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27
CHILD GUIDANCE CLINIC
The Consultant Child Psychiatrist of the Croydon Child
Guidance Service - Dr. G. Crosse, W. B., B. S., D. P. M. - reports that
the start of a new decade in the Borough Child Guidance Service
was marked by the appointment of a full time Consultant Child
Psychiatrict and Educational Psychologist. This filled the only
gap in a mature and co-ordinated service, the fabric of which
has been slowly woven over the past twenty years. However, complacency
has been quite rightly eschewed, and the chief officers
of the three arms of the services - Hospital, Borough Health and
Education Department - have agreed on further developments aimed
at expanding the facilities, both curative and preventive. The
main proj ects are: -
1. A day Class for maladjusted children.
2. Evening Group activities for children attending the
Child Guidance Clinic at 103, Park Lane, Croydon.
3. Weekly Health Visitors Discussion Groups conducted
by the Child Psychiatrist. This has pure training
and educational motives and is linked with the overall
programme of prevention of mental illness in the
communi ty.
4. The strengthening of the Child Guidance team by the
inclusion of the Borough Educational Psychologist.
This will make another bridge between the Hospital
Service and the Local Authority.
These projects, however, are in no way to be considered the
limit of expansion. Until the day when we can boast of local
residential facilities for investigation and treatment of both
neurotic and psychotic children, the Child Guidance Service cannot
be regarded as being truly comprehensive.
Total number referred Boys 37
Girls 19