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39
Appendix I gives the statistics for 1948, the same as in previous
years, and needs little comment. The most significant point is,
that at the end of the year 100 cases remained on the waiting list.
That is to say the Child Guidance Centre was not able to keep
pace with the referrals from the Educational Psychologist, the
waiting list having increased by 48 in the year.
It would not be possible for us to deal with these cases without
an increase of personnel, and it is hardly possible for us to add any
extra workers in the premises we occupy at 70, Uxbridge Road.
For this reason it was proposed in the course of the year that
additional premises should be found elsewhere and to make it
possible to add the staff necessary to cope with the increasing work,
and also to decentralise the Centre to some extent.
Changes in Staff.
In August, 1948, Miss Lewis, the Educational Psychologist,
resigned. Her going was greatly regretted, and the co-operation
and help that she gave the Centre in working with the
schools was very much appreciated. At the end of the year no
successor had been appointed and it is therefore probable that
the Centre's waiting list will not increase so rapidly in 1949 as
in 1948, so that it may be possible to catch up with the arrears.
In the course of 1948 the Child Guidance Centre lost the
services of Dr. Bick, Play Therapist, and Miss M. Browne, Psychiatric
Social Worker. Both were outstanding in their own spheres
and their departure was very much regretted.
In August, 1948, Miss Maisie Holt was appointed as Play
Therapist, and at the beginning of October, Miss J. A. Game
took up the post of Psychiatric Social Worker.
The long interval between the resignation of one member
of the staff and her replacement has led to a slowing down in
the possibility of treatment. Particular difficulties were experienced
because of the long period with only one Psychiatric Social Worker,
but the Centre was fortunate in being able to get the part-time
services of Mrs. Louise Bruce to help with arrears of work that had
accumulated.
Great difficulty is still experienced in obtaining residential
treatment for many cases. There was some improvement in this
respect in 1948.
Children of Primary School Age.
The County's own school, the Red House, Tadworth, should
give a little help in the placement of maladjusted children of
primary school age, of moderate ability and attainment; but the
places available to any one Clinic will not be more than one or
two a year. The allocation of places to Middlesex at the Mulberry