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Cases Closed:—
Improved 63
Reported improved 3
Removed 26
Refused appointments 12
Non-attendance after first interview 15
Failed interview appointment 11
Therapy not indicated 14
Having therapy elsewhere 5
Transferred 4
Total 153
At the end of the year the Waiting List was 64 including 10 priorities.
CHILD GUIDANCE
Through various sources, cases of psychological disturbance come to light
and are referred, if necessary, to the appropriate Child Guidance Clinic.
These Clinics, which are spaced throughout the district, are held in Hospital
premises except at "The Willows", Red Hill, Chislehurst, which is the Council's
own premises. The remaining Child Guidance Clinic sessions are held at Farnborough
Hospital, "Stepping Stones", Bromley Hospital and at Sydenham Hospital, which
serves the Borough of Bromley although it is outside the geographical limits.
One Consultant Psychiatrist is now responsible for the Child Guidance work at local
hospitals and at our own Clinic at Chislehurst.
I am grateful to Dr.Rodriguez, Consultant Psychiatrist for the following
report in respect of the Chislehurst Child Guidance Clinic, where he attends for
4 sessions per week.
During 1969 the demands on the Clinic have remained practically unchanged.
The number of referrals was 98 (1968 - 97)- The median length of the waiting list
was 4 months (1968 - 6 months) ranging from 1 day to 84 weeks! - in the last case
the parents had asked for the case to be deferred. Because of the lack of adequate
treatment facilities we are still falling short of the goal of early diagnosis
and effective treatment for all the children referred to the Clinic. This results
in long waiting lists and causes frustration and even antagonism towards the
Child Guidance Clinic amongst parents and referring agencies. The appointment of
a Child Psychotherapist is urgently needed, and it is hoped to fill this next
year. As in previous years every effort has been made by the members of the staff
to co-operate with other care-giving professions, through informal meetings, case
conferences and lectures.
In March the School Psychological Service moved to its new premises at St.
Paul's Wood Hill. Mrs. Preston and Mr. Bennett have attended the Clinic to carry
out psychological assessments and also for regular case discussions. During the
first half of the year, Mrs. Cameron, Social Worker, attended the Course on
Community Care run by the London Boroughs Training Committee. Since 1st December
she has increased her number of sessions, while still carrying on her duties as
Mental Welfare Officer.
No major repairs were carried out during the year. Some furniture and play
material were replaced. Any future increase in the staff will highlight the
limitations of the present building.
Sixty seven new children from the Borough were investigated and taken on
for treatment during the year (1968 - 67)• The number of children referred by
local General Practitioners increased (1969 - 21 of all the referrals, 1968 - 15%,
1967 - 11%). This trend reflects no doubt the increasing awareness of the contribution
the Child Guidance Clinic can make to the community. The total number
of psychiatric interviews was 558.
Close co-operation was maintained with other professionals in the field of
education and child care, and efforts were made to improve communication with
Head Teachers, Education Welfare Officers, Medical Officers in Department,
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