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52
(c) Local Organisations.
Close contact is maintained with Probation Officers, with the
Children's Department, School Welfare Officers and others. There
is, however, a lack of general social services in this Area.
(d) Area Authorities.
There is regrettably a diminishing connection with the Public
Health Department since the psychiatrist was transferred from the
staff of the Area Health Office to that of the Regional Hospital
Board. Our relations remain friendly but there is now only a very
slender official link. The Centre is more closely connected with the
Divisional Education Authority and there have been fortunate
relations with both the Education Committee and the Borough
Education Officer and his staff. The Borough Education
Committee has throughout taken the keenest interest in the work
of the Child Guidance Clinic and has always given its support.
6. Special problems connected with the work of the Clinic.
Accommodation.
Over the last 5 years lack of space interfered quite seriously
with the work of the centre but the new premises at Madeley Road
provide adequately for all needs.
Problems of staffing.
The Clinic is exceptionally fortunate at the present time in
having a number of workers who are excellently qualified for their
work and are capable of working together as a team.
The psychiatrist's position at the present time is not altogether
an enviable one. In theory her links are with the Regional Hospital
Board but these are not very strong and in gaining these she loses
contact with the local and central authorities.
In-Patient treatment in hospitals and residential schools.
Reference has already been made to the shortage of beds in
hospitals for severely disturbed children and adolescents.
There has been a distinct improvement in the speed of
admission to residential schools for maladjusted children. Of 55
cases in 1950 the average delay between recommendation and
admission was 4½ months with 50% of children waiting 6 months or
longer and 10%, 9 months or longer. In 1952 of the 21 children
recommended the delay was not more than 1 month in 10 cases and
the remainder averaged 3 months. In 1953, 7 of the 17 children
recommended were placed in less than one month and of the
remainder only two had to wait for more than 4 months.
There are still very few schools where severely disturbed
children can get skilled treatment and these extremely difficult and
mentally ill children have to be entrusted to persons with very good
will but without appropriate training. The high proportion of
apparently successful placements is gratifying in the circumstances;
the occasional failures, though tragic, are fewer than might be
expected.