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absence of physiotherapy these children tend to develop abnormalities
of the muscles. They fail to learn how to make the best use of the
limbs and their mobility may fail to develop as well as it is possible
for it to do. Kingsley Hall Assessment Centre admits children with a
wide range of disabilities. In addition to those who require physiotherapy
there are children requiring other forms of treatment e.g.
children suffering from speech defects are provided with speech therapy
and deaf children are given speech training by a visiting teacher of
the deaf.
Parent guidance and training - This is a very basic function of
the Assessment Centre. The parents of children who are handicapped
often require as much assistance as their children. Many of them
find it difficult to accept that their child is handicapped, others
suffer from feelings of guilt, and unless this problem is discussed
and resolved parents end up either as grossly over-protective parents
or parents who reject their children. Many parents find it difficult
to understand the handicap that their child suffers from and it
requires prolonged explanation and demonstration to assist them in
learning to cope with the needs of their handicapped child. At
Kingsley Hall the parents of spastic children are shown how to carry
out simple movements of the spastic limbs at home and games and other
activities for their children in order to prevent the formation of
contractures and other severe abnormalities of the limbs.
OTHER USES
The Centre has been used for a variety of other purposes. On
occasion handicapped children have been admitted for short term care
when the parents have been ill or unable to cope with the needs of
the child. From time to time children have been admitted to assist a
parent who is too fearful to care for a child who has had a prolonged
period of hospital care and who require a transitional period to
regain their self confidence, to perhaps learn new methods of feeding
or care for their child prior to assuming full responsibility for the
care of their handicapped child at home.
STAFFING
The staff of Kingsley Hall consists of:-
Sister in Charge, a Warden, 4 Staff Nursery Nurses, and 3
Nursery Assistants. A Medical Officer spends not less than one day
per week at Kingsley Hall. In addition to the staff provided by the
Borough, Kingsley Hall has been most fortunate in obtaining the
assistance of Dr. K. Holt, Director of the Wolfson Centre. Dr. Holt
and his staff have been associated with Kingsley Hall over many years,
they pay regular visits to the Assessment Centre to assist in the
assessment of children and in advising on the treatment of the children
who attend there. In addition where more specialist/assessment facilities
are required arrangements are made for the children to be conveyed to
the Wolfson Centre when necessary. This close liaison with Dr. Holt
has been of immense value to the Borough. It has also meant that many
children are seen locally who would otherwise have to be taken by
their parents to London Hospitals. In addition to assessment at Kingsley
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