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from psychiatric hospitals particularly those who
have been in patients for several years The
Industrial Therapy Organisation (Thames) Ltd.
does valuable work with patients for whom
industrial employment is suitable and the Wood
Lane hostel provides accommodation and rehabilitation
for patients who have no suitable
home. The great diversity of interests circum
stances and appropriate employments however,
demand additional facilities It is hoped that the
day centre at 92 Bath Road Hounslow planned
to open in 1970 will meet at least some of this
need.
It cannot be stressed strongly enough that
as in the field of subnormality if community
care is to be a real alternative to hospital care
for mentally ill patients there must be adequate
facilities and an adequate number of medical
and social workers to support their families If
patients are to be deflected from hospital it is
clear that the staff to treat and support them and
their relatives in the community must also be
increased
Mental Health Social Workers
One post of senior mental health social
worker remained vacant throughout the year for
the lack of a suitably qualified and experienced
applicant Mr P Jenkinson joined the staff as
a mental health social worker but left to go to
a neighbouring borough after five months.
Congratulations are extended to two senior
mental health social workers Messrs Kenyon and
Williams who returned in August after gaining
the Certificate in Social Work. In September,
Messrs Mason and VaIlare IIi commenced two-year
courses of study leading to the same certificate
and it is hoped they will have the same success.
Heston Day Centre
This 30 place centre fa elderly confused persons
opened on 14th August 1968 with 8 patients. The
demand for places grew steadily and at the end
of December 26 were attending. Remarkable
improvement was noted in many of the patients,
and they and their families were most appreciative
and attendance at the centre made it possible to
avoid or delay admission to hospital The demand
continues to increase and consideration is being
given to enlarging the capacity of the centre and
perhaps opening similar centres in other parts
of the borough.
The success of this day centre is due largely
to the enthusiasm and hard work of the Superin
tendent Mrs Kenneally and her staff and also to
the mental health social workers who contributed
much beyond their normal duties paticularly in
the first few months when the recruitment of a
driver and other staff proved difficult.
Projects
Hostel for Recovering Mentally III Patients.
The building of a 25 place hostel at the Orchard,
Staines Road 3edfont. is proceeding and it is
anticipated that it will be ready for occupation in
July 1969 This will be in substitution for the hostel
at 24 Wood Lane, Isleworth which because of its
proximity to the Acton Lodge Adult Training Centre
will then be used to accommodate mentally sub
normal adults. The new hostel will include a
patients flat designed to accommodate a married
couple or family who need a supportive atmosphere
to enable them to cope with everyday problems of
re-adjustment or single patients requiring a trial
period before deciding their fitness to care for them
selves.
Sheltered Workshop
The department is involved with the Welfare
Department in a project to provide a sheltered work
shop for both mentally handicapped persons and
physically handicapped persons but no site was
available by the end of 1968.
24 Wood Lane, Isleworth
The following report has been submitted by Mr H
Marshall resident warden of the hostel.
In the third year of functioning the hostel
admitted 30 residents discharged 22 seven to
hospital who subsequently were re-admitted Of
the total 20 were residents of Hounslow,
Applications from all sources are sympathetically
received I myself taking the view that each case
can present a worthwhile challenge and only certain
applicants needing specialised after-care would be
refused
The needs of the residents were similar to those
of the first two years, with perhaps fewer chronic
cases In many instances the hostel continued to
give support after discharge by the way of providing
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