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Rehabilitation Plans for a 40-place centre at Fullwell Cross were given provisional
Centre approval by the Department of Health and Social Security. We hove
ceived advice on the design of the workshop from the Department of
Employment and Productivity, and have found their interest most helpful
and encouraging. It is intended to provide a standard of rehabilitation
procedures not unlike those offered at I.R.U's. though for a longer period
of time, for 30 patients with psychiatric and 10.with physical disabilities.
The Centre should also be of assistance in preparing for work
school leavers not yet ready for employment.
Other A promising development is an offer by the Authority to consider
Projects the possibility of finding accommodation for suitable long-stay patients
from local psychiatric hospitals, in either warden-supervised flatlets or
in houses for Group Homes. The initiative for this scheme came from
Claybury Hospital, which is preparing a list of suitable patients in
collaboration with the Mental Health Service. This plan holds out hope
of a fuller and more dignified life for many people now only in hospital
for want of somewhat to go and someone to give them a little supervision
in the open community.
A hostel for adult mentally handicapped persons is planned for
1970/71. A suitable house (Woodside), to be adapted, is earmarked for
this purpose.
We should like to have a hostel for the Temporary Care of Mentally
Handicapped Children. If such a place existed in the locality, it would
open up new possibilities for giving planned relief to the families of
these children all the year round. Being a fairly costly scheme (though
probably extremely good value in alleviating stresses and strains), this
will no doubt have to await easier days. It should be possible to organise
such a venture on an inter-Borough basis.
Goodwill Club This continues to provide light social diversions. As soon as time
allows we should like to increase its scope and widen its function.
Madeira The weekly play group for mentally handicapped children under the
Grove aegis of Health Visitors, provides relief and very useful introductory
Clinic and advisory services to their mothers. This clinic also serves as a
regular meeting place for discussion groups for patients discharged from
Claybury Hospital and their relatives, with hospital and Iocal authority
staff; this is felt to be an economic way of offering after-care.