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Subnormal Working Boys, some of whom could by now be considered almost ready to leave this very sheltered
environment, and also to some of the ladies' in the Post-Hospital Unit, 73 Wembley Park Drive.
With these reflections in mind, the part-time post of Mental Health Social Worker with mainly boarding
out duties has been created and it is hoped that results will justify the expenditure involved.
The Hostel, 9 Willesden Lane
This establishment was handed over by the Borough Architect on 1st March, 1967. Another six
weeks or so then passed before the premises were fit to receive the first patients.
The building is a conversion of the old Kilburn Clinic. Attached is a newly constructed small house
for the Superintendent. It is designed for 27 men and women in need of rehabilitation after a stay in a
psychiatric hospital (in the majority of cases this will be Shenley Hospital). There is no age limit but in
practice a range of 18—55 years will most likely be applicable. The Hostel is staffed by a superintendent, a
deputy/assistant superintendent (both these are resident posts), a housekeeper, a cook and domestic workers.
The Senior Medical Officer holds overall responsibility and a designated Mental Health Social Worker advises
on certain aspects of patient rehabilitation.
The project bristled with difficulties right from the very beginning. Admission policy was structured in
such a way that only patients who fulfilled certain criteria were to be considered—the main one being a reasonable
prognosis regarding their return to competitive employment and eventually full independence. It was decided
not to include certain diagnostic categories, i.e. alcoholics and drug addicts as it was felt that elements of
this kind would be too disruptive. It was hoped that the admission of short term cases would make the best
use of the facilities available for a maximum number of patients. As might have been expected judging from
the experiences of other local authority hostels, patients who fulfil all or even most of these criteria are very
rare and so right from the beginning, it appeared this policy decision would have to be revised.
An unexpected difficulty arose when patients were told of the maximum charge of £7.16.0 per week.
To patients resident in Shenley Hospital who go out to work daily as some do, the maximum charge is only
£4.15.0. They naturally resented on admission to the hostel having to pay substantially more. Since then a
review of the charges has removed this anomaly and our patients are now no longer financially penalized when
leaving the hospital.
Patients hospitalized for many years, yet now cured of their original illness, but still subject to a
certain instability, presented a further problem. It was felt unreasonable to expect this type of person to fit into
the new life within the community, severing abruptly all ties with their old life immediately. It was therefore
proposed to invite such patients to spend a weekend or two at the hostel to facilitate rehabilitation. Shenley
Hospital Management Committee therefore agreed to cover local authority charges for this kind of short stay.
There should, of course, be very few cases for whom arrangements of this kind will have to be made.
Staffing difficulties arose almost immediately. Although the then Superintendent with his wife as
housekeeper had been in residence since October 1966, they remained the only available staff for many months.
It was not possible to recruit an assistant until October 1967, and even a cook and domestic help proved
unobtainable until well into the autumn. Small wonder that nerves got frayed when circumstances became
difficult although the admission of patients was limited in number accordingly. The Superintendent and his wife
tendered their resignation and left in October 1967. It was not possible for the newly appointed Superintendent
to commence until the new year, and in the meantime other arrangements were made. The Senior Mental
Welfare Officer and his family generously offered to step into the breach provisionally, an offer that was
gratefully accepted. Eventually his daughter (an S.R.N.) became acting Superintendent. In this way it was
possible to avoid hostel closure which would have been undesirable although only a handful of patients were
in residence at the time.
The consultant psychiatrists of Shenley Hospital have expressed their opinion that much closer liaison
in hostel matters was desirable to ensure the satisfactory progress of their patients. It had been envisaged that
outpatient appointments would suffice to keep up the link between patient and hospital doctor. However, this
proved not to be a satisfactory solution. This led to one of the hospital psychiatric consultants counselling staff
in a liaison capacity.
On many grounds this hostel should prove a great asset to the community care of the mentally ill
because it has all the ingredients that make for success. The premises themselves are most attractive, catering
for both the physical and spiritual needs of residents. There are two lounges and a dining room. In addition,
the living quarters' offer scope for games in a suitably designed room. Recreational facilities include television,
radio, record player, etc. Residents are encouraged to look after their own clothes (there are excellent laundry
facilities in the utility room) and their own small kitchen allows them to become somewhat independent should
they wish to cook an individual meal. They are all expected to cook their own breakfast and to further their
self-reliance they are encouraged to make their beds and generally care for their bedrooms.
Being city dwellers, Brent patients have again got to get used to the noise and hustle of urban life.
The Hostel is able to provide the background for this as it is situated in a very busy London street with many
shops and excellent transport facilities. Places of work are near and plentiful even today and a person has
to be very handicapped indeed not to find suitable employment within easy travelling distance from the Hostel.
We are particularly fortunate to be able to offer to those in need a short period at the Occupational Therapy
Day Centre, Bertie Road, Willesden, which is only a short distance by bus. An interim period there helps
the acclimatisation process while awaiting employment. Attendance at this Centre also affords a good
opportunity for the Disablement Rehabilitation Officer who calls there weekly to get acquainted with the
residents' work potential.
Some use is still made of hostels provided by other local authorities or voluntary organisations for
which this Council accepts financial1 responsibility.
The reasons for this are various. The patient may be over working age or the presenting symptom
may need special facilities (drug addicts and alcoholics are cases in point). On occasions a Brent patient may