited to join in discussion
groups with other parents and staff members at counselling clinics.
Counselling Clinics.
When these clinics were first set up in 1967 they had a two-fold purpose — to
ensurc that each mentally handicapped child had the advantage of a physical examination
in the same way as other children and also to afford the opportunity to small groups
of parents to meet and discuss their problems with each other and with a senior medical
officer, social workers and health visitors. All children at Strathmore Road School have
an annual medical examination to which parents are invited. The medical officer is in
close touch with the children through weekly visits to the school. Some meetings have
consisted of parents only. These have proved to be a great success and will be continued
although, on some occasions, children will continue to be invited as well.
These clinics are held once a week, either at Kings Road, Richmond, or at Hospital
Bridge Road, Whitton. During 1970 there were 124 attendances.
Periodic Medical Examination of the Adult Mentally Subnormal.
Counselling Clinics for parents of mentally handicapped adults are held at various
clinics throughout the Borough.
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