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Training
A two-year course for teachers of the mentally handicapped is held at Chiswick Polytechnic.
The students are examined in educational psychology, mental subnormality, child development and
teaching methods. In addition to theory, practical training is also given. This course is a fairly recent
one, and the first course of its kind at Chiswick Polytechnic will end in July, 1966. There is one
sponsored student from this Borough on the course.
Further Education
It is felt that there are trainees who, after receiving training at the Centre, are handicapped in
obtaining employment by their inability to cope with simple letter writing, money transactions, telling
the time, etc. It is felt, therefore, that further education on these lines is a necessary provision, and
it is hoped that such arrangements will be made in future.
MENTAL ILLNESS
The domiciliary care of persons suffering from mental illness was a service taken over from the
Middlesex County Council in April 1965. At the end of April, however, the field work staff of the
Mental Health Section consisted of the Chief Mental Welfare Officer and his deputy. In these
circumstances it was impossible to give a complete service, but with the help of the Medical Officer
of Health and the Senior Medical Officers, a 24 hour on-call rota for emergencies was maintained.
This situation persisted until August, 1965. During this trying period the two officers concerned
received valued support, not only from the Medical Staff, but also from Health Visitors and the
Administrative Staff.
Conditions later improved, and it became possible to recruit suitable officers. By the end of the
year the field staff consisted of:
Chief Mental Welfare Officer
Deputy Chief Mental Welfare Officer
Four Mental Welfare Officers
One Trainee Mental Welfare Officer
As the field work staff was built up so it became possible for officers to maintain contact with
patients and their families whilst they were in hospital and to offer after-care assistance on their
discharge from hospital. It has been found that some doctors at St. Bernard's are now freely referring
other suitable cases to the department for after-care services. Many general practitioners in the
Borough are also referring cases for community help when there are family problems causing mental
stresses. A large proportion of these cases do not require hospital admission and can be helped by
patient counselling or possibly by psychiatric out-patient treatment—this the department usually
arranges with West Middlesex Hospital.
In addition, the mental welfare officers have been able to re-establish contact with the families
of adult subnormals residing in the Borough and to give them any support they may require.
Contact has been maintained with the Warden of Hayes Park Hostel and the services of a field
officer are available should one of the residents require either help with a social problem or readmission
to hospital.
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