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CHILD GUIDANCE CLINIC
I am indebted to Dr. S. Fahmy, Consultant Psychiatrist for the
following report
During 1971 the Clinic's work maintained all the basic features
outlined in the 1970 report. Despite efforts and funds that were made
available, it had not been possible to increase the staff of the psychiatric
service in the clinic. However, by the end of the year a Psychiatric
Social Worker was appointed and will be expected to take an active role
in the next year.
The attached tables covering the four quarters of the year show the
current call on the service and give some indication of the response
to the call under the prevailing circumstances. The average waiting
time of new referrals has gone down to 10 weeks and this made it possible
to see some cases at regular intervals: an improvement which remains
far short of coping with the real need.
Analysis of the figures also reveals that the reduction in the
number of new referrals was all due to the smaller number of adolescents
referred by Schools, Educational Psychologists and Courts. This was
partially a reflection of the change in legal procedures following
the implementation of the Children and Young Persons Act, 1969 and
partially due to the change to Comprehensive Education - a change that
seemed to reduce (temporarily) the ability of the teachers to djserve
and report disturbances. However, as noted in previous reports,
adolescents cannot be materially helped under the present system of
referrals. They can benefit and be better helped if a "Walk in Service"
is established - one of the projects that await funds and personnel.
The other projects mentioned in previous reports re work with
institutions, nurseries, play groups and running groups of parents had
to be postponed until more workers are appointed and until the Social
Services settle after the new re-organisation. In this period of
change, the effectiveness of the social workers in helping children in
distress and their families has been markedly reduced.
In December 1971 a psychiatric social worker was appointed and it
is hoped that her work in the clinic will create more time for individual
therapy for the children and offer their families more support than they
have ever received from this clinic in the past.
It is gratifying to note that the co-operation of educational
psychologists, remedial teachers and secretaries has never faltered despite
changes in personnel. The smoothness of the work and the ability of the
clinic to cope with appointments, follow-ups, records etc., has been as
in the past, largely due to the willing, conscientious hard work of the
senior secretary.
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