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At the end of the year, there were 5 defectives in the area awaiting institutional
accommodation. Three of these, adult males and former poor law patients, are In Forest
Gate Hospital not under Order and are on the waiting list for admission to South Ockendon
Institution.
Home Training. No special arrangements existed for the home training of defectives. Though
likely to be limited In extent, there may well be a potential need for this type of provision
which may require consideration in future years.
Occupation Centre. Eighteen new cases were admitted to the children's Occupation Centre.
Discharges from the Centre were as follows
3 children were admitted to South Ockendon Hospital
1 child, who was on licence, was returned to South Ockendon Hospital
2 children were transferred to an E.S.N, special school
1 child proved unsuitable
1 child left the centre
1 child spent one day only at the Centre: this was an adopted child and the parents
would not accept the fact that he was a mentally defeotive person
1 boy was found work
1 girl went home to help her widower father with domestic work.
Thus, at the end of the year there was a total of 57 children on the register as compared
with 50 at the end of 1954. It is very likely that soon the number of children attending the
Occupation Centre will increase to such an extent that the existing accommodation will not be
sufficient for them. Furthermore, the present accommodation cannot really be considered as
anything but temporary.
In March, one of the Assistant Supervisors who had formerly worked at the Centre was reappointed
to the staff and took over the Intermediate group and seven senior girls. These two
groups have progressed particularly well, especially those who have been trained in domestic work.
In March, in order to provide adequate transport,temporary arrangements were made for a
private car to be hired In addition to the coach. The car was discontinued in July and when the
Centre re-opened in September a further coach started operating under contract arrangements and
has proved a great help to the staff in enabling them to cope with the children while on coach
duty. Previously the overcrowding had made this difficulty a nightmare for the Supervisor concerned.
In the same month the Handicraft Instructor commenced the two-year in-service course for the
Diploma for Teachers of Mentally Handicapped Children. While he is away from the Centre some reorganisation
will be necessary.
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