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Child Guidance Centre and Clinic
The Child Guidance Centre and Clinic is situated at Garvary, Dryden Road,
Bush Hill Park. There is staffing provision for a part-time psychiatrist (eight sessions
per week), four psychiatric social workers, four educational psychologists and
two psychotherapists. The Education Committee is responsible for appointing staff
other than psychiatrists, who are appointed by the North East Metropolitan
Regional Hospital Board.
The present staff consists of one part-time psychiatrist (eight sessions per week),
one psychiatric social worker, two educational psychologists and one psychotherapist,
the psychiatric social worker and the psychotherapist working in conjunction
with the psychiatrist.
Although the Centre and Clinic are housed in one building the work is
divided, the educational psychologists dealing mainly with educational problems
and the assessment of intelligence. If the problem appears to be basically emotional
and psychiatry is indicated, the case is referred through the School Health Service
to the psychiatrist, for diagnosis and treatment by the psychiatrist and psychotherapist.
Cases are also referred to the psychiatrist by assistant medical officers
and general medical practitioners, or parents may enlist the help of the clinic
directly. The types of cases dealt with in the clinic, some of whom are referred
to as maladjusted and unable to conform to ordinary everyday behaviour, present
problems of psychosis, neurosis, brain damage, and character disorder.
Owing to staff shortage, there is a considerable delay for diagnostic interview
and subsequent therapy.
In conjunction with the Centre and Clinic, there is a special selection unit at
Chase Side School for children aged eight to 11 years who have shown gross
emotional instability. They are admitted on the recommendation of the psychiatrist.
These childen are usually of high or average intelligence but have behaviour
problems which make it impossible for them to be taught in association with
ordinary children. While at the unit an endeavour is made to assess their potentialities
and needs so that they may be placed in a suitable school. There is also
at Chase Side School a special full-time class for maladjusted children up to 11
years of age, who have not been formally ascertained. This allows them to be
taught in a small group, an arrangement found to be of great benefit. It is hoped
to expand this arrangement to include school children of all ages. There are
remedial classes at Eastfield Road School, Croyland Road School and the Child
Guidance Centre, for special tuition for children who have specific difficulties such
as reading. They attend in groups for two half-days a week.
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