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ascertained during the year. Of these, 10 (6 males and 4 females) were reported by the
Local Education Authority; 1 case was reported from other sources.
Eight of these cases (6 males and 2 females) were placed under Statutory supervision
and the others were admitted to hospital.
In addition to the ascertained persons, 23 other cases came to the notice of the
department. Twenty one were placed under friendly supervision; and two were still under
investigation at the end of the year.
Supervision. At the end of the year 257 mental defectives (135 males and 122 females)
were under statutory supervision, 39 under friendly supervision and 4 on licence from
institutions.
These cases were visited by the Mental Health Officers at approximately quarterly
intervals or more frequently if need be. In addition, informal contacts were maintained
with other cases who it was felt might be in need of friendly help or guidance, i.e.
border-line cases and those discharged from Order.
The majority of the defectives under statutory supervision are in fairly regular
employment and self-supporting. Those defectives considered capable of working but finding
difficulty in obtaining employment of a suitable nature are referred to the Disablement
Resettlement Officer and consultation takes place to decide the most suitable occupational
placing.
Visits in connection with the Mental Deficiency Acts during the year were as follows:-
Cases under supervision 723*
Cases on licence from institutions 16
Reports for licence, holidays, etc., from the
institutions 15
Reports for Visitors 23
Other visits including after-care, etc. 237
1,014
* Includes 295 visits made by Health Visitors to
defectives under 16 years of age.
Guardianship. There was 1 defective under guardianship at the end of the year.
This case a girl aged 24 years, who lives outside the borough,is visited at approximately
six-monthly intervals by a member of the Health Committee and by one of the Council's
medical officers.
Temporary Accommodation for Defectives. During the year arrangements were made
for 13 defectives to receive temporary care. Seven were females aged 51, 26, 14, 12, 7,
5 and 5 years and six were males aged 18, 14, 11, 10, 9 and 7 years. All were accommodated
at South Ockendon Institution by the kind permission of the Physician Superintendent.
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