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Child Guidance Service:
The Child Guidance Service for the West Essex
Division forms a part of the Harlow and West Essex Child
Guidance Service, the main clinic for which is centred
at Harlow. Children referred from the West Essex
Division are seen either at Harlow or at a new branch
Child Guidance Clinic which was set up earlier in 1966 at
Loughton Hall, The Harlow Clinic also serves the Harlow
Division, We have not been rigid about to which clinic
patients should go making it clear that they should attend
either Harlow or Loughton according to convenience of
travelling, and 121 children were referred to one or other
of these clinics for psychiatric interview. The Loughton
Clinic works under some difficulties because it is not yet
fully staffed - this is largely due to the fact that it is
almost impossible to attract Psychiatric Social Workers to
this type of work on the present salary scales. Social
work at Loughton has therefore been carried out largely
by one of the Harlow Psychiatric Social Workers. The
Regional Hospital Board gave 3 Consultant Psychiatric
sessions to the new clinic at Loughton and these have been
filled by Dr„ J. Waldman.
School Psychological Service:
Dr. Lowenstein of the Loughton Clinic in a summary of
his report comments:-
"There has been an increase in certain aspects of
the work of the School Psychologist Service during
this year, especially on the part of the educational
advice required by heads of schools, parents and other
disciplines.
Many of the problems diagnosed and, in some cases
treated, were not merely educational but due to emotional
factors in the child or faulty handling by parents.
The Area has a vital need for a school for E.S.N,
children as these children are at present being
carried in their ordinary schools. The special class
at the Hereward School is functioning well and provided
only maladjusted children are placed there, it should
continue to be a useful adjunct to the educational
service in the Area."
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