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101
Combined Day
Centre for Mentally-Ill
and
Physically
Handicapped
Towards the end of the year, we obtained provisional agreement
from the Ministry for planning a Combined Day-Centre for
the rehabilitation of the physically-handicapped and the mentally
ill and are engaged in the detailed working out of its
design, staffing and programming. We are also studying, in
conjunction with our local hospitals, the feasibility ot a hostel
for psychiatric patients, and think that this is likely to become
a definite plan in 1967.
Social Clubs
for Mentally 111
Thought is being given to ways of improving and expanding
the functions of the two Social Clubs for mentally ill patients
which have been run on a regular basis for some time; we hope
to interest voluntary workers in giving us a hand with these. We
are also endeavouring to find people with the interest and time
to take part in founding and running a local branch of the
National Association for Mental Health in Redbridge; such a
body should be able to do much to improve the scope, pace and
effectiveness of a variety of community-care projects. The
existence and achievements of the Redbridge Society for Mentally
handicapped Children should provide a most helpful
stimulus in furthering such an undertaking.
Case
Conferences on
Special School
Leavers
We have, this year, taken steps to improve the provision of
support and advice to educationally subnormal and other special
school-leavers by increasing the frequency of conferences and
instituting a follow-up procedure; this task should become
easier and also more productive when Redbridge children can
attend local E.S.N. Classes in September, 1967. We have come
to the conclusion that a substantial number of these schoolleavers
will require further support for between five and ten
years- this will make heavy but worthwhile demands on the
Youth Employment and other social services.
Creches for
Mentally Handicapped
Children
Support and advice is also being given to mothers of mentally
handicapped children attending two special creches in
the Borough. This, like other provision for the pre-school
child, and his mother, is likely to be increasing in demand, and
of great preventive value.
Long Term
Planning
As far as more long-range projects are concerned, the
residential needs of the mentally handicapped, both short and
long-stay, will soon have to be thought about, as well as
provision of sheltered workshop facilities both for sub-normal
and psychiatric patients; these two types of provision will
probably have to be coupled in planning and construction.