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141
I am glad to welcome Dr. Rodriguez, who as a Consultant
Psychiatrist is associated with the child psychiatry work in all the
hospitals in the Borough and is now developing the work of this
clinic. It is possible to include this year, a more detailed report
not only on the work in the clinic but on the home and school
visits of the social worker and educational psychologists in relation
to cases attending the Centre. Accommodation is difficult and the
building is unsuitable for extensive alteration. At the moment no
other suitable centre is available in the Borough.
School Psychological Service
The report refers to the introduction by the Senior Educational
Psychologist of a scheme for screening the slow learners of the
4,000 top infant population, and to the success of this scheme the
School Psychological Service has greatly contributed. Though
the examination of reports by the panels attached to three special
schools for educationally subnormal children has led to greatly
increased clerical work, the success of the scheme is undoubted
and it should now be added to our routine screening procedures.
The Committee have authorised the establishment at St.
Nicholas of an Assessment Unit for less severely autistic children.
More severely autistic children who need assessment and teaching,
should receive this within a hospital environment.
The report notes the increase in Tutorial Classes and the
extension of these to secondary schools. These classes supplement
existing provisions in special schools for the educationally subnormal.
The need to provide as long a period as possible for
assessment, is being met by an increase in the number of special
opportunity classes and diagnostic units.
The mental health of adolescents is greatly influenced by the
adequacy of educational provisions early in their school life. The
frequency at this age, of delinquency, truancy, drug taking and
other abnormal behaviour is to a large extent controlled by detection
and appropriate educational treatment at an early age and
throughout school life.
The policy of the Committee is to increase local facilities for
assessment and treatment of maladjustment and behaviour disorders.
The report refers to the difficulty of providing either day
or residential treatment, especially for the older child when such
establishments are owned by other authorities or voluntary
associations. For their economical provision, catchment areas have
to be large.
Dental Health
For the second year a Dental Officer from the Department of
Education and Science has visited the dental clinics in the Borough
and has commented on various aspects of the developing service.