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56
somewhat more satisfactory grouping of symptoms. Although we
are still of the opinion that the symptoms for which the children
are referred are the least important part of their problems, we
have not so far attempted an analysis in terms of the more fundamental
disturbances, but roughly speaking, those treated in the
Clinic as out-patients can be regarded as mild cases, those recommended
for special treatment away from home are severe. As was
pointed out last year, the children from the more satisfactory homes
are the ones taken on for treatment or given some help as outpatients
in this Clinic and those where the child-parent relationship
is bad or non-existent are for the most part those who are the subject
of special recommendations for special schools or boarding schools.
Special Educational (Residential) Treatment.
Reference was made last year to the great difficulty in finding
suitable placement for children recommended for special educational
treatment away from home and to the time and effort consumed in
making the arrangements for their placement. There have been
19 recommendations for special educational treatment away from
home made in 1951, of whom 16 had been placed by the end of the
year. It has become even more difficult to find and arrange
suitable placements. This is not a local problem but is a difficulty
experienced by Child Guidance workers throughout the country,
owing to the failure of the establishment of schools to keep pace
with the need.
The volume of work in this Clinic is increasing continually.
The increase in the number of new cases only partially accounts
for the increase, since once children have attended this clinic the}'
become the responsibility of the Clinic and many are followed up
for the remainder of their school lives. As the average age of
referral is now 9, it follows that children may remain on the books
of the clinic for approximately six years. Many cases do not, of
course, return to us once their regular treatment has been completed,
but in a very large number of cases some contact is kept either with
the child and the home or the school throughout those six years.
Similarly, when children are placed in boarding schools away from
home, an effort is made by the Child Guidance staff to keep in
contact with the home and, as far as possible, with the child and
school. In the 6 years of this Clinic's existence we have seen
1,125 children, of whom more than 50 per cent. are still of active
interest to us.
Clerical Staff.
In spite of repeated requests and a full statement of the
value of increasing the clerical staff, we have not had additional
help in 1951.